Examples of voice-over narration and flashbacks that.. just don’t work

Okay, so I’m in full voice-over narration and flashback get-our-shit-together mode, prepping for a two-week series beginning next Monday. For background, go here, here, and here. The general idea: Let’s study movies that use voice-over narration and flashbacks well.

Yes, that’s right, voice-over narration and flashbacks are not inherently EVIL as some would lead us to believe, witness movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Casablanca, Inception, Fight Club, Apocalypse Now, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

You can actually use voice-over narration and flashbacks effectively and to the general benefit of your story and you will not necessarily be thrown into the pit of Development Hell.

I know. Shocking, but true.

So that’s where our heads will be the next two weeks.

But today, let’s wallow in the miasma of Hollywood Conventional Wisdom, that voice-over narration and flashbacks are by definition flaccid, flabby, effed up writing.

What movie examples of voice-over narration and flashbacks can you think of that… just don’t work? As a touchstone, you can always check out what is perhaps the worst case of exposition ever.

For the next two weeks, we’ll revel in the creative inspiration and aesthetic value of well-written voice-over narration and flashbacks.

Today let’s check out what doesn’t work. For starters, how about this flashback:

See you in comments with your suggestions.

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