Harmless Idolatry

Bagholder can remember the exact moment in childhood when he first realized, that while the world (in a physical sense) may be black & white, the people within - are Gray. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance kid were to blame.  They are such likable guys, yet they are criminals. Therein lies the rub. It is a bit of a psychological epiphany as a child to realize:  not all bad guys wear black, not all good guys wear white, and of course, all people are a mix of both good and bad.  From the moment Butch won a knife fight - without a knife - Bagholder has had a morbid fascination with Bad guys. What follows are my top ten villains with whom I hold a strong personal connection, despite the fact they are all cold blooded murderous psychopaths…….  

- Jack Torrance. The appeal of this character is he is very much an ordinary guy, who slowly descends into insanity. He is no mastermind, he is not an egomaniac, and he is not an arch criminal. In fact, nothing in particular turns him into a cold blooded killer.  His is more of a slide into the abyss which is so gradual - its almost as though it could easily happen to you or I. 

- Lex Luthor. Hackman's version of Lex in the Superman movies was a delightful mix of megalomaniac, egomaniac, and haughtiness. Most of the names on this list have oversized egos - but in that regard this guy is in a class by himself. Egomaniacs are a joy to behold, precisely because they are their own worst enemy. This life requires balance - the Lex Luthor types have none in their world. Its really inevitable that he does himself in. 

- Lord Vader. There was no bigger bad-ass on the planet in the late 70's. He was a supremely gifted, yet lost soul unable to properly harness his talents. Worse yet, he fell under the auspices of someone more capable of harnessing (and utilizing) those natural gifts.  The Black robe & mask helped conceal Lord Vaders  internal struggles, while also magnifying his image as a badass. His direct, concise, efficient means in achieving ends is the stuff of greatness. 

- Michael Corleone. A man of few words, and fewer actions - but those actions spoke volumes.  His cold, calculating, ruthless manner and an razor-sharp insight into human nature Kept him two steps ahead of his enemies. He was not a particularly good soldier, but he was a helluva General. A true "big picture" guy. 

- Omar Lyttle. You just have to love someone who beats the scum of the earth drug dealers at their own game - and doing it with a code. Like Omar said: "Yo, never hurt nobody, wasn't in the game". Unlike the others on this list, he only killed to survive. To some, that makes him morally superior. Its funny, a lot of what he was able to do - was because of his reputation and the fact he understood the threat of violence is always stronger than its use. 

- Paulie Walnuts. A complete moral reprobate, if there ever was one. Mafia Killer with the same intellect, same wisdom, and same hierarchy of needs as the average 8th grade male. His most endearing quality is he sees the world as black and white - much like a kid. He is particularly interesting to watch because he has NO scruples & life is gray.  

- Kahn - There should be a picture of this guy in the dictionary under ambition. Exceptionally intelligent, well educated, genetically superior and yet unable to govern several of the deadlies (primarily pride and wrath). It seems fitting that despite all his genetic gifts, his unchecked ego was his downfall. He was truly, a worthy adversary for someone (Kirk) cruising the cosmos. 

- Tony Montana. There is something to be admired about someone who works their way up the food chain one rung at a time. Unlike Michael Corleone, Tony was a better soldier than a general. His problem was he didn't know any limits - in anything. Still, you have to admire someone who knew what he wanted & went out and got it. 

- The Joker.  His is perhaps the loosest grip on reality - but I'm not one to hold that against a guy.  For all his faults, he did know how to have fun. Like any genius, he had a way with words and was most fluent in sarcasm. To me though, the real draw of the character was his irreverent manner and the fact he thought BIG.  He had a natural gift for forcing people outside their comfort zones - one of Bagholders favorite pastimes. 

- Dexter.  An excellent tactician, who does his homework, and executes with extreme cunning - thats a dangerous combination. He is A true predator. He channels his inner demons towards ridding the world of his fellow predators. It is seemingly a noble goal, executed in a manner that is both righteous and just.   Whats not to like?