I just caught up with this film on DVD last night. What the fuck is the point of the film? I just dont get what it is supposed to be saying to the viewer.

It seemed to be about a pack of 4 selfish arseholes just being shitty to each other. I know the characters arn't supposed to be liked but I think it's important that the characters be interesting and that we have some interest in what happens to them.

Any of the characters in this film could have been hit by a bus at any moment and i wouldn't have cared. What in the hell was this film saying? What is the point?

I also think the script is half-arsed and the direction is dull. The performances are quite good, especially Natalie Portman. Clive Owen is good even though he has the worst lines in the movie.

Someone please explain the point of this crap to me. Please!



.
[Edited 8/28/05 20:57pm]

...I couldn't relate to the movie at all, either...lol

Before I saw it, I remember sooo many people talking about how the relationships in this movie are "real!!"...how they portray all the realness of how people interact when involved, all the insecurities and this and that and the other...

But as I watched it, I just saw four extremely emotionally immature characters who got on my nerves a little too often...the acting was indeed good and if I look at is as the physical imbodiment of all of our emotional baggage we bring into relationships, then I find myself liking it more.

But...other than that...sheesh...if this is what people actually experience in their relationships, then damn...
[Edited 8/28/05 21:02pm]

I just caught up with this film on DVD last night. What the fuck is the point of the film? I just dont get what it is supposed to be saying to the viewer.

I know the characters arn't supposed to be liked but I think it's important that the characters be interesting and that we have some interest in what happens to them.

Before I saw it, I remember sooo many people talking about how the relationships in this movie are "real!!"...how they portray all the realness of how people interact when involved, all the insecurities and this and that and the other...

But as I watched it, I just saw four extremely emotionally immature characters

Byron said:

There a lot of emotionally immature characters running around out there.

I just caught up with this film on DVD last night. What the fuck is the point of the film? I just dont get what it is supposed to be saying to the viewer.

It seemed to be about a pack of 4 selfish arseholes just being shitty to each other. I know the characters arn't supposed to be liked but I think it's important that the characters be interesting and that we have some interest in what happens to them.

Any of the characters in this film could have been hit by a bus at any moment and i wouldn't have cared. What in the hell was this film saying? What is the point?

I also think the script is half-arsed and the direction is dull. The performances are quite good, especially Natalie Portman. Clive Owen is good even though he has the worst lines in the movie.

Someone please explain the point of this crap to me. Please!



.
[Edited 8/28/05 20:57pm]

I fucking HATED this movie... it seemed so up my alley in previews but watching it was just SO annoying, I wanted to choke every single character

CalhounSq said:

I agree with the choking comment. God, these people were so selfish. Unfotunately I know folks like that.


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

See, I don't know anyone like the characters in this movie...or maybe I should say, if I do know them, I've never been involved with them romantically.

Byron said:

If I did know people like those portrayed in this film I wouldn't know them very well or for very long

hated it!

Brilliant Disguise

I hold you in my arms
as the band plays
What are those words whispered, baby
just as you turn away?
I saw you last night
out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind
To know just what I've got in this new thing I've found

So tell me what I see
when I look in your eyes
Is that you, baby?
or just a brilliant disguise?

I heard somebody call your name
from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame
underneath your pillow
Well I've tried so hard, baby
but I just can't see
What a woman like you
is doing with me

So tell me who I see
when I look in your eyes
Is that you, baby
or just a brilliant disguise?

Now look at me, baby
struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart
when out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim
I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it's you I don't trust
'cause I damn sure don't trust myself

Now you play the loving woman
I'll play the faithful man
But just don't look too close
into the palm of my hand
We stood at the altar
the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours
Well maybe, baby, the gypsy lied

So when you look at me
you better look hard and look twice
Is that me, baby
or just a brilliant disguise?

Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he's sure of

- B. Springsteen

I understand that the movie is about distrust, betrayal, self-doubt, selfishness etc but the problem for me is that the film does not create empathy with any of the characters.

Nearly every person (except fort perhaps psychopaths) has some redeemable qualities. These people had none. I would have felt more involved in the story if the film could have made me care about them.

The beauty of the Springsteen song you quoted is it's honesty, it's self reflection. The characters in this film showed no responsibilty for their actions at all. No regret. Just insatiable self-appeasement and shallowness.

But look at the powerful response you had! It's kinda like a horror movie only centered around emotional and intellectual destruction versus slashing up body parts. And done so much more creatively.

I don't know anyone quite exactly like that, but I know plenty of people who have bordered on those edges, I think many people have more of those qualities than we like to think. I think it was a brutally honest portrayal of how lust, obsession, dependence all sorts of things can destroy us in so many subtler ways than Glenn Close boiling our bunny.