This post just landed like an asteroid atop my head, Scott. Thank you...by the ton!

I went to link with the full Gore Verbinski interview, and found this added insight from him that is going up on the wall above my desk:

"...It’s very important to me that when you watch the movie, any character is a door, and I want to it to feel like if you open that door you’d see a whole movie about that character. So wrinkled hands, dust under the finger nails, they have to enter the scene and promise a history that they are coming from some place and going somewhere; they’ve been to Hell and back. So they’re dirty and grungy, but I think that makes it just more flavorful..."

What a great "way in" to imagining fully dimensional characters, regardless of their role in the narrative. It's a must-do step for all of 'em -- protagonist and nemesis on down...

Gracias, amigo!

Lawrence of Arabia is probably the best example of the identity theme. At one point a soldier shouts "WHO ARE YOU?" to Lawrence. Also, Lawrence dressed in Saudi attire is a physical representation of the theme.

@John: That's a great quote from Verbinski. Will definitely feature as Screenwriting 101 with a HT to you.

@Dharmesh: Excellent call on Lawrence of Arabia. In fact, you've inspired me to follow up with another post on the subject of self-identity. Such a common theme in movies.

Thanks to both of you!

That Verbinski interview, absolute treat, thank you, Scott. He wants to get the folks who breathe life into story in the same room? And welcomes anomaly in character design and gestures? Sooo beautiful. Never connected his movies, and out the gate he did Mousehunt, damn, that's impressive. Ring, Mousehunt, Pirates, in collection, will be watching some director commentary soon, what else does he see, what can I learn. Cannot wait for Rango.

Odd Japanese movie being remade here, Big Man Japan, delves into "who am I", and not in a million years would I have expected this story remade. Could be some ballsy commentary on society, or could lose the wacky charm (rainbow power! for someone whose first science fair project was rainbows, that was awesome). And such melancholy, this huge super hero living alone, no family. Remake could go in many directions, curious to see what Moritz does with it.

Man, I loved Rango. It'll be my sole DVD purchase later this year as well.