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Day 1: Putting The Character To The Test – MY COUSIN VINNY
Provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective.
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8 Replies
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Assignment Week 4 – Day 1. My Cousin Vinny
What makes this character (Miss Vito) great from a writing perspective is how the writer holds off the result of her “test” to the very end of the scene.
In all the run-up, we see her under attack from the prosecutor and the judge is not on her side either. The prosecutor doesn’t take her seriously as an expert on cars, and nor can we. The way she is dressed, her make-up and hair-style do not, to say the least, suggest a car mechanic.
So, we might be plugging for her, but when the Prosecutor comes out with the question about the 1955 Belair Chevrolet, we fear for her future as a witness.
Then there are those tantalizing moments when she says, “That’s a bulls–t question” and “It’s a trick question.” Those responses suggest she is just trying to put off the inevitable.
It is only the judge’s question, “Why is that a trick question?” that she is given the prompt to demolish the prosecutor.
But she does have support in the room, and when her attorney says, “Watch this.” we suspect that maybe she has a trick up her sleeve.
She completely turns the table on the prosecutor in a brilliant way and forces the judge to totally change his attitude towards her. It is great writing.
END
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This scene has effortlessly lived super-fondly in my head for nearly three decades. A source of insight for me is realizing I believed LISA in this scene the first time I saw this movie back then. Marisa was not known to me before this movie, so I couldn’t be biased.
Watching this scene in isolation today, I couldn’t recall any scene in this movie where she had demonstrated automotive skills before this rabbit.
So I set about to figure out why the first time I didn’t find her sudden expertise unbelievable. I feel that letting us in earlier on her talent would have made the character weak by being too convenient and feel lazy composition in spite her genius acting.
Like the contrary secrets and reveals for Kate (in Lost,) I think in this reveal-set our trust happened in three stages. First one subtly hints by Lisa recognizing something’s up with the car after they hit mud. Even as VINNY claims she knows everything, and we are thrown off by her “not knowing” an “obvious” concept what the passerby explains. Second relevant beat is her familiarity with mechanical engineering skills (via confident ad lib re “Torqueation” on the Motel faucet) which are a garage away from a car, ensure the scene in study, however big, is not a predictable surprise.
A full etiology of the success of this scene would make this make a term paper size answer repeating everything everyone has already seen. I dutifully checked each lesson, and it checks out exceptionally well. On. Each. Darn. Lesson. For a moment I thought the lesson on character ending doesn’t apply to this one until I remembered how she destroys the expert witness WILBUR’s cred, Prosecutor TROTTER’s crusade and newfound pomposity.
In addition, the dramatic foundation of this chapter is not just tapped out in their patio argument, but considering what they pulled off — I can’t recall a people and relationship movie with stakes so big that everything, the relationship, career, life, and lives would be destroyed forever if this scene didn’t turn.
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It’s always fun/dramatic to see a character’s hidden power come out just when you need it. Ms. Vito’s power was that of being a super expert in automobiles – but we don’t know it until this point. I also enjoyed how they set up the scene – wondering if she is an expert and if she will answer the question correctly (because the whole trial rests on it).
This reminds me of a scene from “The Hidden Fortress”. The General’s job is to protect the princess – but we don’t see his strength right away. When he must pursue and strike down the enemy for the first time – we are all surprised at how “badass” he really is. He gains a whole new level of respect.
Putting the Character to the Test is a great way to reveal character.
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What makes this writing great is the way the writer teases us with stupid prosecutor questions followed by snappy saucy replies…from a woman, especially as she gets into the details of multiple cars. What a hoot as the writer tricks us with this successful twist on our expectations. The chewing gum was a nice bit of characterization. A nice example of attack/ counterattack.
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Week 4, Day 1–Put the Character To The Test–My Cousin Vinny
The scene is riddled with complimentary opposite characters; their traits play into setting up the scene for a great character test of Mona Lisa Vito–automotive mechanic.
She is tested as an automotive expert witness and the DA and Judge have their gender bias. Mona Lisa and Vinny are as brash as the DA and Judge are southern comfort smooth. The contrast infuses some scene tension.
The DA taunts Mona Lisa with an in-depth question/scenario about a specific feature of a car, model, engine and timing. As she declares she cannot answer, the DA’s ego is momentarily inflated and then punctured by Mona Lisa as she explains the question is a trick as she explains his flawed test. She redeems her claim to expertise and takes control of the situation.
The drama built around this scene is fueled by the cultural contrasts and that Mona Lisa is layered-ditsy, brash, flawed, confident. Expert witnesses can make or break a case. She began looking like a loser witness and ended as a credible expert automotive mechanic. She has grit-she may not be well schooled, but she is clever and educated. this scene became a pivotal part of the movie.
What I learned: Testing a character allows the audience to see different dimensions, flaws, strengths and we can watch them grow into their potential in in plain sight.
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Karyn. Definitely agree about the cultural contrasts/conflicts. To me, that’s what makes this movie stand out as incredibly brilliant writing–showing both sides of the equation, with of course, the Southern small-mindedness being less equal than New Yorkers.
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Week 4 Day 1 – Putting the Character to the Test MY COUSIN VINNY
FIRST WATCH
How is she tested and how does it build to an emotional moment?
Intending to show that she’s not a qualified witness, the prosecutor admits she has general knowledge about cars, but that it doesn’t make her expert witness. So she gets up to leave but the judge says she can’t leave until he tells her to. Vinny tells the prosecutor to give some real questions. But says she can’t answer because it’s a bullshit question. Prosecutor says that proves she’s not expert. She says no one can answer it because it’s a trick question. She blows everyone away on what she knows about the trick question.
What is the result of the test Her knowledge puts the prosecutor to shame.
SECOND WATCH
Drama scene is built around Courthouse where Vinny’s cousin and friend are on trial for murder, because their car matches the real murderer’s car. Vinny and his troupe are New Yorkers in a Southern town, classic trope of out-of-towner underdogs who seemingly are way in over their heads with no chance of justice.
What profile items show up? She’s snide, humble, doesn’t put up with nonsense, sees through hypocrisy, smart as shit, and a private person, as a woman, she’s at a disadvantage so when she takes down the big dogs it’s a great win for all women.
Vinny—cocky, respects women as equals, looking for a good fight, fights hypocrisy, resourceful
Insights: test the character and you’ll find all kinds of hidden talents and secrets and resources…Especially if the test is in steps that build to a crescendo of ultimate success of failure, where stakes are life/death.
My writing Several tests and challenges dominate my story, but I can definitely see where I can up the stakes and draw out the tests/challenges, not unlike No Country for old Men.
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Fun scene to watch twice, especially since the guilt or innocence depends on Ms. Vito’s testimony. Characters show cultural differences, and many diversity differences. Rule here is, don’t assume anything. Looks are deceiving and when challenged, get ready for surprises. Ms. Vito passes the knowledge test and saves the day for the two boys, and her attorney boy friend looks good. The prosecuting team look manipulative and wrong, plus the Judge views Ms. Vito in a different and more positive light. This scene was imperative to winning the case.
I learned that looks can be deceiving, and I can add depth to my characters by changing a scene into a similar test of wits and knowing. Plus use the scene for reveals or set ups.
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