So dissapointed!
I just watched this film and don't get it at all. Yeah I guess it can be symbolic or whatever but it's a pretty naturalistic film in the main with a fairly normal love-story / sports-movie plot, so to have stuff end up making no sense doesn't work at all IMO (though it might in, say, a way more stylised, artsy plot/ movie).
My gripes:
1. Why is Enzo so depressed he wants to drown? He makes one reference to something like 'things with Mamma and all that', with no other motivation except maybe he's pissed that Jaques's beat him. Not believable at all to warrant the reckless bordering on suicidal behaviour that kills him (also, what's with the death scene?? How do you drown over like 2 minutes while still talking? Then somehow sink, when all dead bodies I know of float?) Also Jaques' defribulator shock is the most unrealistic reaction I've ever seen.
2. What the hell happens with Jaques? He just 'has to see' what's no deeper than he's already dived several times? And finds a single dolphin, that he can and often does have a relationship with despite dating a woman and living above water. Even if I could believe him being so at home in water / uncomfortable on land that he can't even be happy with an adorable woman he if not loves then clearly likes a lot (forgetting for a second any responsibilities as a father...at least give it a try dude!!!!) Yeah I get it that his Dad died in the water like 20 years ago and it's really hard to get over or forget, and he really likes Dolphins, maybe more than sex, but really? This makes him wanna kill himself? I'm gonna a lot more clearly shown emotional turmoil to believe that. I'm not sure what other interpretation there can be though...Does the film suddenly switch genre into fantasy and he becomes a dolphin? Again wouldn't believe this without some clarity, รก la seeing the bells at the end of Breaking the Waves. Is he just going down to play for a while before coming up again to...what...get back with Joanna? Leave her so he can swim with dolphins more often? That would be even more meaningless.
3. What the hell is up with the diving? The machine thing goes down then stops at a certain point every time, then shoots out a different number each time (like, printed on wood / plastic or something??) I mean I'd get it if they set it to stop at the distance they aim for each time but clearly this isn't the case as everyone's surprised when Jaques comes up with 120. Also how the hell does 108 beat 110? Enzo says in the lobby he got 110 to beat the other guys's 107, but then says Jaques is the champion with 108! (IMDB says Jaques gets 110 and 108 on the ticket thing is a continuity error, but I can't see where in the film it says 110 for Jaques or how 108 is continuity when it doesn't change it just makes no *beep* sense!
I'm mad cause I really think I could have loved this film. I don't even think I'm being picky, small things I can overlook, and I usually love a sentimental / symbolic / ambiguous movie. But these inconsistencies just seem huge to me. Yet I can't seem to find anyone who's even mentioned any of them!
Thoughts??