MovieChat Forums > The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) Discussion > The future of Joe Tynan (spoilers)

The future of Joe Tynan (spoilers)

posted 13 years ago by WarpedRecord
8 replies | jump to latest

Any thoughts on the final scene, and what Joe's fate might have been? At first, I expected him to reject the nomination to keep his marriage together, but from the look in Ellie's eyes, it looks like she gave in to being a political wife. Do you think he accepted the nomination, and do you think his marriage lasted into the '80s and beyond?

Also, does anyone know how the convention footage was filmed? It appears to use footage from a real Democratic convention, but the timing of this film would exclude '76 and precede '80.

This is an excellent drama that still feels very contemporary. In fact, Joe reminded me of a recent Democrat in a similar situation (though Joe's wife wasn't dying of cancer, and Karen Traynor didn't get pregnant). Honest dialogue and strong performances always make me care immensely for the characters, and there's not a single scene that rings false here. Kudos to Alan Alda, the superb Barbara Harris, the very ripped Rip Town, the very young Meryl Streep and the very old Melvyn Douglas for their find work here, sadly forgotten these days. 9/10 stars.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

Thanks for the response! If I were to meet Alan Alda, I'd have asked him the same question — at least until I learned that you answered and he had nothing to say. I would think that the character of Joe Tyan would have stuck with him after 32 years. Obviously, there will be no sequel — not that I really expected one at this point.

Was the book "Things I Learned While Talking to Myself"? I bought that recently in the clearance bin. I probably won't bring that up either if I ever meet him.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Kroyall1962 12 years ago

Tynan was a typical cynical scumbag politician. He would have accepted the nomination of his party and probably continued to cheat on his wife. He was drunk with power like many politicians are.

Interesting that guys like Alda and Robert Redford have made great movies about how corrupt the political process is but in their personal lives always come out for more and bigger government. They don't seem to take away any lessons from their own art.

Strange that Alda never thought about what Joe might have done. I think a more likely scenario is he had thought about it but didn't wish to discuss it because he probably doesn't like giving too much time to people who can't benefit him in some way. He and Tynan are probably more alike than he would want us to realize.

[–] poupartca 12 years ago

kroyall,

A completely irrelevant comment that offered nothing to the discussion. Clearly you've barely (if at all) watched either this film or Reford's The Candidate.

[–] soulthinker 11 years ago

As I type this former SC governor Mark Sanford is considering running for office for Congress since Tim Scott is selected to be US Senator. He left his wife for a Argentine mistress whom he later married. Would he pull it off in spite of the fact John Edwards fooled around and got a woman pregnant? Oh yes I think he would be a Newt Gingrich since in spite of his cheating and marrying he is still accepted in GOP circles.

[–] activista 9 years ago

@soulthinker

Yeah, and interestingly enough, the woman Sanford originally left his wife for is divorcing him now---go figure.

[–] singjohn 11 years ago

The convention scenes looked staged for movie. If you notice, the bleachers were empty. Only the floor had people sitting there.