MovieChat Forums > Mr. Jealousy (1998) Discussion > This film would've been much better had ...

This film would've been much better had it ended earlier...

posted 16 years ago by elchayeb
5 replies | jump to latest

I enjoyed Mr. Jealousy, but thought that there were just too many endings.

Ideally, Baumbach should have cut the film when Lester went to the University of Iowa. That would have given enough closure, while allowing for some speculation. Unfortunately, he decided to linger. And this cheapened the body of work.

Also, I felt like this film didn't know what it wanted to be. Many scenes mirrored the great auteurs of the French New Wave (e.g. still captures, narration), but others had a more flighty tone that harkens to what we traditionally see as "nineties" cinema. Some examples are the admittedly "wacky" manifestations of Lester's wandering thoughts.

[–] dexter5148 16 years ago

I just got done watching this for my second time. I agree...it very much resembles French New Wave cinema. So much in fact...that musical piece at the end at the wedding. I could swear its from a French movie. I just cant place it. Any ideas? I'm thinking something Goddard? I dont know. I havent seen THAT much

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[–] Mat-37 12 years ago

It was the soundtrack to Truffaut's Jules and Jim by George Delerue.

BTW the "wacky" 90's scenes were straight out of Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player.

- A point in every direction is the same as no point at all.

[–] zurichpoet 11 years ago

Yes, yes yes!

End it right when Dr. Last Picture Show says, "Perhaps we should go back inside."

FINI!

[–] carver76 16 years ago

I disagree. I think the fact that Baumbach tried to splice together multiple styles (French New Wave audacity and modern romantic comedy) is much more impressive and daring than just making another film like everybody else's, as you apparently wanted him to do.

[–] LudwA 15 years ago

while i did think the movie was slightly too long in length, i wouldn't have liked to miss the cheesy romantic ending.