>drive up to girls house to pick her up for date >messages her with just "here" >she comes out of her house and to the car >tries to open door >left it locked on purpose >she gets in >monotone "whoops" > it's okay she says as her foot crunches a 4 week old bag of chipotle >it fucking reeks > "it's kinda messy in here" > I wait 4 seconds before responding >"yeah I didn't clean" >puts the car in drive >still haven't made eye contact >puts toothpick in mouth and whips out phone >screen is cracked to shit >she notices my Ryan Gosling wallpaper as I go to spotify and play "sigma radio" >"where are we going?" >I wait four seconds again, still haven't made eye contact >"...chilis"
The funny thing is that Taxi Driver inspired me to finally get my driving license which helped me to get my first job after 3 years of being jobless after graduating
Swear to God, Gosling has no right to be so cool in those movies that I constantly have to keep myself in check not to idolize him like how some girls idolize Ramona Flowes.
I feel that the vast majority of people start off being ironic in their admiration and relation to these characters, but upon further examination and conversing with others online, they come to unironically relate in many a manner.
Well the literally me meme started because a ton of people were unironically idolizing those types of characters. First examples I saw of it were 2010 memes that were quoting heath ledgers joker. Eventually the ironic meme started and I think a ton of people discovered great movies because of it. Most of these characters are written to be relatable and sympathetic so it makes sense people who were spreading the meme would eventually watch the movie and find themselves relating. I think the problem comes when people cross the threshold from relating and empathizing to idolizing the characters. Travis Bickle is a good character, but he’s a really flawed person.
@@dally1398 Idolisation of any character in cinema is pretty cringe imo, all characters have flaws and the ones from "literally me" films are, like you said, especially so. I think that's part of the appeal though, you know that these aren't good people and yet you still relate to them on a deeply personal level. It invokes a challenge in the viewer to try and figure out what exactly it is that you relate with the character, why, and how can you avoid becoming as extreme as them. That's probably why these films are so popular with young men especially, they are a demographic that are constantly attempting to better themselves intellectually. Not to say young women don't of course but that's a whole other can of worms.
@@oldoldmeme I definitely agree, I just see a lot of people in general online who don’t think critically about why they relate to flawed characters. Instead it’s “x character is fucking awesome (because they’re literally me)”. I’ve seen dudes do it for movies like fight club and taxi driver and I’ve seen girls do it for shit like midsommar where they call the protagonist a girlboss at the end. It makes me depressed and I think it reveals something uncomfortable about people. Like our wiring is fucked up when it comes to empathy and how we process it. Or maybe a lot of people are just dumb and don’t think about shit critically or with nuance.
@@dally1398 I think it's the latter tbh, people are incapable of thinking critically anymore because of the ever flowing river of shit that is the internet. Everything required an immediate response to breaking news, all people can do is either react emotionally or deliver the most basic, low resolution critical take imaginable because they gotta move onto the next topic. If only more people realised that their takes on so many subjects are irrelevant because they haven't taken the proper time to actually form an opinion. That's why I enjoy TH-cam comment sections on videos such as this one, nearly everyone involved takes their time to comment and reply because they have genuine interest in the subject matter, they aren't simply reacting to whatever outrage-fuelling trash Twitter has throw in their face.
personally I relate to and look up to the literally me characters because they are suffering from internal struggles and are alienated from society, but they decide to do something about that and it's really motivational for me. obviously I'm not about to shoot my local McDonald's manager for not accepting my sigma bucks from alpha land, but I'm motivated to do something with my life to stop the alienation of my inner struggles
I feel exactly like that watching those movies, especially Blade Runner 2049. Officer K is a nobody, a loser, later on in the film it's revealed that he isn't even special in any way and yet he still acts heroically and changes the world for the better. That's my kind of role model
@Chandler Burse i think people use riddler as a “literally me” character purely because his character represents, similarly to arthur fleck, has been ignored and outcasted by society, and like batman and many men who feel like this, find it in their own way for vengeance
Oh hi sir, what personality would you like today? we got: Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, if you're feeling a little... bold and spicy. Ryan Gosling as Officer K for moody nights. Also Ryan Gosling but as the Driver for real human beans. Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom if you feel like grinding. Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker if you feel like society has let you down. Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden, perfect for when you forgot to take your pills. Michael Douglas as William D-Fens, hits just right when you're frustrated at everything. Willem Dafoe as the lighthouse keeper if ye're craving some lobsters. Robert Pattinson as Connie Nikas if you're planning on seeing your brother. Uh and who could forget the classic, Robert Deniro as Travis Bickle, if you have some... bad ideas in your head... Go ahead, pick your poison.
Travis in Taxi driver was inspired by the real guy who shot Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace, and it in turn inspired the dude who shot Ronald Reagan. The inspiration for Travis also inspired the new Joker, who quotes some lines from his manifesto in the movie.
I think you nailed it on the head; the common theme all these movies have in common is alienation. Specifically loneliness - all these characters feel like they don't "fit in" in society and are without partners or even real friends to share their struggles with. Even the ones that seem to have a social circle (e.g. Patrick Bateman) find it superficial and still have no one to lean on.
The joke is that the place is called "Sneed's Feed & Seed" which is clever in itself and quite funny to those with a mature sense of humour but what's really just hilarious about it is that if you look closely at the front of this store, Sneed's Feed & Seed, you can see a line that reads "Formerly Chuck's". Now, this might go over the average viewer's head as this, THIS, is peak comedy. I doubt anything will ever be as funny as the joke about Sneed's Feed & Seed. Are you ready for this one? So, like I said, the place is called "Sneed's Feed & Seed" and this sign says "Formerly Chuck's", which means that when Chuck owned the place, well, I don't have to tell you...
I love films like this, they're basically the men's equivalent of chick flicks, despite never seeing myself in any of the protagonists. I wonder how useful the "literally me" tag is when analysing them.
I think Louis Bloom from nightcrawler is the best example of litterally me charackters because of how realistic he is. Hes not so crazy like patrick bateman, hes not so deadly like the joker, he is just a psychopath in society and its scary af
lou bloom unlike arthur fleck takes action and does what he needs to to get to the top and honestly i believe the joker is just a weak depressed guy who chose voilence because he can't take pain, whereas lou changes his mindset and applies to his grindset and the society wants and loves a guy like him and honestly guys like lou bloom exist and they are the successful ones.
But he lacks the humanity imo. That's why I think someone like Travis, D-Fens, the Driver or K ironically enough is best at it they're extremely flawed people who also want to do some genuine good but that good doesn't really turn out the way they want usually BECAUSE they're such flawed people. I feel like Lou was a purely selfish person right to the end not saying that he isn't a literally me character but I think it's literally me in the sense that it's the parts of us that want to succeed no matter what that will go to any lengths and hurt anyone (not necessarily physically) to achieve that success.
@@Lunk42 you're right about the flawed character like d-fens, driver, Travis.. and yes the reason I liked Lou bloom is because of the fact that a part of everyone wants to be successful and to be one we can go to unimaginable lengths and that's what makes everyone idolise Lou ..... And people like Lou are the ones who are successful..
Yeah, lou bloom was very very uncomfortable to watch. It's like the small pinch of fake modesty I use in corporate world is extrapolated to my entire identity and now some person who hates me made a movie about me. It's real, it's uncomfortable because you've seen these people, you've been with these people and you've been these people.
Modern society has totally trampled all over the concept of masculinity, lo and behold, men are drawn to characters that they can relate to dealing with that loss/absence, no surprise there really.
@@entropybear5847 Really in what sence? in some popular movies Like really in what way is it really trampeling on it other than some influence from radicals ?
oof, seeing live action Spike Spiegel when you are talking about the "corporate talking point" hurts so bad man. anime Spike is also another great example of one of these types of "literally me" characters.
All Watanabe's main characters are "literally me" characters. With the exception of Dandy perhaps, who is more of a "man of culture" character, and therefore represents the entire mankind
@@bubkacarlson9461 honestly, people are way too harsh on it. There's lots of scenes I loved, just like in the anime, but they shouldn't be expected to be in the same class. Because, fuck, an anime is an anime. Live action has some limitations, yeah, but what they did with what they had, pretty fine. I laughed with it more than I did with the original series.
I remember watching all of these movies and thinking "holy shit that's literally me" and now it's unironically a joke. Why is this so fucking hilarious to me?
In Blade Runner, I relate to Joe's plight. The search for purpose and the promise of being special. As well as the reality that you are nothing. We don't have the same experiences and I don't see myself in the character. However, I can understand his existential hell
Travis is literally me. I watch taxi driver every day. When I wake up, in the afternoon, and when I’m about to go to sleep. I listen to it like a podcast. The movie changed my perspective of life. Travis literally is me, I’m literally him. No one else is like me. I watch Taxi driver more than anyone else in a day. I even listen to it during class. I relate to him more than anyone (that’s a female). He’s literally me.
I think you just made me realize why I watched Blade Runner 2049 so many times as I have. In a weird way I want to be Officer K because he found something that gave him purpose and something to die for and he chose to do it. I like that much better than what I have now. I want to chose to make my life mean something.
Consider it a blessing these characters are finally being publicly related to on a humorous level. It’s possible we all need examples of characters we can relate to while also observing why we shouldn’t be like them, and remembering how morally we’re not capable of completely becoming them to begin with. These relatable examples are actually supposed to help us improve as human beings (until Ryan Gosling puts a new movie out then the cycle restarts)
For me, these films tend to hit a sweet spot between wish fulfillment and thoughtfulness, grittiness and romanticism. Maybe we relate to Ryan Gosling in Drive, or Tyler Durden in Fight Club, etc. but let's face it, most of us average schlubs are just not that cool or good looking, (or not even the same gender, in my case). Nonetheless, movies like these are appealing because they help ease the pain of living in such an isolating and chaotic era. It's cathartic to watch people on screen who are "literally us" and yet also embody much of what we wish we were in dark ways. I only hope that Hollywood doesn't see the popularity of these types of "Sigma Cinema" films only as an opportunity to crank out pandering, copycat garbage, thereby flooding the "genre" with mindless, edgelord porn. My problem with the Joker (2019) movie was that it walked right up to this line, but was saved by good acting and timely thematic elements.
Your monologue at the end was on point, definitely the most important piece in understanding why these characters resonate so strongly with young men in the 21st century.
@Fenrir "you're an evil loser for feeling the way you do what did I do besides completely turn you into a pariah because you didn't fit the mold of the modern hedonistic consumerist and completely act like a base animal myself"
@Fenrir I think the problem is some men refuse to connect with others. They will act however they want and if no one connects with that then the other person is always the problem and not the man who wants connection but refuses to change for the connection he wants.
Gosling had always been literally me. But my friends and I had a conversation about: If Hollywood made a bio pic of you, which actor would they use to play you. And we came to the conclusion that Ryan Gosling looks the most like me. Ever since that conversation, I now feel an even closer bond to Gosling. He's Actually Literally Me.
@Fenrir Interesting info. Although she doesn't really strike me as a character with a lot of negative traits personally. "Exotic" maybe? All characters in movies are flawed anyways. I would argue that Scott Pilgrim is shown as a much much more flawed character (especially in the beginning). I just don't think Scott Pilgrim is the best example to illustrate your point personally. Although I can see why you would want to make it.
@Fenrir Oh! I see your point. So your problem is more with how people in the real world don't accept the character arc and just latch onto the beginning. I see your point then.
@Fenrir >heroic outsider She's an even more cringy female Deadpool. You take away that inherent tragedy of her being trapped in an abusive relationship, and she's got nothing.
Ngl Tyler Durden and the Narrator are both of my "Literally Me" people because of how interesting to me it was and still is. Also Fight Club was my first movie into the Literally Me movement
@@cat-w9l1 Maybe? But Nah, I really can relate with the narrator's mundane lifestyle and the "need" to consume every product just for everything to be "perfect" I also do like love him for being like Tyler but also not Tyler if that makes a sense. I find it funny that he does use the "I'm Jack's" quote to make a bit of comedic effect
So a lot of the "Literally Me" films, I really enjoy a lot. I find them to be great stories with very deep and relatable characters that feel like they could be real people. However, I have never seen one of these films and reacted with, "That's literally me!" or "I feel the exact same way that this character does!". I can usually sympathize with the characters and understand their inner conflict based on the setting and presentation of the story, but I've never felt like I can empathize with the character since I have never physically, emotionally, or mentally experienced what that character is going through based on the events they are personally experiencing within the story. My perspective, "Literally Me" films are just usually incredibly well written and well told stories with very realistic feeling characters, and I can enjoy that, but I've never felt like I could ever personally relate to the characters. If others can feel like that when they watch these types of films, that's really cool, and I'm glad you are able to connect with these films on a deeper level. It's just, they are not "Literally Me".
Doug Walker is such a strange specimen, you can't really tell if he's completely fine and content with his life, or he's fucking miserable and wants to kill people at every waking moment.
Travis was the first “literally me”character I connected with, so much so that I gave myself a mohawk and doing started busting out pushups and pull-ups all throughout the day.
Do you still believe that you cannot be saved?? That's a bullshit notion (and Smashing Pumpkins is one of my favorite bands). Noone can save you but yourself. Stop looking. Stop waiting. Your savior is you. Bitterness, sorrow, regret... Is this how you want to spend your time in this world??
buffalo 66 is my favourite movie, I found it as a pretentious douchebag going through the cannes list and the experience was incredible. the intrusive thoughts are represented better in this indie movie than any other piece of media I've seen. and the dream/fantasy/Hollywood ending that we all want but won't have
@@andynowicki4532 He is shunned by the Jedi council who almost refused to train him even though he's meant to be the chosen one. The Jedi also don't allow him to deal with his feelings for Padme and so he lashes out and becomes the very thing he swore to destroy.
Anakin is THE sigma cinema character. Like the others he is surpressed and tortured by his societal environment, but the difference is not only did he rebel against his world, he literally became its dictator and through nothing but pure rage shaped it into his image. He is the most overlooked literally me character, yet he can also be considered the most successful one because in essence he is what every Literally me character is trying to be
I totally agree. Even if the Butcher did some terrible things, at the beginning and ending of the film especially, I still felt some kind of sympathy for him. I didn't mind his opinions, everyone's free to believe what he wants after all, life really f'ed him up so it was really logical for him to become bitter, disappointed and full of anger.
@@scarfacecs I would describe the much nastier shit Bateman does in the novel but that would get this comment deleted. I tried to talk about the book's content with a discord server I'm in, and they're usually fine with nasty stuff, but it was too much for even them.
I always see people saying the people that love " literally me" characters didn't get the point of the character when really those people don't get why they find them so relatable.
A good literary through line for all these characters/themes is with Yukio Mishima. Schrader modeled all his characters on the Mishima archetype and even made the film Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters because of his overt reverence for the writer. Just thought I’d share since I didn’t see any other comments referencing him!
Idk to me the Batman handled its class commentary in a great way, it made you empathetic towards the riddler while at the same time not glorifying the things he was doing
3:17 is some masterful editing... I love that you sinced what you were saying with Patrick Bateman... It even furthers your point, by making it "literally you"
Clint Eastwood's characters in the dollars trilogy are the best characters to be able to say literally me to. And Ip Man, if you can relate to Ip Man you've won
Great series idea, great execution! I'm really looking forward to the femme take on literally me, since I never see those mentioned at all. First thing that comes to my mind is Arrival, personally.
I've never gone into literally me mode but Taxi Driver comes closest Holy shit I made that comment before I watched this and now I'm waiting for some independent Bickle Kino
Thank you for making this video. I watched taxi driver last night for the first time and couldn’t believe how much I related to what he was going through, the sadness of the ending and how much the saying men are human doings not human beings is a part of my life.
I feel like The Northman tapped a lot into this genre of film whilst being a brilliantly historically authentic film at the same time. I'd love if you could give it a watch and review it in a similar fashion.
Tony Soprano is the best literally me character. He fills all the boxes and the 6 seasons worth(or 7 If you can’t 6a and b as two seasons) gives him so much development showing his trauma and how he morphs due to it. He gets women but he never has a true loving relationship. Even feeling unfulfilled from his wife. His friendships are all shallow. Even his family is shallow at times due to the complexities of the mob life. The show as a whole is about the American life and it’s decline. 9/11 happening part way through just increased those themes even more than before.
Tony Sopranos epitomises the ‘tough guy’ representation, but for me his shining quality is that its all business for him. ‘I dont want to do this, they dont want to do this, but it must be done’. Thats kind of vibe, i feel like people relate to his lack of choice as opposed to his brutal nature
I think a lot of it is to do with mental health. All these characters struggle mentally and cope in their own ways. Covids happened and mental health has become a much larger issue so now with covid restrictions and less social activities for people to partake in, they find a connection with these characters and joke “literally me” but deep down they do really have some sort of connection with the character. Eg me and batman, I too tend to write down my own thoughts when I’m struggling or my mind is racing about something important he just like me frfr
Another one of the best examples of this is Dexter cause not only does it show and talk about his actions as an adult but it also show the events and tragedy that led up to him being who he is
7:40 I'm glad you mentioned this. My fellow wagies celebrate being able to work from home. All I see is that we're paying for the privilege to have the office in our own homes.
I really connected with The Batman ever since the first trailer (huge comic book fanboy btw). Not to the extent like some people. But I was in the worst point in my life when I was filled with rage, I was medicated and depressed. I felt isolated and really connected to that character in that way
it’s funny because i was the same way the first time i saw a trailer for Joker. again, i didn’t relate to the extent of some lunatics, but similarly i was in a very difficult place back then and seeing a (FICTIONAL!!) character in the same situation and deciding to change it was cathartic for me in some strange way. but the real question is, are we mortal enemies now? 🤔
Some of my favorite 'Literally Me' films are: The Heartbreak Kid (1972) The King of Comedy Taxi Driver Fight Club Frances Ha Inside Llewellyn Davis Bottle Rocket The World's End Ghost World Unbreakable Clerks Mikey and Nicky Buffalo 66 In The Company of Men Modern Romance River's Edge Naked The Cable Guy Withnail and I Superbad Punch-Drunk Love Amadeus The Graduate Vertigo May Barry Lyndon Unfaithfully Yours I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Frankly, I had a much easier time connecting with Arthur in Joker than with Travis in Taxi Driver. I never quite got the connection between Travis' motivations, that being his loneliness and disgust, with decisions like attempting to kill a politician.
There is no motivation behind what Travis does. It’s completely irrational, that’s the entire point of the movie lol. He is a completely alienated human being who tries to take control of himself through nihilistic and pointless violence.
Travis isn’t really supposed to be that complex or relatable. He’s just an unbelievably lonely and mentally sick man who decides to fulfill himself through self-perceived heroism.
Bickle could earn his living anywhere in the rest of the large city, but he chose to dwell in the filth. Just like he could have taken his date to an ordinary movie. Frustrated naive people often want to be paid back for the pain they suffered from the very source, which would be the most just but really works out and more often leads to very dysfunctional relationships
I think the whole literally me thing are those whose sense of identity isn’t completely formed. I’ve been obsessed with quite a few characters on this list when I was a few years younger. They are remarkably awesome characters but I feel like my sense of being has grown a lot. I think the last character I felt I’ve had a connection to was emphaim Winslow from the lighthouse: heavy drinking,very hard working, treated like shit, violent, sketchy past, etc. I see those traits we have in common but I guess I prefer just being me than a fictional character.
I like it. Another movie that comes close to this, or the 'literally me' persona is Robert "Bob" Arctor from A Scanner Darkly, wherein the disturbed and the rebel share friendship in the extremes of substance abuse and increasing distrust to people and society in general. On the positive comics side, I saw glints, maybe bright flashes of this in Loki series, whereas the 'chuunibyou' tendencies/delusions of grandeur of a person gets beaten up past death, fate, and timeline. At start, it immediately spells out to Loki that this nature or coping side of him for 'Glorious Puropose' did not do him well, resulting to his early end. He learns about deaths in his family and shared with the viewers a 'literally me' moment. He meets his distaff counterpart later on and is given a 'touch of a woman' even if it was from a different version of himself. The love between him and Sylvie was powerful enough to divert, branch out a reality and change something within him. Towards the end, he learns much about himself from his anima side, the child and the powerful and the most powerful version of Loki, teaching him that they hold power beyond comprehension, which crosses to us that whichever 'literally me' protag we look up to, mirror or get inspired by, we could always look within us the best there is. Whichever author/screenwriter do it, there'll be a few of this moments we share to be 'literally me', and that's the path closest to love. (Btw, I got interested reading disciple James the Lesser from the Bible, and he's literally me)
Monday's and Thursdays I am Travis bickle, Tuesday's and Sundays I am the driver, Wednesdays and Saturdays I am Patrick Bateman, and on Friday I am Tyler Durden
I think that Enemy would be my favorite one out of this genre because if you take the lifestyle of the main character (and exclude all the symbolism and doppelganger part) it is the most universal and relatable one out of all the characters. Its an average guy, whose conflict resides more on his romantic/personal life instead of the bigger picture of the society he lives.
I remember this one time where my house was burgled and they stole my rug. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it really tied the room together. Nobody would make a movie about that sort of stuff though.
As a film student and budding filmmaker myself, the ending statement of this video speaks volumes to the core reason I decided to study film and make film. As as memey and simple as the statement is, I strive to create and be apart of a new industry that create films that express the "thats literally me" statement. A beautiful analysis and fantastic video, thank you for this video!
This "trend" isn't one and this notion of anti conformist anti-hero goes way back. For book enthousiasts, you can also refer to The Stranger, from Albert Camus, and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. I can't find any more older examples right now so other suggestions are welcome.
The oldest I can of think of is King Solomon. An eccentric and odd man that was favored by God and was given a ring by the archangel Michael to control 72 demons and built a great temple, he could do magic, and took many wives. Unfortunately, he pledged himself to a different God in order to marry a certain beautiful woman. After that, he lost favor from God and his life and kingdom fell apart.
Does anyone else enjoy Bringing Out the Dead? Great video btw. I hadn't heard of the "literally me" character before. Very interesting. I do enjoy most of these films.
Nicholas cage in bringing out the dead is a “literally me” character for every medic I’ve ever met. His “you promised you’d fire me” monologue is LITERALLY me
There's a trope for this called Madden into Misanthropy, that could give you more examples like Magneto. I also see something similar in Holden in Catcher in the Rye. I haven't read Stephen King's RAGE, but that might fit too. There's also a deep nihilistic thread between these characters, so it may be beneficial to look into Nietzsche and Dostoevsky.
Amazing video! I feel like The Daniels just did something like this in a new way with "Everything Everywhere All At Once" - it was the first weird movie to make me laugh, cry, and say 'that's literally me and my family' in a while
I sometimes get tired, feel resentful, bitter, lonely, etc. I'm human, not a robot. But I will never identify with these sort of characters. They all lost their grip on reality and started hurting people or themselves. That's not something you should aspire or desire to yourself. That's not something cool or edgy. Cinema is a lot of times a bunch of cautionary tales. That is what's art is for: thinking and healing.
You mentioned femcel Literally Me’s and I think a lot of those characters are in movies/shows like Fleabag. They have the same ideas of “the world sucks, I’m mentally ill and no one notices.” I don’t think they ever end in murder but Fleabag has a few fist fights. I might add Aggretsuko and Girls to the Femcel Literally Me list but I haven’t seen those. Britney Runs A Marathon could also work.
there a comment in this section by @fleuve who mentiopn films like gone girl, black swan, Jennifer's body, the witch, 13, midsommar, I Tonya, girl Interrupted, promising young woman. would some of these line up?
Normally I hate video essays about movies because they tend to waste my time but this one was actually really good because it pointed out a common thread about modernity and gave me a new insight
It’s nice to see the kino corner review movies that are literally about my life
Woah, Ghost Gum is here!
@@PatrickWDunne Ghost Gum is literaly me
Clearly this isn't my crowd. I need to unsubscribe. Okay. I just did. I feel better now.
GHOST GUM I CAN'T SNEED!
@@sethflix rare L
My friends be like: "You changed man". Of course I changed, a new Ryan Gosling movie came out.
"Of course I'm different. I adopted the latest Gosling personality"
Ryan Gosling personalities are too simpy for my taste. I love BR 2049 to death tho.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH
So how were you after lala land lmao
You have friends? Not literally me
>drive up to girls house to pick her up for date
>messages her with just "here"
>she comes out of her house and to the car
>tries to open door
>left it locked on purpose
>she gets in
>monotone "whoops"
> it's okay she says as her foot crunches a 4 week old bag of chipotle
>it fucking reeks
> "it's kinda messy in here"
> I wait 4 seconds before responding
>"yeah I didn't clean"
>puts the car in drive
>still haven't made eye contact
>puts toothpick in mouth and whips out phone
>screen is cracked to shit
>she notices my Ryan Gosling wallpaper as I go to spotify and play "sigma radio"
>"where are we going?"
>I wait four seconds again, still haven't made eye contact
>"...chilis"
Clean your car for fuck's sake
driving automatic, disgusting.
@@bruhnmtr absolute sigma because you drive a car with a certain transmission
Literal me
Literally me
The masculine urge to say "literally me" when you see a picture of Ryan Gosling
Literally me
Nothing masculine about saying "literally me". Unstable hormonal teenage girls say that kind of shit
LITERALLY 😭😭
Including the barbie version too
Ryan Gosling is literally me except in 'Notebook' and 'La La Land'
Still smiling ear to ear because of the term "Sigma Cinema"
I’m here for it
@@ab-gail I'm here for you 😙
Signema
Sitting on the toilet while watching this and literally just laughed out loud at "Sigma Cinema"
Smegma
The funny thing is that Taxi Driver inspired me to finally get my driving license which helped me to get my first job after 3 years of being jobless after graduating
Thats amazing. Good job dude 👍
I literally clench my fist anime style and say "let's go!" reading this comment, good job brother
Lmao you're not supposed to idolize that asshole character
Taxi Driver inspired me to quit my nighttime job (where I barely spoke to anyone anyway) and move closer to family members so I don't feel so alone...
@@manwiththeredface7821 Good job too, bro 👍
I started watching Gosling films as a joke and they ended up being very endearing to me.
Granted, I haven't bought a scorpion jacket.
you will
I'm going the route of the 2049 jacket because it's a little less obvious and super warm for winter
Ofc, ofc, "you haven't brought a ñ jacket"
Swear to God, Gosling has no right to be so cool in those movies that I constantly have to keep myself in check not to idolize him like how some girls idolize Ramona Flowes.
yet.
I feel that the vast majority of people start off being ironic in their admiration and relation to these characters, but upon further examination and conversing with others online, they come to unironically relate in many a manner.
Well the literally me meme started because a ton of people were unironically idolizing those types of characters. First examples I saw of it were 2010 memes that were quoting heath ledgers joker. Eventually the ironic meme started and I think a ton of people discovered great movies because of it. Most of these characters are written to be relatable and sympathetic so it makes sense people who were spreading the meme would eventually watch the movie and find themselves relating. I think the problem comes when people cross the threshold from relating and empathizing to idolizing the characters. Travis Bickle is a good character, but he’s a really flawed person.
@@dally1398 Idolisation of any character in cinema is pretty cringe imo, all characters have flaws and the ones from "literally me" films are, like you said, especially so. I think that's part of the appeal though, you know that these aren't good people and yet you still relate to them on a deeply personal level. It invokes a challenge in the viewer to try and figure out what exactly it is that you relate with the character, why, and how can you avoid becoming as extreme as them. That's probably why these films are so popular with young men especially, they are a demographic that are constantly attempting to better themselves intellectually. Not to say young women don't of course but that's a whole other can of worms.
@@oldoldmeme I definitely agree, I just see a lot of people in general online who don’t think critically about why they relate to flawed characters. Instead it’s “x character is fucking awesome (because they’re literally me)”. I’ve seen dudes do it for movies like fight club and taxi driver and I’ve seen girls do it for shit like midsommar where they call the protagonist a girlboss at the end. It makes me depressed and I think it reveals something uncomfortable about people. Like our wiring is fucked up when it comes to empathy and how we process it. Or maybe a lot of people are just dumb and don’t think about shit critically or with nuance.
@@oldoldmeme It is impossible to relate to a character without major flaws.
@@dally1398 I think it's the latter tbh, people are incapable of thinking critically anymore because of the ever flowing river of shit that is the internet. Everything required an immediate response to breaking news, all people can do is either react emotionally or deliver the most basic, low resolution critical take imaginable because they gotta move onto the next topic. If only more people realised that their takes on so many subjects are irrelevant because they haven't taken the proper time to actually form an opinion. That's why I enjoy TH-cam comment sections on videos such as this one, nearly everyone involved takes their time to comment and reply because they have genuine interest in the subject matter, they aren't simply reacting to whatever outrage-fuelling trash Twitter has throw in their face.
personally I relate to and look up to the literally me characters because they are suffering from internal struggles and are alienated from society, but they decide to do something about that and it's really motivational for me. obviously I'm not about to shoot my local McDonald's manager for not accepting my sigma bucks from alpha land, but I'm motivated to do something with my life to stop the alienation of my inner struggles
I am going to shoot my local McDonalds even if they accept my sigma bucks just because i can...also society.
real sigma
This guy gets it.
I feel exactly like that watching those movies, especially Blade Runner 2049. Officer K is a nobody, a loser, later on in the film it's revealed that he isn't even special in any way and yet he still acts heroically and changes the world for the better. That's my kind of role model
@@Axl4325 He's not a loser. A loser would just give up after knowing that he's not special.
charming + lonely + doesn't give a shit + have a sense of lifestyle + violent = literally me
alive + male = literally me
im not charming, but the rest checks out
@@yamagamikensei2232 violent?
More like:
Hates the world + violent + repressed + pressured + pushed around +sick if it + Ryan Gosling = literally me.
Literally me
It's crazy how "The Batman" gave us two "literally me" sigma characters like Bruce Wayne and the Riddler lmao
yes batman is that in this movie, he is a mild "bloomer"
@@mightquinnable definitely not a bloomer. He’s a doomer that cares enough to help Gotham
@Chandler Burse but Arthur Morgan is 🤝
@Chandler Burse i think people use riddler as a “literally me” character purely because his character represents, similarly to arthur fleck, has been ignored and outcasted by society, and like batman and many men who feel like this, find it in their own way for vengeance
The Batman? More like The Batmid
i binged fight club, nightcrawler and driver the other day and came out the other side mentally broken
Oh hi sir, what personality would you like today?
we got:
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, if you're feeling a little... bold and spicy.
Ryan Gosling as Officer K for moody nights.
Also Ryan Gosling but as the Driver for real human beans.
Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom if you feel like grinding.
Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker if you feel like society has let you down.
Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden, perfect for when you forgot to take your pills.
Michael Douglas as William D-Fens, hits just right when you're frustrated at everything.
Willem Dafoe as the lighthouse keeper if ye're craving some lobsters.
Robert Pattinson as Connie Nikas if you're planning on seeing your brother.
Uh and who could forget the classic, Robert Deniro as Travis Bickle, if you have some... bad ideas in your head...
Go ahead, pick your poison.
Lmao
one of each please.
jake gyllenhaal from donnie darko please
Batman 2022 plz
I'll be Spongebob
Travis in Taxi driver was inspired by the real guy who shot Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace, and it in turn inspired the dude who shot Ronald Reagan. The inspiration for Travis also inspired the new Joker, who quotes some lines from his manifesto in the movie.
So this virus is clearly spreading.
The dude who shot Reagan did it to impress Jodie Foster, who of course, had her breakthrough role in Taxi Driver.
The main reason I enjoy Joker is that it is a blatant love letter to Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's films together
After shooting Reagan, the shooter proceeded to say, “I am the Taxi Driver”
the person that shot Reagan is the closest thing to a real life superhero
I think you nailed it on the head; the common theme all these movies have in common is alienation. Specifically loneliness - all these characters feel like they don't "fit in" in society and are without partners or even real friends to share their struggles with. Even the ones that seem to have a social circle (e.g. Patrick Bateman) find it superficial and still have no one to lean on.
A farmer who hates city slickers?
Literally Sneed
Best comment
The joke is that the place is called "Sneed's Feed & Seed" which is clever in itself and quite funny to those with a mature sense of humour but what's really just hilarious about it is that if you look closely at the front of this store, Sneed's Feed & Seed, you can see a line that reads "Formerly Chuck's". Now, this might go over the average viewer's head as this, THIS, is peak comedy. I doubt anything will ever be as funny as the joke about Sneed's Feed & Seed. Are you ready for this one? So, like I said, the place is called "Sneed's Feed & Seed" and this sign says "Formerly Chuck's", which means that when Chuck owned the place, well, I don't have to tell you...
I CAN'T SNEED
@@excitableboy7031 that's literally me
@@excitableboy7031 Chuck’s Feeduck and Seeduck
I will never not be amused by the fact that Robert Pattinson is now primarily regarded as a guy thing.
He didn't enjoy twilight and it was to put himself out there so I'll accept it
He’s ours now and we’re not giving him back.
Gay and bi men really have the best of both Pattinsons.
he was my guy the moment he started doing arthouse shit and collab with death grips
YOU CANT HAVE HIM HE IS BATMAN NOW
"There's something about you, it's hard to explain, they're talking about you boy, but you're still the same"
I love films like this, they're basically the men's equivalent of chick flicks, despite never seeing myself in any of the protagonists. I wonder how useful the "literally me" tag is when analysing them.
Dude flicks if you may
Dudes rock
Except that, unlike chick flicks, they're actually good
@@vafongoo watch crazy stupid love, up in the air, casa Blanca.... But I see your point.
@@vafongoo such a fucking bad take lol
I think Louis Bloom from nightcrawler is the best example of litterally me charackters because of how realistic he is. Hes not so crazy like patrick bateman, hes not so deadly like the joker, he is just a psychopath in society and its scary af
I think everyone sees certain parts of themselves in a character like him. A twisted version of the modern grindset.
lou bloom unlike arthur fleck takes action and does what he needs to to get to the top and honestly i believe the joker is just a weak depressed guy who chose voilence because he can't take pain, whereas lou changes his mindset and applies to his grindset and the society wants and loves a guy like him and honestly guys like lou bloom exist and they are the successful ones.
But he lacks the humanity imo. That's why I think someone like Travis, D-Fens, the Driver or K ironically enough is best at it they're extremely flawed people who also want to do some genuine good but that good doesn't really turn out the way they want usually BECAUSE they're such flawed people. I feel like Lou was a purely selfish person right to the end not saying that he isn't a literally me character but I think it's literally me in the sense that it's the parts of us that want to succeed no matter what that will go to any lengths and hurt anyone (not necessarily physically) to achieve that success.
@@Lunk42 you're right about the flawed character like d-fens, driver, Travis.. and yes the reason I liked Lou bloom is because of the fact that a part of everyone wants to be successful and to be one we can go to unimaginable lengths and that's what makes everyone idolise Lou ..... And people like Lou are the ones who are successful..
Yeah, lou bloom was very very uncomfortable to watch. It's like the small pinch of fake modesty I use in corporate world is extrapolated to my entire identity and now some person who hates me made a movie about me. It's real, it's uncomfortable because you've seen these people, you've been with these people and you've been these people.
Simply put, "Literally Me" characters gives us a sense of relatability, so we can feel less alone in this wicked world
No you’re just a beta who wants to be badass mysterious guy like them not even that deep
Literally me
Modern society has totally trampled all over the concept of masculinity, lo and behold, men are drawn to characters that they can relate to dealing with that loss/absence, no surprise there really.
@Taylor that won't help
@@entropybear5847 Really in what sence? in some popular movies Like really in what way is it really trampeling on it other than some influence from radicals ?
oof, seeing live action Spike Spiegel when you are talking about the "corporate talking point" hurts so bad man. anime Spike is also another great example of one of these types of "literally me" characters.
All Watanabe's main characters are "literally me" characters. With the exception of Dandy perhaps, who is more of a "man of culture" character, and therefore represents the entire mankind
@@Le_Faisan Isn't Dandy more of a parody of Spike?
@@jackmclean4120 eh not really he definitely parody’s him at times tho but I think he’s too broad of a character to label him as a parody
live action cowboy bebop hurt to watch, I had to rewatch the anime to make myself better
@@bubkacarlson9461 honestly, people are way too harsh on it. There's lots of scenes I loved, just like in the anime, but they shouldn't be expected to be in the same class. Because, fuck, an anime is an anime. Live action has some limitations, yeah, but what they did with what they had, pretty fine. I laughed with it more than I did with the original series.
I remember watching all of these movies and thinking "holy shit that's literally me" and now it's unironically a joke. Why is this so fucking hilarious to me?
Because it turns out we're all not so different and our personal struggles are actually generational.
@@DGP406 thanks grandpa
@@DGP406 AKA none of you are special
@@noodlery7034 I learned the fact that none of us are special from social media. If we're literally these characters, then we are all similar inside
It's so nauseatingly satured it's LITERALLY the unfunniest fucking garbage of all time now.
In Blade Runner, I relate to Joe's plight. The search for purpose and the promise of being special. As well as the reality that you are nothing.
We don't have the same experiences and I don't see myself in the character. However, I can understand his existential hell
bro, that's literally you
I’m literally Patrick Bateman, Walter White, The Joker, Riddler, and Robert Pattinson Batman all wrapped in one
Literally me
Robert Pattinson literally me started from a movie called Good Time. Not batman.
Now i wanna see batman vs waltet white
Travis is literally me. I watch taxi driver every day. When I wake up, in the afternoon, and when I’m about to go to sleep. I listen to it like a podcast. The movie changed my perspective of life. Travis literally is me, I’m literally him. No one else is like me. I watch Taxi driver more than anyone else in a day. I even listen to it during class. I relate to him more than anyone (that’s a female). He’s literally me.
Dude you're literally me.
I think you just made me realize why I watched Blade Runner 2049 so many times as I have. In a weird way I want to be Officer K because he found something that gave him purpose and something to die for and he chose to do it. I like that much better than what I have now. I want to chose to make my life mean something.
If you wanna die for a cause join the military
K isnt the Chosen One, but he's the one who chooses.
I just want that sweet jacket and a flying car.
Join the military young man
@@vardaanvardhan9932 : A soldier is just the gun of the government, and a gun doesn't get to choose who pulls it's trigger. That isn't freedom.
Consider it a blessing these characters are finally being publicly related to on a humorous level. It’s possible we all need examples of characters we can relate to while also observing why we shouldn’t be like them, and remembering how morally we’re not capable of completely becoming them to begin with. These relatable examples are actually supposed to help us improve as human beings (until Ryan Gosling puts a new movie out then the cycle restarts)
Me with the Barbie movie
Dude this is so well filmed haha
Also your monologue around 12:00 is the most Tyler Durden thing ever
For me, these films tend to hit a sweet spot between wish fulfillment and thoughtfulness, grittiness and romanticism. Maybe we relate to Ryan Gosling in Drive, or Tyler Durden in Fight Club, etc. but let's face it, most of us average schlubs are just not that cool or good looking, (or not even the same gender, in my case). Nonetheless, movies like these are appealing because they help ease the pain of living in such an isolating and chaotic era. It's cathartic to watch people on screen who are "literally us" and yet also embody much of what we wish we were in dark ways.
I only hope that Hollywood doesn't see the popularity of these types of "Sigma Cinema" films only as an opportunity to crank out pandering, copycat garbage, thereby flooding the "genre" with mindless, edgelord porn. My problem with the Joker (2019) movie was that it walked right up to this line, but was saved by good acting and timely thematic elements.
Gritti? I SAID RIGHT FOOT CREEP OU WALKIN WITH THAT HEATER LOOK AROUND STAY LOW MAKE SURE THEY DONT CREEP
Well Joker was meant to be a tragedy/villain origin story.
Excellently put
Perfect answer, sister
Really well put
Can’t believe nobody commented on his syncing of the script with the scene at 3:18 😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Oh man I didn't even notice. That's so clever.
Your monologue at the end was on point, definitely the most important piece in understanding why these characters resonate so strongly with young men in the 21st century.
Yeah I felt that it was certainly accurate and almost chilling in a way
@@cemint9268 literally me
@Fenrir These are the same feminists who pretend to care about men's issues, but they constantly treat men like trash.
@Fenrir "you're an evil loser for feeling the way you do what did I do besides completely turn you into a pariah because you didn't fit the mold of the modern hedonistic consumerist and completely act like a base animal myself"
@Fenrir I think the problem is some men refuse to connect with others. They will act however they want and if no one connects with that then the other person is always the problem and not the man who wants connection but refuses to change for the connection he wants.
Gosling had always been literally me. But my friends and I had a conversation about: If Hollywood made a bio pic of you, which actor would they use to play you. And we came to the conclusion that Ryan Gosling looks the most like me. Ever since that conversation, I now feel an even closer bond to Gosling. He's Actually Literally Me.
based and goslingpilled
buddy thinks he’s me (i’m ryan gosling)
@@fibiussegway Strange, I don't remember having this alt.
Hey fellow white guys with brown hair that constantly meet complete strangers who swear they’ve met you before
Why do you all want to be me
"For amy femcels out there, I got you covered."
This had me wheezing
"umm sweaty, if you idolized them you didn't understand them"
"Harley Quinn is literally me gsjsbeixhwk"
@Fenrir What do you mean? (I’m genuinely curious)
@Fenrir Interesting info. Although she doesn't really strike me as a character with a lot of negative traits personally. "Exotic" maybe? All characters in movies are flawed anyways. I would argue that Scott Pilgrim is shown as a much much more flawed character (especially in the beginning). I just don't think Scott Pilgrim is the best example to illustrate your point personally. Although I can see why you would want to make it.
@Fenrir Oh! I see your point. So your problem is more with how people in the real world don't accept the character arc and just latch onto the beginning. I see your point then.
@Fenrir >heroic outsider
She's an even more cringy female Deadpool. You take away that inherent tragedy of her being trapped in an abusive relationship, and she's got nothing.
Ngl Tyler Durden and the Narrator are both of my "Literally Me" people because of how interesting to me it was and still is. Also Fight Club was my first movie into the Literally Me movement
Very interesting
@@supermaus7934 very
Anime pfp
you're only including the narrator to not seem superficial.
@@cat-w9l1 Maybe? But Nah, I really can relate with the narrator's mundane lifestyle and the "need" to consume every product just for everything to be "perfect" I also do like love him for being like Tyler but also not Tyler if that makes a sense. I find it funny that he does use the "I'm Jack's" quote to make a bit of comedic effect
So a lot of the "Literally Me" films, I really enjoy a lot. I find them to be great stories with very deep and relatable characters that feel like they could be real people.
However, I have never seen one of these films and reacted with, "That's literally me!" or "I feel the exact same way that this character does!". I can usually sympathize with the characters and understand their inner conflict based on the setting and presentation of the story, but I've never felt like I can empathize with the character since I have never physically, emotionally, or mentally experienced what that character is going through based on the events they are personally experiencing within the story.
My perspective, "Literally Me" films are just usually incredibly well written and well told stories with very realistic feeling characters, and I can enjoy that, but I've never felt like I could ever personally relate to the characters. If others can feel like that when they watch these types of films, that's really cool, and I'm glad you are able to connect with these films on a deeper level. It's just, they are not "Literally Me".
This reminds me of my favorite literally movie Nostalgia Critic's The Wall
Doug Walker is such a strange specimen, you can't really tell if he's completely fine and content with his life, or he's fucking miserable and wants to kill people at every waking moment.
Wow that guy in the skit is literally me
"congratulations, you played yourself."
I clapped! I clapped when I saw Glink!
I was not completely sure if it was you since I haven't watched your content in a while so I had to search the comments. My eyes didn't devieve me.
Travis was the first “literally me”character I connected with, so much so that I gave myself a mohawk and doing started busting out pushups and pull-ups all throughout the day.
Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage.
You know who's the greatest actor of all time? Nicholas Cage
Maybe you just need to start a meme page
In a wage cage no less
*sigh
Someone may say what is lost can never be saved
Do you still believe that you cannot be saved?? That's a bullshit notion (and Smashing Pumpkins is one of my favorite bands). Noone can save you but yourself. Stop looking. Stop waiting. Your savior is you.
Bitterness, sorrow, regret... Is this how you want to spend your time in this world??
Many of these characters are shown with some traits characteristic of being on the spectrum, so literally just like all of us.
The Driver is even considered an autistic icon for some and honestly, I can´t even say no to that assumption
What?
@@kateeigs6457 autism
Omg literally me
@@BigBoiTurboslav fuck this made me laugh hard
the final dialogue about media dependency and social disconnects is just so spot on
My theory is that anyone who says that any of those characters are literally them are actually just George Costanza.
Perfect
Same with Mad Men. Ppl want to think they are Don because chads get sad too, but we are all Pete.
that's not bad
@Chandler Burse now, of course us advanced men are Kramer.
What if you say "that's literally me" to George costanza
Thank you for mentioning Buffalo '66. I never heard of the movie, I watched it today and I think it's one of my favourites.
Fellow time spanner.
He is literally me
buffalo 66 is my favourite movie, I found it as a pretentious douchebag going through the cannes list and the experience was incredible. the intrusive thoughts are represented better in this indie movie than any other piece of media I've seen. and the dream/fantasy/Hollywood ending that we all want but won't have
i just watched this movie as well its really really good
you exposed me to a multitude of my favorite videos,, buffalo '66 was amazing! thanks so much kino
the sync with your commentary and the movie clip at 3:19 is so well done.
I feel like Anakin Skywalker is Literally Me character that's not in a literally me movie
You should elaborate on this; I think you're onto something.
@@andynowicki4532 He is shunned by the Jedi council who almost refused to train him even though he's meant to be the chosen one. The Jedi also don't allow him to deal with his feelings for Padme and so he lashes out and becomes the very thing he swore to destroy.
many sources are confirming this
Anakin is THE sigma cinema character. Like the others he is surpressed and tortured by his societal environment, but the difference is not only did he rebel against his world, he literally became its dictator and through nothing but pure rage shaped it into his image. He is the most overlooked literally me character, yet he can also be considered the most successful one because in essence he is what every Literally me character is trying to be
Mandalorian is literally me
I don’t get these analyses about Ryan Gosling. He’s quite certainly myself.
Glad Five Easy Pieces got a shoutout. Such an under-seen gem. And one of the best character studies around.
My favorite "Literally Me" movie is "I stand alone" by Gaspar Noé.
The most insane literally me
I totally agree. Even if the Butcher did some terrible things, at the beginning and ending of the film especially, I still felt some kind of sympathy for him. I didn't mind his opinions, everyone's free to believe what he wants after all, life really f'ed him up so it was really logical for him to become bitter, disappointed and full of anger.
3:16 Okay but c'mon that syncing up with your voice and his mouth is amazing, great detail
Tyler Durden is literally me because im clinically insane and have delusional thoughts
The government keeps mind control nanites in your schizo relief pills
@@dedman5780 me when i realize that the 12 year old playing on the tree are feds after i stopped taking my pills
@@alphapegasus9761 continue the grind brother
@@scarfacecs If we include the book I guess that would include eating sand, women, jellyfish, among other things
@@scarfacecs I would describe the much nastier shit Bateman does in the novel but that would get this comment deleted. I tried to talk about the book's content with a discord server I'm in, and they're usually fine with nasty stuff, but it was too much for even them.
The genre is called "Character studies"
I always see people saying the people that love " literally me" characters didn't get the point of the character when really those people don't get why they find them so relatable.
A good literary through line for all these characters/themes is with Yukio Mishima. Schrader modeled all his characters on the Mishima archetype and even made the film Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters because of his overt reverence for the writer.
Just thought I’d share since I didn’t see any other comments referencing him!
Idk to me the Batman handled its class commentary in a great way, it made you empathetic towards the riddler while at the same time not glorifying the things he was doing
3:17 is some masterful editing... I love that you sinced what you were saying with Patrick Bateman... It even furthers your point, by making it "literally you"
You ironically bought the Drive jacket, right?
sure
How do you purchase something ironically?
@@mrscruffles801 you iron it
@@htf5555 correct
@A ironically or unironically?
FD signifier has a really good video on the darkside of literally me movies
its crazy how many people can relate to these characters! Thats how you know that the people that worked on this movie knew what they were doing.
Literally me
Nobody actually relate to them they wish they did
Thank you for articulating this so well!
Clint Eastwood's characters in the dollars trilogy are the best characters to be able to say literally me to. And Ip Man, if you can relate to Ip Man you've won
Waiting for Ryan's role in Barbie girl. Kens literally me.
Great series idea, great execution! I'm really looking forward to the femme take on literally me, since I never see those mentioned at all. First thing that comes to my mind is Arrival, personally.
gone girl!
Lady bird
the og laura palmer
i feel like fleabag fits in as well, judging by the online response to it
Amelie is a good one
Vegeta is literally me.
When you have so successfully become literally Ryan Gosling that even your family is afraid of
I've never gone into literally me mode but Taxi Driver comes closest
Holy shit I made that comment before I watched this and now I'm waiting for some independent Bickle Kino
Taxi Driver makes me go thank God I woke up before that was literally me
@@flopus7 argh you'd get into good shape at least.
@@universome511 lol, I think I ended up ok without the becoming a ticking time bomb trait
@@flopus7 ticking time bomb of vengeance
not a film but a book from Argentinian writer Ernesto Sabato "The Tunnel" could be also a "Literally Me" stuff
You know what you are talking about, king.
OMG, Sábato was pie first literally me guy here in Arg and i can't bellieve i just realizing now. What a boludo
@@nicolasriveros943 jajaja
@@nicolasriveros943 No lo se, a mi no me gusto el libro que le hizo sobre plaza de mayo
Thank you for making this video. I watched taxi driver last night for the first time and couldn’t believe how much I related to what he was going through, the sadness of the ending and how much the saying men are human doings not human beings is a part of my life.
I feel like The Northman tapped a lot into this genre of film whilst being a brilliantly historically authentic film at the same time. I'd love if you could give it a watch and review it in a similar fashion.
Tony Soprano is the best literally me character. He fills all the boxes and the 6 seasons worth(or 7 If you can’t 6a and b as two seasons) gives him so much development showing his trauma and how he morphs due to it. He gets women but he never has a true loving relationship. Even feeling unfulfilled from his wife. His friendships are all shallow. Even his family is shallow at times due to the complexities of the mob life. The show as a whole is about the American life and it’s decline. 9/11 happening part way through just increased those themes even more than before.
What am I, a toxic person?
He drives a Cadillac, he eats gabagool, he yells at his kids, he's literally me
If youre reading this youre literally AJ
@@kevincarter2020 Am I a toxshic pershun?
Tony Sopranos epitomises the ‘tough guy’ representation, but for me his shining quality is that its all business for him.
‘I dont want to do this, they dont want to do this, but it must be done’. Thats kind of vibe, i feel like people relate to his lack of choice as opposed to his brutal nature
Relatable characters teach us the most about ourselves
I think a lot of it is to do with mental health. All these characters struggle mentally and cope in their own ways. Covids happened and mental health has become a much larger issue so now with covid restrictions and less social activities for people to partake in, they find a connection with these characters and joke “literally me” but deep down they do really have some sort of connection with the character. Eg me and batman, I too tend to write down my own thoughts when I’m struggling or my mind is racing about something important he just like me frfr
Master Pain/Betty is literally me
Another one of the best examples of this is Dexter cause not only does it show and talk about his actions as an adult but it also show the events and tragedy that led up to him being who he is
7:40 I'm glad you mentioned this. My fellow wagies celebrate being able to work from home. All I see is that we're paying for the privilege to have the office in our own homes.
Dude, I'd kill to be able to work from home. I hate dealing with people.
I really connected with The Batman ever since the first trailer (huge comic book fanboy btw). Not to the extent like some people. But I was in the worst point in my life when I was filled with rage, I was medicated and depressed. I felt isolated and really connected to that character in that way
it’s funny because i was the same way the first time i saw a trailer for Joker. again, i didn’t relate to the extent of some lunatics, but similarly i was in a very difficult place back then and seeing a (FICTIONAL!!) character in the same situation and deciding to change it was cathartic for me in some strange way.
but the real question is, are we mortal enemies now? 🤔
I understand bro. I was the same with multiple AOT characters
@@morgboat744 you two are enemies, you must battle to the death
@@lucasrhys0363 im literally eren yeager bro people say i look like him all the time. its so me.
These characters make me more strong and keep developing
The Riddler's army at the end of The Batman was literally me
Someone put this guy on a watchlist.
U need restricted internet access
@@aidengrimes5216 lol
Some of my favorite 'Literally Me' films are:
The Heartbreak Kid (1972)
The King of Comedy
Taxi Driver
Fight Club
Frances Ha
Inside Llewellyn Davis
Bottle Rocket
The World's End
Ghost World
Unbreakable
Clerks
Mikey and Nicky
Buffalo 66
In The Company of Men
Modern Romance
River's Edge
Naked
The Cable Guy
Withnail and I
Superbad
Punch-Drunk Love
Amadeus
The Graduate
Vertigo
May
Barry Lyndon
Unfaithfully Yours
I'm Thinking of Ending Things
thanks
Frankly, I had a much easier time connecting with Arthur in Joker than with Travis in Taxi Driver. I never quite got the connection between Travis' motivations, that being his loneliness and disgust, with decisions like attempting to kill a politician.
There is no motivation behind what Travis does. It’s completely irrational, that’s the entire point of the movie lol. He is a completely alienated human being who tries to take control of himself through nihilistic and pointless violence.
Travis isn’t really supposed to be that complex or relatable. He’s just an unbelievably lonely and mentally sick man who decides to fulfill himself through self-perceived heroism.
Bickle could earn his living anywhere in the rest of the large city, but he chose to dwell in the filth. Just like he could have taken his date to an ordinary movie.
Frustrated naive people often want to be paid back for the pain they suffered from the very source, which would be the most just but really works out and more often leads to very dysfunctional relationships
Really happy to see a film like Buffalo 66 mentioned with all the more iconic ones.
I saw the clips but you've got to do Straw Dogs and Midnight Cowboy. Along with a full one on Buffalo.
I love how as a society..where relating to a sad and lonely character is even clowned upon ...loved this world .and always will be
I think the whole literally me thing are those whose sense of identity isn’t completely formed. I’ve been obsessed with quite a few characters on this list when I was a few years younger. They are remarkably awesome characters but I feel like my sense of being has grown a lot. I think the last character I felt I’ve had a connection to was emphaim Winslow from the lighthouse: heavy drinking,very hard working, treated like shit, violent, sketchy past, etc. I see those traits we have in common but I guess I prefer just being me than a fictional character.
I like it. Another movie that comes close to this, or the 'literally me' persona is Robert "Bob" Arctor from A Scanner Darkly, wherein the disturbed and the rebel share friendship in the extremes of substance abuse and increasing distrust to people and society in general.
On the positive comics side, I saw glints, maybe bright flashes of this in Loki series, whereas the 'chuunibyou' tendencies/delusions of grandeur of a person gets beaten up past death, fate, and timeline. At start, it immediately spells out to Loki that this nature or coping side of him for 'Glorious Puropose' did not do him well, resulting to his early end.
He learns about deaths in his family and shared with the viewers a 'literally me' moment. He meets his distaff counterpart later on and is given a 'touch of a woman' even if it was from a different version of himself. The love between him and Sylvie was powerful enough to divert, branch out a reality and change something within him.
Towards the end, he learns much about himself from his anima side, the child and the powerful and the most powerful version of Loki, teaching him that they hold power beyond comprehension, which crosses to us that whichever 'literally me' protag we look up to, mirror or get inspired by, we could always look within us the best there is.
Whichever author/screenwriter do it, there'll be a few of this moments we share to be 'literally me', and that's the path closest to love.
(Btw, I got interested reading disciple James the Lesser from the Bible, and he's literally me)
"The two hemispheres in my brain . . . are competing?"
@@adamlane6453 "The doo-dads, man."
Great Analysis, as you were speaking all i could think of is "that's literally me"!
Monday's and Thursdays I am Travis bickle, Tuesday's and Sundays I am the driver, Wednesdays and Saturdays I am Patrick Bateman, and on Friday I am Tyler Durden
Literally everyone
I think that Enemy would be my favorite one out of this genre because if you take the lifestyle of the main character (and exclude all the symbolism and doppelganger part) it is the most universal and relatable one out of all the characters. Its an average guy, whose conflict resides more on his romantic/personal life instead of the bigger picture of the society he lives.
I remember this one time where my house was burgled and they stole my rug. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but it really tied the room together. Nobody would make a movie about that sort of stuff though.
Peaky blinders, Thomas Shelby is a very "literally me" character
Ikr
when you see roicism
AARRGGGHHHHH IS THAT A BLOODY ROICISM?!?! WHEHS ME ROOTY-TOOTY-POINT'N'SHOOTY, I'M GUNNA BLOW ME BRAINZ OUT, I IS!
@@SilasWolfe
IS THAT A HECKING ROICISMERINO **ACK**
@@SilasWolfe tf
As a film student and budding filmmaker myself, the ending statement of this video speaks volumes to the core reason I decided to study film and make film. As as memey and simple as the statement is, I strive to create and be apart of a new industry that create films that express the "thats literally me" statement. A beautiful analysis and fantastic video, thank you for this video!
Art and media is a reflection of ones self.
we will watch your career with great interest
your display pic is anime..your opinion doesn't matter
This "trend" isn't one and this notion of anti conformist anti-hero goes way back.
For book enthousiasts, you can also refer to The Stranger, from Albert Camus, and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
I can't find any more older examples right now so other suggestions are welcome.
No Longer Human is also a good choice
The oldest I can of think of is King Solomon. An eccentric and odd man that was favored by God and was given a ring by the archangel Michael to control 72 demons and built a great temple, he could do magic, and took many wives. Unfortunately, he pledged himself to a different God in order to marry a certain beautiful woman. After that, he lost favor from God and his life and kingdom fell apart.
I’m literally Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov
@@diro5910 lol
Does anyone else enjoy Bringing Out the Dead? Great video btw. I hadn't heard of the "literally me" character before. Very interesting. I do enjoy most of these films.
Just saw Nicholas Cage say on an ama that Bringing Out the Dead is one of the movies he’s most proud of
Nicholas cage in bringing out the dead is a “literally me” character for every medic I’ve ever met. His “you promised you’d fire me” monologue is LITERALLY me
3:17 Did you just sync that? WOOOOOW
This is the moment Ryan Gosling became literally me.
There's a trope for this called Madden into Misanthropy, that could give you more examples like Magneto. I also see something similar in Holden in Catcher in the Rye. I haven't read Stephen King's RAGE, but that might fit too. There's also a deep nihilistic thread between these characters, so it may be beneficial to look into Nietzsche and Dostoevsky.
Holden Caulfield is the old school Literally Me
Amazing video! I feel like The Daniels just did something like this in a new way with "Everything Everywhere All At Once" - it was the first weird movie to make me laugh, cry, and say 'that's literally me and my family' in a while
I sometimes get tired, feel resentful, bitter, lonely, etc. I'm human, not a robot. But I will never identify with these sort of characters. They all lost their grip on reality and started hurting people or themselves. That's not something you should aspire or desire to yourself. That's not something cool or edgy. Cinema is a lot of times a bunch of cautionary tales. That is what's art is for: thinking and healing.
Thank you holy shit. No one else in these comments seems to understand that these characters aren't meant to be idolized.
You mentioned femcel Literally Me’s and I think a lot of those characters are in movies/shows like Fleabag. They have the same ideas of “the world sucks, I’m mentally ill and no one notices.” I don’t think they ever end in murder but Fleabag has a few fist fights. I might add Aggretsuko and Girls to the Femcel Literally Me list but I haven’t seen those. Britney Runs A Marathon could also work.
I don't know any movie examples but the gridman anime I loved because it was a really good example of this, the girl it's about is literally me
Heathers is the femcel Mean Girls
GolemIHardlyKnewEm No, but _Welcome to the Dollhouse_ is.
the worst person in the world definitely captured this same energy I'd say
there a comment in this section by @fleuve who mentiopn films like gone girl, black swan, Jennifer's body, the witch, 13, midsommar, I Tonya, girl Interrupted, promising young woman. would some of these line up?
Normally I hate video essays about movies because they tend to waste my time but this one was actually really good because it pointed out a common thread about modernity and gave me a new insight