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Is it my imagination or has the number of vomit scenes erupted in films the past decade or so? It used to be that, excepting a Linda Blair/Pazuzu encounter, puking was pretty rare. More and more, it seems the preferred way to show emotional distress is for the character to upchuck. Where John Wayne would down a shot and slam his fist on the bar, a Nicholas Uncaged or Brayed Pitts will frown, lurch, and spew. Aesthetics aside, it's not all that realistic. Aside from seasickness, I've never seen anyone puke from nerves. One hears about athletes sometimes doing so. Still I've been in a few untoward situations. Have seen extreme leakage from the nether sluices. Puke? Not that I recall.
Anyway, the puke trope strikes me as bad writing/directing/acting. An actor should be able to emote without holding a mouthful of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup in reserve. Though Robert Duvall's faux vomit scene in The Great Santini was cinematic genius. Those 20 or so seconds of screen time easily knocked Citizen Kane into an airsickness bag.
Anyway, the puke trope strikes me as bad writing/directing/acting. An actor should be able to emote without holding a mouthful of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup in reserve. Though Robert Duvall's faux vomit scene in The Great Santini was cinematic genius. Those 20 or so seconds of screen time easily knocked Citizen Kane into an airsickness bag.
