MovieChat Forums > High Art (1998) Discussion > Anyone else just a weee bit disappointed...

Anyone else just a weee bit disappointed?

posted 18 years ago by darqamordrid
23 replies | jump to latest

Okay, I know by most of the topics on High Art's board that quite a few people enjoyed the beauty of this movie and the meaning...

But I felt like "Darn...that's how it ended??" I was very surprised to know that ------>SPOILER<------(don't read if you haven't seen the ending yet!)Lucy would choose Greta over Syd and then O.D. I expected the complete opposite. Lucy totally fooled me into thinking she could give up drugs for Syd, well mainly because I thought she loved Syd too (but she never said it back to her, so I that might've been a clue.)To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't have known that there was a double meaning in the title 'High Art' or the fact that Lucy herself had a drug addiction because I've seen many different 'takes' on what the movie was about, and most said "...And Lucy, who's live-in girlfriend struggles with a drug addiction". I guess I'm just one of those movie watchers who always want a happy ending to.. is it safe to say lesbian love stories?? Yeah yeah, I know it was in the Drama category. I'm just a romantic/comedy type'uh gal. :)

Not to say that I didn't like this movie, I thought the chemistry between Syd and Lucy was sweet. I just felt so depressed at the end. Not sure if I'll watch it again. But hey, we all have our own opinions and favorite genres! Nothing against anyone else. ^^

[–] iluvthe80s-1 18 years ago

i felt exactly the same at the end of the movie. i was hoping ( and this is kinda sad)that Greta was the one who died. i was really hoping that Lucy and Syd finally came completely together at the end and it didn't matter how the photos came out or anything, as long as they were happy.i am so sick of seeing lesbian romances (i think it fits in this category)ending so sadly. being a lesbian myself, i don't want to cry like a baby everytime i want to see a love story. but in the end, i still love this movie for the sake of the beautiful pictures and the intensity between Lucy and Syd before the tragic end. i'm still not sure if i'll watch it again. i guess onli time will tell.

never pee in front of nuns. they beat you with rulers

[–] macktan894 16 years ago

Not really. I've watched this film a number of times, impressed a great deal with Ally Sheedy's performance.

So many ask why she died. she had just come back from rehab and was totally clean. Therefore, her tolerance level was lower than it had been in years, meaning she wasn't able to take the same amount of heroin without risking an overdose. In addition, Greta was a shooter, and I suspect Berliner shot up with Greta to appease her and accidentally overdosed. I don't think she committed suicide.

[–] thenarrow364 18 years ago

I saw this movie mostly because Shudder To Think did the original score, so I didn't really know what to expect. Overall I thought it was pretty well done, but I too was disappointed with the ending. It's not that I'm used to some happy Hollywood ending, I like my movies a bit more realistic than that. I just felt as though this movie left you hanging with two many questions. Did Greta die too? Did the people at the magazine ever find out that Lucy died? Did none of them even notice that something was obviously wrong with Syd? What ever happened with her and her boyfriend? Why at the very end does she stare so long at the receptionist girl? Could that possibly be some way of tying back into their conversation at the start of the movie? And what happened to Syd after all of this? Did she continue down this experimental path with drugs and sex and whatnot, or did Lucy's death sober her up a little? I don't expect every loose end to be tied up and everything to be spelled out plainly, but something would have been nice. Maybe another 5-10 minutes of falling action might have left the viewer feeling a little less unsettled? Maybe the whole point of the ending was to leave you unsettled, but I just didn't like it. I think the movie as a whole deserved a slightly better ending.

[–] movie_meastro 18 years ago

I was saddened by the ending to. I wanted so freakin' badly for Lucy & Syd to be together. I'm wondering if Greta died to. They never say. Syd never liked drugs. So she would continue staying away from them. Syd & her boyfriend broke up. I don't think they ever got back together. I mean after the movie ended I don't think she went back to him. She had a very powerful thing going on with Lucy. I'm sure it took her a long time to not get over Lucy's death becuase really you can't get over someone you loved so passionitly but you can move on maybe with someone after a while. I'm sure it took Syd a very long while to move on. I'm one of those people who after watching an excellent movie like High Art believe that the people keep going on after the screen has gone black & names roll. I'm sure that the people at the magazine found out at some point that Lucy had died. Lucy in the magazine world was very famous. The receptionist girl noticed that there was something wrong with Syd that's why they stared at each other for the so long. Sometimes just a look can help you. Words don't need to be spoken. Unsettled is good sometimes. Not every question in life is answered. Even though I don't like that Lucy dies I still think it's an excellent movie & Ally Sheedy & Radha Mitchell's best. I love this movie!

[–] utenatenjou 18 years ago

that's why it's ~High~ Art. . .it's an artificial state. not everything can stay high and up. especially people who're so flawed, we've all gotta come down, be down, stay down some time.

p.s. love the movie as well, i love Cholodenko'subtlety, my first and favorite movie

Like the Truth becomes a Lie ~ Hyo-Shin

[–] gonzogirl-1 18 years ago

I liked the fact that this film didn't conform to the formulaic 'happy-ever-after' hollywod ending- it forced you to feel as uncertain and lost as the surviving characters. Whilst on a level it would have been nice for Syd and Lucy to make it, in a weird sense Lucy's death provided a balance. She said that she stopped working because it was destroying her, and her mother criticised her passivity.She sank because she tried to please both Syd, in leaving Greta, and Greta in staying for a final night. In a film concerning image, ultimately that was all Lucy really was, because after a decade of being high and pleasing everybody else there was no substance to her identity-and whilst she was regaining an idea of who she was and what she wanted, she was not strong enough to carry the weight of their expectations. In loosing Lucy, Syd and Greta agin an equal burden in grief and are forced to examine their own flaws by regaining the elements they projected on to Lucy, no longer having her as a saviour or excuse.
Well, thats my take on it, anyway....

[–] secretstud 17 years ago

i think you summed it up very well with the whole "Lucy leaving Greta for Syd but trying to please Greta a little." However, i don't think that the receptionist realized something was wrong with Syd and that's why they shared the long looks at the end...i think that it was because Syd saw who she was in the receptionist and saw the receptionist was going to follow in her footsteps as far as ambition and trying to move up the ladder is concerned.

Wait! You want us to sell...(GO)

[–] veludoudigrudi 17 years ago

I think the recepcionist thought that the question she had asked syd at the beginning of the film had been answered by the cover of 'frame'. I think syd knew that was what she was thinking and that made her feel even more anguished. I do think the recepcionist looked at syd with admiration though, not really judging her.

[–] Keely 17 years ago

SPOILER ALERT ---- I think the ending was PERFECT because it's such a harrowing and true depiction of the kind of choices addicts make. First of all I don't think she was choosing to go back to Greta for anything more than one last night together. She was succumbing to the pleasure of the moment -- the seduction of Greta and the drugs -- and to her difficulty saying no to Greta, which was probably the story of their whole relationship. When she said yes to Greta that night, it was a temporary escape from the responsibilities of a new relationship and possibly a resurgence of her career. I always gathered that her retirement from photography was a result of how jaded she got being with Greta and the whole jaded drug scene. And I think she absolutely had chosen to be with Syd -- she wasn't "going back" to Greta. She was just giving in to immediate gratification, which is what addicts do. That one tiny little bad choice was the end of her.

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[–] veludoudigrudi 17 years ago

I was going to say the same thing as you did - I completely agree with you.

[–] soydog 17 years ago

I thought she committed suicide - or OD'd on purpose. No one else in the film had taken two lines of heroin, she seemed pretty solemn when she did too - I think maybe she might have been trying to escape from her situation permanently. Or at least that's what I gathered from one viewing, may not mean anything.

-----
"A lie is the truth, until you recognize it as a lie."

[–] Keely 17 years ago

Interesting . . . that never occurred to me till now, but it's an intriguing possibility.

[–] Loggerhead 16 years ago

I just saw this movie and thought the same thing... that she ODd on purpose to escape the reality of the situation. She went upstate to escape but seemed to walk right back into the mess and could not deal with the current situation any longer. It was a sad ending and I really was not sure if I liked it or not, but it fit for this movie and the movie overall was very good.

In one way I am glad that they did not conform to the Hollywood standard happy ending.

[–] soydog 16 years ago

Well said, that was my exact impression as well.

-----
"A lie is the truth, until you recognize it as a lie."

[–] sumiran_tandon 16 years ago

hmm.. well.. i WAS disappointed.. a bit.. cuz wen w/o any major sexual pleasures.. Lucy was with Syd.. (esp wen tears find their way thru her eyes.. n she says.."i think i'm in love with u..").. i thot Lucy cud see a more Independnt form of love in her life with Syd.. cuz Greta was with her in a dependnt way.. so was her mother.. everyone was with her CUZ OF SMTHIN.. but Syd..being a lets-say..'lover' ..loved her without experiencin any sexual gains..-- It seemd tat Lucy was gettin a hold on herself step-by-step in the movie.. well.. but in the end she succumb to her addiction or.. maybe to her 'loss of identity' ovr the yrs..or maybe she wasnt jus too used to..so much 'right' happenin to her life.. n she.. gave-in before she startd a fresh one!!!!

I always feel better watever the ending it.. as long as.. it has a meaning.. n certainly this one does.. :-) So m happy.. but still.. it was sad that she cudnt hang-on.. she seemed strong.. she cud hv made her identity back to wat she wantd.. away/with drugs..away/with Greta..away/with her mom..away/with her new love!

I think wen..the receptionist looks at her.. they seem to xchange words..
Syd: Being on top in profession cant keep ur personal life happy..!
Receptionst: I can see.. yes i understnd now..!

They seems to hv lookd at each other as mentor and follower too(on professional base).. but maybe realisin no matter how successfl the person is..every human stands on the same level..-Emotionally..!

Over all..Movie was nice.. :-) Humble amount of food fr thought:-) Great work Ally.. (she was lookin *beep* HAAAAWT in few scenes.. cudnt hv i jus devoured ova her..hhhhhhh...)

[–] padfoot_4444 16 years ago

I dont quite agree with you about silent conversation with the receptionist at the end

You said

"I think wen..the receptionist looks at her.. they seem to xchange words..
Syd: Being on top in profession cant keep ur personal life happy..!
Receptionst: I can see.. yes i understnd now..! "

i dont quite agree because as soon as she(syd) leaves ,the receptiontist continues reading her novel with a satisfied/knowing expression as if something was answered for her

i think as "veludoudigrudi" rightly put -->

I think the recepcionist thought that the question she had asked syd at the beginning of the film had been answered by the cover of 'frame'. I think syd knew that was what she was thinking and that made her feel even more anguished. I do think the recepcionist looked at syd with admiration though, not really judging her.

[–] pastie325 16 years ago

Just watched this movie, would have enjoyed it more if Ally Sheedy wasn't so clumsy and fumbling in the love scenes with Cyd. Did AS lose weight for this movie? because either she did a great job, or she needs to go into therapy.

[–] Jonathan_Shields 16 years ago

the sex scene was intentionally realistic, i.e., reflective of how most ppl in that situation probably have sex. if you want choreographed,perfectly lit,superstylized sex scenes, stick to big budget bull shyt.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Some_Dude 14 years ago

I'm not one to shy away from angst, but having Lucy die at the end seemed to be angst-for-angst's-sake, IMO.

You'd be surprised by how many problems can be solved with gasoline and matches.

[–] mattdsgirl 12 years ago

I got the impression that Lucy's death was accidental. Greta had accepted their breakup as permanent, & asked Lucy to be with her one last time, on her level (high). Lucy's body couldn't handle it, as she had just returned from rehab. No one at the magazine knew Lucy had died, as it happened that morning (Syd didn't even know she had come back). As for Syd's boyfriend, he moved out & refused to answer her calls. I believe they were both (Syd & Lucy) gonna breakup with their lovers & make a go of a relationship together. As evidenced by the scene where Syd tells her that her boyfriend has refused her calls. She had intended to make their breakup official, but he would not speak to her on the phone. Syd asked Lucy if she spoke to Greta, & we learn she had not, but she did sign up for rehab.

[–] Rumpled_Foreskin 11 years ago

Yeah, I was a little disappointed also. Not because I wanted a happy ending, but more because as the movie went on I got more and more disgusted with Syd. At first I thought she was smart and "in her element." (Call it the bohemian NYC art scene). As the movie went on she just...appeared to be naive, childish and selfish.

The end seemed unrealistic also. Here is a woman whose been snorting smack for...years maybe? She goes clean for three days, snorts 2-3 lines and ODs? Really?

I must say, this is the first movie I've seen Radha Mitchell in and I'm really impressed. A great beauty (except for that zit or whatever on the bridge of her nose*) and a talented actress. Not her fault that the part was oddly written. And, of course, Ally Sheedy was peerfect as Lucy.
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* And, as usual, my perennial complaint: she doesn't have sh*t for tits!