Books to Movies: Is the Flawed Character Likable?

The issue for this post is:

Can a a movie help us audience members love a flawed character?

Loving a flawed character is is not quite the same as loving a villain. Lots of viewers love villains! Fredric Lehne from Supernatural discusses how Supernatural fans adore him. In fact, he has been treated better as a fantasy villain than he has as a "realistic" villain, proving (once again) that fantasy and sci-fi fans are much more level-headed than people who favor "true to life" drama.

I personally am endlessly amused by Cigarette Smoking Man in X-Files. Good villains are rather easy to love. 

But--can people love the hero who not only makes mistakes but is not always entirely appealing?

We forgive Darcy for being rude because he later helps. But I think viewers also forgive Darcy not just because Colin Firth is handsome but because he captures the self-conscious uncertainty of a guy at a party he would rather leave. 

That is, movie/television can go a long way towards selling a character who is not entirely appealing on paper. 

When I read The Warden by Trollope, I honestly thought the author was being more sardonic than supportive regarding the titular character, Mr. Septimus Harding. There is a very funny sequence in the book where Harding sneaks around to avoid his family members; he is worried that they will overbear him with their arguments before he can make the right decision. Trollope uses a slightly aloof tone--he comes across as not entirely sympathetic to Harding though he entirely sides with Harding at the end.

In the BBC production, Harding is played by Donald Pleasance! I mean...it's Donald Pleasance! He is totally adorable. Go, Harding! The audience WANTS him to get away from his overwhelming family. 

Likewise, Sean Bean in Lord of the Rings is a far more sympathetic character as Boromir than the book Boromir.

This issue may be one where movies have an edge over books--as long as one can get the right actor!