10 really confusing movie titles explained

They look good on the poster and they roll off the tongue, but have you ever considered what the titles of your favourite movies actually mean? With ‘T2 Trainspotting’ finally divulging the meaning of its spoddy title, we went ahead and decoded those enigmatic movie titles you know and love.

‘Trainspotting’

The official meaning of the title ‘Trainspotting’ was never really revealed in the movie, although there are suggestions that it refers to the act of drug-taking and how, like writing down numbers of passing trains, it is an addictive yet wholly pointless hobby. (The marks on heroin users’ arms are also called ‘track marks’).

Confusing movie endings explained
10 movie trailers that lied to you
12 biggest ever Oscar travesties

In the new sequel, however, Spud recalls a moment from his youth when he was shooting up in an old railway station, and a vagrant asks him if he is trainspotting. It is later suggested that Spud’s collected writings about his adventures in heroin will be given the same title as the movie.

‘Reservoir Dogs’

Take your pick of the explanations on offer. Quentin Tarantino himself has claimed that ‘Reservoir Dogs’ is “more of a mood title than anything else” and that he likes it when people come up with their own interpretations. One theory suggests that ex-video store film junkie Tarantino used to mispronounce the titles of the foreign films he had in stock, and his mangled attempt at pronouncing ‘Au revoir les enfants’ led to the title. The simplest explanation, however, comes from actor Lawrence Tierney, who says the title refers to “dogs who hang around a reservoir”. Which is fairly foolproof logic.

‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’

Put your poetry hat on: it’s rhyme time. The title of this beautiful Michel Gondry/Charlie Kaufman joint comes from an Alexander Pope poem titled ‘Eloisa to Abelard’. It too is the tale of a love affair turned tragedy, and one where the heroine, Eloisa, is haunted by her memories and comforted by her forgetfulness. And we quote: “How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind / Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d”. Or, in other words, ignorance is bliss – the mind that is free and clear will always be bright and cheerful.

‘A Clockwork Orange’

This Kubrick oddity comes from the pages of Anthony Burgess’ book, particularly the intro, which is titled ‘A Clockwork Orange Resucked’. The bizarre metaphor is in reference to any person “who has the appearance of an organism lovely with colour and juice, but is in fact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil.” Alternately, it’s described as “the application of a mechanistic morality to a living organism oozing with juice and sweetness”. So, something that seems human but is actually automated and without morals inside. Sums up Alex by the film’s end rather well, doesn’t it?

‘The Grapes Of Wrath’

No, it’s nothing to do with being an angry drunk. The title of this movie, based on John Steinbeck’s great American novel in 1939, originates from lyrics taken from ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’, an anthem associated with the Civil War: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord / He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored”. These lyrics are themselves derived from the book of Revelation, passages from which inspired the Christian art motif of Christ trampling on grapes in the winepress, and in the process, becoming the wine. Interestingly, Steinbeck himself couldn’t come up with a title – it was suggested by his wife, Carol.

‘Quantum Of Solace’

There’s no mystery to solve here really as the title was lifted from an original 007 short story written by Ian Fleming, only the question of why the Bond producers decided to deploy such florid language. There’s a double meaning at play: ‘Quantum’ is obviously the villainous group that Bond discovers in the movie, but the word also means “a measure”. ‘Solace’, on the other hand, is another way of saying “peace” or “stillness”. So really, ‘Quantum Of Solace’ just a fragrant way of telling us that Bond is trying to put his mind to rest with a moment of solitude following the death of Vesper Lynd in ‘Casino Royale’ – which he can’t do until all the baddies are defeated. Other unused Fleming short story titles include ‘The Hildebrand Rarity’, ‘The Property of a Lady’, and ‘Risico’.

‘Straw Dogs’

Director Sam Peckinpah was a bit of a Lao Tzu fan, as he took the title for his rape revenge movie from the Chinese text ‘Tao Te Ching’: “Heaven and earth are ruthless and treat the myriads of creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless and treats the people as straw dogs. Is not the space between heaven and Earth like a bellows?” But what does it mean? It’s open for interpretation, but Chinese ceremonial straw dogs were dressed up and used for sacrifice; ancient essayist Su Zhe, commenting on the verse, says: “They do not kill living things out of cruelty or give them birth out of kindness.” It’s Amateur Philosophy 101, but the take-home is that the title references how cruelty is inherent to humanity, and how the human race is capable of treating one another. Or something.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’

Here’s another movie title for which the meaning is easier to ascertain from the source material. In it, we learn explicitly that the character of Pat (played by Bradley Cooper) is delusional about his life’s prospects but that he always sees the bright side – or ‘silver lining’ of any given situation, even his wife cheating on him. The ‘playbook’ of the title refers to the way Pat has chosen to live his life, and ties in with the sports theme that comes naturally to a character obsessed with gambling and football. The ‘silver linings playbook’ is Pat’s reliable blueprint for navigating life’s various ups and downs.

‘Cloverfield’

Giant aliens from space don’t tend to wear name tags, so someone has to give them a name. The monster is unofficially known as ‘Clover’, but that’s really derived from the title, which remains enigmatic, and with good reason – it doesn’t really mean anything. ‘Cloverfield’ is just the name of the exit JJ Abrams takes to his office in Santa Monica, and it was the codename for his unnamed monster movie until it stuck better than any alternative options. ‘Blood relative’ pseudo-sequel ’10 Cloverfield Lane’ at least has a straightforward explanation: it’s the address of the bunker where the film is set.

‘Black Snake Moan’

The Sam Jackson blaxploitation flick has its roots in Mississippi blues culture, and the title is no different. It’s taken from a song written by American country blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1929 called ‘That Black Snake Moan’. Lyrics include lines like “Mmm, black snake crawlin’ in my room” and “Some pretty mama had better come and get this black snake soon”. It won’t surprise you to hear it’s a song that’s heavy with sexual innuendo, which makes perfect sense when you realise the movie’s plot sees a bluesman attempt to cure a nymphomaniac of her sex addiction.

Read more
The best movie posters of 2017 so far
10 movies that changed Hollywood forever
First look at Tomb Raider reboot