The Emotional Journey of Characters Confronting High-Stakes Choices - MovieMaker Magazine

      There exist novels and films where very little happens, with the lives of fictional characters mirroring our everyday experiences in remarkable detail. Most of these works fail to engage the general audience and ultimately fade away.

      This, of course, is only true unless they are exceptionally well-written or directed. Cormac McCarthy, for instance, was an incredibly talented author who could capture his readers' attention without delving into the emotional journeys of his characters.

      Despite the violence and narrative, McCarthy's writing could transform a grim journey across the American plains into a vivid experience for readers. There are filmmakers who can make the ordinary captivating, but they are rare.

      The primary reason for this is audience preferences. The typical reader and moviegoer craves action, storytelling, and emotional depth; one surefire way to guarantee all three is by having protagonists face high-stakes decisions.

      James Bond in Casino Royale

      A memorable scene from the classic film Casino Royale features Britain’s most renowned spy facing off against supervillain Le Chiffre, portrayed by the talented Mads Mikkelsen, in a high-stakes Texas Hold 'em poker game. The $120 million pot that Bond and Le Chiffre compete over is highly unrealistic, yet Bond film fans willingly suspend their disbelief when watching these movies. This permits directors to incorporate substantial sums of money for dramatic flair, creating high-stakes decisions with real consequences that resonate with viewers.

      Of course, Bond wins the final hand, executing a surprise straight flush that beats Le Chiffre’s formidable full house. This poker scene highlights the glamorous allure of the game and has undoubtedly spurred more people to explore it themselves, though perhaps not at such exorbitant stakes!

      This moment serves as a catalyst for the ensuing drama and signals to viewers that James Bond is an indomitable character.

      (High stakes lead to high drama in this Bond film.)

      Conflict – Resolution

      Another illustration of how high-risk decisions shape a character's emotional journey is their integration with conflict-resolution themes. In The Goldfinch, an outstanding novel by Donna Tartt, the protagonist makes a decision in childhood that he carries with him into his teenage years and adulthood.

      As the narrative unfolds, the repercussions of this choice are reiterated and compounded by the introduction of various characters with emotional ties that the protagonist fears will be jeopardized if he is discovered.

      This sets up the conflict-resolution arc, which the author ultimately explores as she compels the character to confront various truths about his life. This process not only provides readers with a sense of closure but also allows them to witness the profoundly impactful emotional journey of the main character as he grapples with the consequences of his actions.

      This is, of course, more feasible in a lengthy novel. The film adaptation inevitably falls short of conveying the authentic emotional journey of the lead character.

      Tartt’s thorough exploration of her character’s psyche, reminiscent of her literary inspiration Fyodor Dostoyevsky, does not translate well into shorter formats.

      (A lack of opportunity to delve into the protagonist's high-risk decision in The Goldfinch movie results in it lacking the depth of the novel.)

      The Two Pillars of High-Intensity Decisions in Storytelling

      Brief, dramatic high-stakes decisions, like those depicted in Casino Royale, are well-suited for short-form media, such as films or concise thriller novels similar to the one on which the movie is based.

      Longer formats, including novels of 500 words or more and television series, offer better chances for writers and directors to delve into the immediate, medium, and long-term effects of these high-stakes decisions on their characters.

      Walter White’s high-intensity choice to seek funding for his cancer treatment through illicit means serves as a powerful example of this in television. Throughout the series, Vince Gilligan illustrates the character’s descent from moral conflict to ultimately expressing his dissatisfaction and anger over his unrealized potential.

      (The longer television series format of Breaking Bad provided Vince Gilligan with a superior platform to investigate the long-term effects of Walter White’s risky decision-making.)

      In Summary (TLDR)

      High-stakes decisions in movies, TV series, and novels are effective tools for injecting drama or enabling writers to explore the intricate inner emotional lives of their characters.