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My two all-time favorite movie characters are Jake LaMotta and Daniel Plainview, both "ulikeable." I think the trite "It's like a car wreck: You can't turn away" applies aptly to movie characters as long as they make us ask, what's next? How low can this person go? How vast can their ego get before it ultimately dooms their survival? These are the same questions we ask about certain aspects of our own personality throughout life and I think we enjoy seeing them played out artistically as a form of catharsis. No matter to what extent, deep, deep down we all secretly lust for riches the way Daniel Plainview does or egotistical self assurance the way LaMotta does.

Good examples, Kalen. The value of working "unlikeable" characters who are compelling? We have more interesting stories. And I have to believe the door is more open to these type of characters because of the success of such TV series such as The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Dexter, etc.