MovieChat Forums > Metropolitan (1990) Discussion > Was I the only one for Charlie?

Was I the only one for Charlie?

posted 11 years ago by patmss
12 replies | jump to latest

This movie is not heavy on the romance, thankfully, and I'm not sure we get a clear resolution on that facet of the movie, which doesn't bother me in the least. After all, the movie is not about that, though I will say this; I was rooting for Charlie. I feel like Tom started appreciating Audrey a little too late and I wasn't given enough time to be endeared with the idea of him with her. That's saying a lot too, since I would normally be all for a character like Tom's, but Jane was right. There was always something a little bit off with him. One thing's for sure, there was a whole lot of unrequited affections going on in this movie.

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

Charlie and Audrey got together in later years. check out Whits' film -The Last Days Of Disco.

[–] patmss 10 years ago

I have! Actually, it was the first of the trilogy that I watched, which probably means the reference to older Stillman characters were lost on my the first go-around, but I kind of thought they could have maybe remained in contact over the years and still occasionally spend time with one another socially. I listened to the audio commentary and I don't remember any mention of them definitively ending up together. But, you know, it's all speculation at this point?

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

You're right, it is speculation. Wouldn't it be great if Mr. Stillman could do a sequel to the film. Call it- Metropolitan at 50. As a fan of this movie I have imagined the characters reunited at around the time they turn fifty years old.

[–] patmss 10 years ago

I'm so wary of sequels though. I mean, Before Sunset was like a unicorn for that genre and theme. It Sunrise ended so perfectly. I don't know I kind of feel content, in a way, with how things were left. It was hopeful but not neatly wrapped. I feel like a sequel for a film of this type would be risky. It's like it ended where it should have? I wouldn't mind a short transcript of what the future had in store for them (though Last Days sort of took care of that for Audrey and Charlie's character), kind of like what apatow and co. did with freaks and geeks. I get the impression that the open-endedness of the film was one of the things Stillman loved about the movie. It's very rooted in reality that way. It doesn't have the kind of neat bow most romantic love stories have. It's like, this is life, girl+guy don't always have a dramatic moment in the rain and professions of love, it's more like they agree to see each other socially, see where it goes from there, test the waters. I don't mind it a bit. We get to build our own conclusions and fill in the blanks from Metropolitan to Disco.:D

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

You had a nice reply. Where shall I start? You said "we get to build our own Conclusions and fill in the blanks from Metropolitan to Disco". This is true of myself as well, not only from Metro to Disco, but up to present day. I was waiting in the airport some months ago and had re-watched Metropolitan the night before. With pen and paper on me, I killed time writing out a general explanation of what happened with these characters. Yet it would still be fantastic if I could see what the originator would play out for these people. You made reference to the Linklater films; I take it you didn't like Before Sunset. Is the word 'unicorn' used to mean a loss ? Personally I enjoyed all three of his movies in this continuing story. Hope to see more. One of my all time favorite films is Hal Hartley's 'Henry Fool'. The sequel filmed ten years later 'Fay Grim' was not as good, but I'm glad he made it and anticipate another in this decade. Let me know of the sequels you like.

[–] patmss 10 years ago

OH wow , no I did enjoy Sunset! I love the trilogy. When it first came out, I remember reading somewhere that Ethan Hawke wanted to make it into this epic love opus. He'd love it if they could make one once every nine years, just to see the relationships progress as the Celine and Jesse characters change into different people. I'm not sure if that's still the plan because I didn't follow the press junkets this year during the Midnight promotion. I meant "unicorn" in a sense that it's kind of elusive and mythical-ish. Like, Sunset succeeded where most sequels in that genre have failed, know what I mean (at least for us fans)? I'm not even sure movies like that usually get sequels. They retained a lot of the charm the first movie had and the magic that an ambiguous ending afforded the film. Sunset was kind of "open-ended" with Jesse missing his flight but you don't really know if that's going to go anywhere. Midnight had a tough act to follow since it's harder to keep the whimsy in an aged and familiar relationship. There's always a lot of truth in their storytelling, which is the kind I like.:)

Henry Fool was great! Man, it's been so long since I saw that one. I actually haven't watched Fay Grim because I couldn't find it anywhere when I'd first searched, but I did hear Fool was better! Won't stop me from watching it though once I get the chance.

I'm not sure I'm a sequel type of gal. I'm drawing a blank but I remember enjoying The Spanish Apartment and its sequel Russian Dolls. Sorry, they're not very intellectually stimulating movies. haha. They're kind of just fun.

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

Thanks for clarifying the unicorn meaning, which makes more sense than what I took it to mean. Enjoyed reading your last post. You come across as having a talent for reviewing movies.
Netflix doesn't have The Spanish Apt. but does have Russian Dolls. Would it be a bad idea to watch this sequel first? Must confess, I saw Fay Grim before Henry Fool. It would have been better if I hadn't.
Ciao.

[–] patmss 10 years ago

HAHA! I have zero talents for reviewing movies. Once in a blue moon, I have the ability to articulate what I like most about something I'd seen, especially when it comes to something like Before Sunrise/set/midnight which has had the added benefit of getting me invested for three decades or so. Most of the time, I'm just like, "I love shiz because of stuuuuuuff..." Haha.

Oh my god don't do it. THE END GAME FOR THE LEAD CHARACTER IS A SPOILER. Haha. And it's not as fun without having seen the fist one.:) I checked IMDB and apparently the american title for the spanish apartment is Pot Luck. Maybe Netflix has it under that title?:)

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

Thanks. I went back to Netflix website and found it under L'Auberge Espagnole. Moved to top of list.

[–] vandaley77 10 years ago

Hola ! The Spanish Apartment {L'Auberge Espagnole} and Russian Dolls WAS fun to watch. The mixing of the languages, the follies of youth and finding oneself, and the main character's desire to write based on his experiences made it 'muy bueno'.
Also, I learned Hal Hartley is making a trilogy based on Henry Fool and Fay Grim. Look for Ned Rifle. Will keep you posted.

[–] patmss 10 years ago

I'm glad you liked it! It's always such a stressful endeavor trying to recommend movies.:)

And thank you for the info! I should get a move on with Fay Grim then. He seems to be going the Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight route with each film being nine years apart. I like that. It kind of really feels like the director is leaving a kind of legacy committing to these long term projects, even if a series of films wasn't part of the big picture initially.

[–] tomcervo 7 years ago

That scene in the bar, when the older man talks about meeting people during Christmas vacation and thinking that you'll be friends for life, and then everything breaks up--but then at the end you see Charlie, Tom and Audrey, and it does seem like they'll be in and out of each other's life forever. I don't know if I can see them married, but I can imagine phone calls out of the blue and delighted pleasure to be getting them.