Affably Evil/Film: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

* In the ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]'' movie, [[Ian McKellen]]'s version of Magneto -- at least, early on.

* Ditto for Iron Monger/{{spoiler|Obadiah Stane}} in ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'', especially in the scene where he's talking to Pepper Potts. He's as affable as always, but she doesn't know whether he's just making small talk or interrogating her.

* The Brain, from ''[[Gremlins|Gremlins 2]]''. An erudite, genetically-altered gremlin who merely wants what everyone wants, and what you tropers have: Civilization! The Geneva Convention, chamber music, Susan Sontag...

{{quote|'''The Brain:''' We want to be civilized. I mean, you take a look at this fellow here...

'''The Brain:''' Now, was that civilized? No, clearly not. [[Rule of Funny|Fun, but in no sense civilized!]] }}

* David Allen Griffin in ''[[The Watcher (film)|The Watcher]]'' is a perfectly sociable and charming guy to have around. Except for the whole [[Serial Killer|garroting young women thing.]] Oh, and [[Stalker with a Crush|stalking]] and [[Ho Yay|flirting]] with a male FBI agent who hates him kinda hinders him in the social department as well.

* Harry Waters of ''[[In Bruges]]'' seems to be an alright guy, apart from his crime boss status and constant swearing. He has a [[Honor Before Reason|strict moral code]] and genuinely tries to give Ray a nice vacation {{spoiler|before he has him offed}}. Observe the following exchange:

'''Harry:''' How the fuck is it not his thing? The whole fuckin' place is a fuckin' fairy tale, so how can it not be someone's fuckin' thing! }}

* The Nome King from ''[[Return to Oz]]'' displays a disturbing mix of affability and subtle condescension towards Dorothy and her friends (his counterpart in [[Land of Oz|the books]], though, was more of a cackling [[Card-Carrying Villain]]). The film ''Return to Oz'' plays the same "[[All Just a Dream|all a dream]]" card that the film of ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' played, and the Nome King, in this case, is supposed to be a direct analogue to the psychiatrist running the asylum where Dorothy is being treated at the beginning of the film. He himself is quite Affably Evil in his own right, warmheartedly declaring that electroshock therapy is "just the thing to cheer Dorothy up", words that the Nome King [[Meaningful Echo|repeats later in the film]].

* [[Robert De Niro]] as Al Capone in ''[[The Untouchables]]'': a [[Magnificent Bastard]] who goes from pontificating on the joys of baseball one second to savagely murdering an associate with a bat the next. Every word that passes his lips is met by sycophantic laughter.

* The Operative of ''[[Serenity]]'' is a man who is convinced of the righteousness of his actions, and holds no particular ill will for his enemies. Indeed, he goes so far as to compliment his foes' tenacity, bravery, or the good work they've done, even when he's ''impaled them on his sword and watching them die.'' Even more so is how he kills certain people with the sword. He paralyzes them, then lets them fall on it because he believes it's an honorable way to die. He's even self-aware that, despite his own politeness, [[No Place for Me There|he is a monster with no place]] in [[Utopia Justifies the Means|the paradise he is trying to create]].

{{quote|'''The Operative:''' There is no shame in this. This is a good death, for a man who has done fine works.}}

** [[Goldfinger]] ''is'' this trope. Is that mint julep tart enough for you, Mr. Bond? It is? Excellent. Now, going back to my scheme to nerve gas and nuke 60,000 people...

* Dr. Raymond Cocteau from ''[[Demolition Man]]''. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] by [[Psycho for Hire]] Simon Phoenix, who compares the man to an "evil Mr. Rogers".

* Quite a few characters played by [[Vincent Price]] (not counting the ones who are [[Faux Affably Evil]]).

* Harry Lime from ''[[The Third Man]]'' is an early example, with [[Orson Welles]] receiving a lot of attention at the time for portraying the [[Manipulative Bastard]] as just a regular guy who wanted his old friend to like him even after discovering his actions.

* {{spoiler|Max (Edward Herrman)}}, from ''[[The Lost Boys]].''

* While his underlings are [[Small Name, Big Ego|quite rude]], Xerxes in ''[[300]]'' is quite friendly -- perhaps [[Ho Yay|overly]] [[Foe Yay|so]]. Even at the moment of his triumph, he takes the time to congratulate Leonidas and offer the entirety of Greece to him, as long as he acknowledges the pecking order. Unfortunately, we don't get to see how affable he is after Leonidas [[Minor Injury Overreaction|breaks]] his [[Dissonant Serenity]].

* Xander Drax from ''[[The Phantom (film)|The Phantom]]''. [[This Is Unforgivable!|Except if you lie to him.]] [[Disproportionate Retribution|Don't]] ''[[Disproportionate Retribution|ever]]'' [[Disproportionate Retribution|lie to him.]]

* Big Chris of ''[[Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels]]'' is a hitman, but is overall a nice guy, and a good dad to his son, Little Chris. But so much as lay a finger on Little Chris, and the affable part goes out the window.

* The villain in ''Babysitter Wanted'' chats merrily with the final girl as he's carving up the body of another girl. His accomplice later gets mad at him for being so friendly.

* As in the novel on which the film is based, Don Vito Corleone from ''[[The Godfather]]''. Warmhearted, reasonable, prefers to think of his partners as "friends", and happy to perform the odd favour for his less-than-fortunate neighbours. True, he does inform them that they might have to do a little something for him in return, but contrary to Amerigo Bonasera's worries, all he usually asks for is a free service from their business. He even [[Pet the Dog|adopted Tom Hagen]] and eventually allowed him to become his personal advisor - [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|even though he knew that none of the other Mafia bosses would approve]]. Vito's still in charge of one of the most powerful Mafia families in America, and he's not above the occasional murder or extortion to back up the usual income from gambling and union racketeering. However, [[Even Evil Has Standards]], which Vito demonstrates in his refusal to deal in drugs and prostitution (the most contemptuous line in the film is when he says, "Tattaglia's a pimp"). And, to his credit, he does his best to keep his children and his civilian friends as far away from crime as possible.

** Having learned from his father, it's unsurprising that Don Michael also fits this trope; however, though well-mannered and gracious, he lacks Vito's degree of warmth - which, combined with his ruthlessness, eventually begins to distance him from his friends and family.

* John, one of the main antagonists in ''Drunken Master 2'', is some form of this. He's very cheerful for almost the entire film, except when being brow-beaten by the British Ambassador he's working for, and {{spoiler|when Fei-Hong is beating the crap out of him at the end of the film.}} He even gives a cheery thumbs-up and a big grin after {{spoiler|kicking Fei-Hong onto burning coals.}}

* Mr. Bentley (played by [[Patrick Stewart]]), the villain of ''[[Masterminds]]'', is charming, polite, levelheaded, and witty. He also equips his men with [[Instant Sedation]] dart guns during the initial takeover of the school and orders them not to injure anyone while repelling the cops' attempts to retake it (although it's really only through [[Bullets Do Not Work That Way|the magic of Hollywood ballistics]] that no one is killed).

** Debatable example, as he isn't evil so much as completely out of his mind.

* {{spoiler|Noah Cross}} of ''[[Chinatown]]''.

* Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) in ''[[Miller's Crossing]]''.