History Film / TonyManero

* AmbiguousDisorder: PlayedForDrama. The protagonist has a knack for saying nothing when he could easily calm things down with the right words, flying off the handle at minor provocations, and all around treating other people (even those that he has a significant connection to) as nothing but a means to an end. As stated above, a writer from ''The New York Times'' thought that it was as if Raúl ''had no soul''.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist (''The New York Times'' called the movie an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie"), ''Tony Manero'' has picked up critical praise but is still an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark {{deconstruction}} (somewhat ironic, given the [[UnbuiltTrope downbeat background]] of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life in a decrepit PoliceState.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Everything happy, funny, upbeat, etc about the above film is toned ''way'' down or entirely absent in this mutated quasi-sequel.

* RealityEnsues: Gee, Raúl, [[spoiler:you may be a solid dancer, but you're competing against men that are just as talented as you are while also being better looking and younger. Why are you surprised that you didn't win?]]

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Raúl gets asked point-blank what he's going to do when this trendy {{disco}} "fashion" [[DeaderThanDisco dies]]. He weakly retorts that it's more than that, but the question clearly needles him, sticking in his mind. [[spoiler:This uncertainty dogs him up to and including the film's final scene, when he's sitting in a bus having lost the fateful contest in a "Now what?" stupor.]]

* GrayAndBlackMorality: And how. The protagonist is an [[DissonantSerenity oddly serene]] yet [[TheSociopath totally depraved]] criminal. He spends his time in places that [[SceneryGorn almost always look decaying and rotten]]. The various side characters fall on varying scales of obnoxiousness with none being that overly sympathetic (or even given that much of a focus, anyways). [[LongingForFictionland Obsessing over fictional glitz]] makes sense given how [[CrapsackWorld cynically awful their world is]].

* VillainProtagonist: And how. Raúl Peralta would give freaking [[Series/HouseOfCardsUS Frank Underwood]] a run for his money.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist (''The New York Times'' called the movie an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie"), ''Tony Manero'' has picked up critical praise but is still an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark {{deconstruction}} (somewhat ironic, given the downbeat background of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life in a decrepit PoliceState.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larraín that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in {{Chile}}, it centers around a callous criminal named Raúl Peralta (played by Alfredo Castro) who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" that Creator/JohnTravolta peformed. A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] [[CrapsackWorld brutal dictatorship]], the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his dreams by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larraín that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in UsefulNotes/Chile, it centers around a callous criminal named Raúl Peralta (played by Alfredo Castro) who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Creator/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] [[CrapsackWorld brutal dictatorship]], the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist, the likes of which made ''The New York Times'' called it an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie", the movie has picked up critical praise but is still an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark {{deconstruction}} (somewhat ironic, given the downbeat background of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life in a decrepit society.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The protagonist shows up, feeling confused, to a backstage area ready for the big ''Saturday Night Fever'' related event. Heading inside only gets him shooed back outside among a group of men dressed nothing like disco enthusiasts. He then learns that it's a Creator/ChuckNorris impersonation contest that's about to start, and ''his'' event won't happen until the following week. He does have time to do the formal paperwork, though, ahead of time. Yet the questions about his age, residence, and occupation are cagey and hesitant. Not only is Raúl left looking stupid, but his anxiety about being a middle-aged low-life is made crystal clear.
* FanDisservice: Raúl imitates scenes of a mugging Travolta. For a character that's unattractive inside and out, especially when this is juxtaposed with him commiting heinous crimes, the moments are... ''unsettling.''

* {{Jerkass}}: Raúl.

* {{Badass}}: A subdued but fair example. Raúl's a horrible human being, but he's fairly agile, intelligently cautious, quick on his feet, and all around resourceful, especially for a man in his ''fifties''. He keeps his cool around the regime's goons without much trouble, ducks out a window and escapes across a rooftop as if it's nothing, and is [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking indeed a genuinely talented dancer.]]

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in UsefulNotes/Chile, it centers around a callous criminal named Raúl Peralta (played by Alfredo Castro) who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Creator/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] [[CrapsackWorld brutal dictatorship]], the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

* CrapsackWorld: To be sadly expected under a [[BananaRepublic military-run tyranny]]. Throughout the movie's background, it becomes clear that the system itself ''creates'' cruel {{jerkass}}es such as Raúl given how terrible personality traits such as deceit and callousness are rewarded. The decaying buildings, dirty streets, wandering dogs, and all the rest give off a negative aura of despair.

* DisproportionateRetribution: A nice old lady has a color television set that Raul is interested in, watching it after bugging him with racist comments. A merchant at a big junkyard-esque place raised the price of glass floor tiles that Raul longs for. A film projectionist has stopped showing the movie that Raul is totally obsessed with. Guess what happens to them.

* GratuitousEnglish: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]. Multiple Chileans are fascinated by U.S. culture, and trying to memorize bits of an internationally popular film is reasonable enough. The protagonist, though, gets obsessive about it, seeing the movie over and over again.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Raúl. This enhances the uncaring brutality of his killings even more

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in [[UsefulNotes/Chile Chile]], it centers around a callous criminal named Raúl Peralta (played by Alfredo Castro) who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Creator/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] [[CrapsackWorld brutal dictatorship]], the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

NeedsWikiMagicLove

Example Tropes:

* Badass: A subdued but fair example. Raúl's a horrible human being, but he's fairly agile, intelligently cautious, quick on his feet, and all around resourceful, especially for a man in his ''fifties''. He keeps his cool around the regime's goons without much trouble, ducks out a window and escapes across a rooftop as if it's nothing, and is [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking indeed a genuinely talented dancer.]]

* TheSociopath: The protagonist is just a few steps above sinking to that level. Assuming that he's not there already. He displays hints of fear, shame, and worry, yes, but that doesn't change how he's a cold-blooded ''murderer'' at heart.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist, the likes of which made ''The New York Times'' called it an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie", the movie has picked up critical praise but is still an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark {{deconstruction}} (somewhat ironic, given the downbeat background of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life under a [[BananaRepublic decrepit dictatorship]].

* GreaterScopeVillain: [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] reach is far, even if the tyrant is only brought up briefly.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Raul. This enhances the uncaring brutality of his killings even more
* [[PetTheDog Pet The Cat]]: A literal case. Raul takes the time to gently move around a housecat and put out a nice meal for it... after a sudden, horrible murder.

* TheSociopath: The protagonist is either there or just a few steps above sinking to that level.
* VillainProtagonist: And how. Raul Peralta would give freaking [[Series/HouseOfCardsUS Frank Underwood]] a run for his money.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in [[UsefulNotes/Chile Chile]], it centers around a callous criminal named Raúl Peralta (played by Alfredo Castro)who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Film/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] [[CrapsackWorld brutal dictatorship]], the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

* NiceSuit: To be expected given the scenario.
* [[PetTheDog PetTheCat]]: A literal case. Raul takes the time to gently move around a housecat and put out a nice meal for it... after a sudden, horrible murder.

* VillainProtagonist: And how. Raul Peralta would give freaking [[Series/HouseOfCardsU.S. Frank Underwood]] a run for his money.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in [[UsefulNotes/Chile Chile]], it centers around a callous criminal named Raul Peralta who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Film/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] brutal dictatorship, the Spanish language movie follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist, the likes of which made ''The New York Times'' called it an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie", the movie is an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark {{deconstruction}} (somewhat ironic, given the downbeat background of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life under a [[BananaRepublic decrepit dictatorship]].

* AmbiguousDisorder: PlayedForDrama. The protagonist has a knack for saying nothing when he could easily calm things down with the right words, flying off the handle at minor provocations, and all around treating other people (even those that he has a significant connection to) as nothing but a means to an end. As stated above, a writer from ''The New York Times'' thought that it was as if he ''had no soul''.

* DeadpanSnarker: Raul has shades of this. Other characters have their moments a well.
** "Are you talking your suit for a walk?"

* FascistEarlyBedtime: TruthInTelevision. The Chilean government has a strict curfew.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed and set in [[UsefulNotes/Chile Chile]], it centers around a callous criminal named Raul Peralta who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Film/JohnTravolta). A dark, cynical look at TheSeventies in that nation, during which Chilean life was rocked by [[UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet Augusto Pinochet's]] brutal dictatorship, the film follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsion by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' themed impersonation contest on national TV.

* VillainProtagonist: And how. Raul Peralta would give freaking [[Series/HouseOfCards Frank Underwood]] a run for his money.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed in {{Chile}}, it centers around a callous criminal named Raul Peralta who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of {{disco}} culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Film/JohnTravolta). Set in TheSeventies, during which Chilean life was rocked by Augusto Pinochet's brutal dictatorship, the film follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsive fandom by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' impersonation contest on national TV.

Featuring a thieving, murderous VillainProtagonist, the likes of which made ''The New York Times'' called it an "indelible portrait of a sociopath with the soul of a zombie", the movie is an odd bird to say the least. Compared to the iconic disco film, it functions as a SpiritualSequel, as a fascinating parallel narrative touching on the same themes, as a dark deconstruction (somewhat ironic, given the downbeat background of the first film, making ''Tony Manero'' [[UpToEleven a deconstruction of a deconstruction]]), and as an unrelated character study of life under a decrepit dictatorship.

''Tony Manero'' is a 2008 drama film by Pablo Larrain that uses the classic 1977 movie ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' as a springboard for a new story. Filmed in Chile, it centers around a callous criminal named Raul Peralta who becomes obsessed with the U.S. film's portrayal of UsefulNotes/Disco culture and specifically the role of "Tony Manero" (played by Film/JohnTravolta). Set in TheSeventies, during which Chilean life was rocked by Augusto Pinochet's brutal dictatorship, the film follows Peralta's growing obsession and eventual opportunity to live out his compulsive fandom by performing on a ''Saturday Night Fever'' impersonation contest on national TV.

* AmbiguousDisorder: The protagonist has a knack for saying nothing when he could easily calm things down with the right words, flying off the handle at minor provocations, and all around treating other people (even those that he has a significant connection to) as nothing but a means to an end. As stated above, a writer from ''The New York Times'' thought that it was as if he ''had no soul''.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Raul. This enhances the uncaring brutality of his killings even more.