MovieChat Forums > Swimming Pool (2003) Discussion > So stupid.

So stupid.

posted 13 years ago by ainsoph4
9 replies | jump to latest

Not so much the movie, but the people who watch it and have given it such great ratings, despite being 100% foolish in coming up with pretentious theories that in their minds, make Memento look like a linear storytelling.

ANSWERS:

Julie? Not the daughter. Julia? Daughter. "Are you sure you live here?" She didn't. She was a whore. "Dad" was never on the phone. She was not imaginary, that just simply makes no sense. People are graspig for straws that aren't there. This movie is one of the most pretentious things I've seen in quite some time. I feel it tries WAAY to hard to be something it's not.

While I'm at it, the main actress? I couldn't stand her. I hate her face. My God. The first 45 were brutal. Just her *beep* face acting pissy for no good reason. And I'm not convinced that it took any acting. She just looks like an uptight, old, condescending *beep*

That's all. I generaly don't bash movies on here, because arguments are so inevitable. But I wanted to express my disappointment on this one. Chick was hot. That's pretty much it. But, I have porn for that, so this movie really serves me no purpose.

Flame away, or try and convince me I missed something because I'm so unintelligent and beneath you mentally that I couldn't possibly grasp the concept of such Freudian film.

[–] gordonator 13 years ago

I think you're approaching the movie from a close minded, unrelaxed angle. It's not that you're incapable of getting it, you don't want to. You don't want to be the type of person that enjoys this type of movie. But in the back of your mind you know you loved every piece of pretentious symbolism this movie has to offer. That's why you posted.

[–] cozmogrl1-1 12 years ago

Well, maybe the movie is above your intelligence, I dont know. I realize there were possible plot holes, or unexplored areas of this film masquerading as plot holes. I know there are many lose ends (even tho that was the intention), but you really do sound like a jaded hipster who cant watch anything unless its a zeitgeist for a generation. I mean, Rampling may not be attractive but how exactly does that make a movie bad? A girl can be hot, sooo, you dont want to watch her cuz you have porn? That doesnt make any sense. You dont have to like the movie, but why do you troll and come on to a message board of obvious fans of it and bash it. Obv you are gonna get flame. Its a deeply layered crime mystery. A mise en abyme. Its actually very good if you actually use your brain for thinking about the story instead of finding hipster "reasons" you dont like it.

[–] paleolith 12 years ago

Rampling may not be attractive

Perhaps not now. But when she was the age Sagnier is now, she was one of the hottest things on screen.

And it's a funny thing ... I'm three years younger than Rampling, and I find her damned attractive. If I were forty years younger, I wouldn't. My own age makes a lot of difference in how I see women. And I know this from personal experience, not just from watching movies -- women my age can be damned sexy to me.

Finally, the changes with age are part of the movie. Rampling is the hot young film star, now aged. Sarah is the hot young mystery writer, now aged ... writing about her fictional self as an aging struggling writer remaking herself as a sexy aging woman. Adds a third level to the obvious two levels in the movie.

And anyway, bumping this thread might get the OP a few more flames.

Edward

[–] Dainty (1864) 2 years ago

"the movie is above your intelligence"

This is the dumbest thing any respectable film fan can say. The film is not complex. Some people will think it's stupid because it kinda is. Many don't like unreliable narrator. And I understand that.

[–] peter-burton-484-82303 12 years ago

Great film. Charlotte Rampling looking great as always, particularly naked on the bed being fondled by Marcel. I was just sorry that she did not indulge with Frank; such a bulge in his trunks. I guess that ainsoph4 is a juvenile that has never had sex with an older woman. Don't knock anything you haven't tried.

[–] saturnjwl 12 years ago

It's comforting to me to see you hate this movie so much.

You might want to look at page 4 of the thread 'Everyone is over thinking this' where I reference an interview with Ozon that outright states that parts of the film are fantasy:

"In terms of directing, I've treated everything that is imaginary in Swimming Pool in a realistic way so that you see it all - fantasy and reality alike - on the same plane. When you tell a story, or when you film it, your process of identification with your characters is such that you completely immerse yourself in their logic and their perceptions. It's as if you're experiencing the same emotions that they are."

http://www.futuremovies.co.uk/filmmaking.asp?ID=23

Beyond the writer/director's direct statements that this film is about the creative process and that some parts of the film are fantasy, there's absolutely nothing in the film to make you believe the vast conspiracy your theory requires is actually happening. Your theory requires a grade A+ prostitute and or vagrant to be inhabiting this B+ villa without the owners permission, despite the fact that she has her own car, great clothes, supply of drugs, and money for a fridge full of wine and cheese - and a conspiracy with the caretaker and sufficient knowledge of the local town to be able to tell you the name of the local waiter at the cafe. Not only is there nothing in the film, no hints of any kind, to suggest this is the case, but it would require a superhero/villain level of conspiracy worth of a DC or Marvel comic book. It's completely ridiculous for you to say people are 'grasping at straws' while you put forth your 0/10 troll of a theory.

The rest of your post, about how much you hate and/or dislike the film, is your perception and is perfectly legitimate.

[–] saturnjwl 12 years ago

Oh, and for your theory to be right Julie would also have to be conspiring with the publisher's secretary in order to make sure that Sarah's calls to London didn't get through.

[–] plumlogan 11 years ago

So you completely bought the character, but didn't like it because the actress is probably that way anyway . . . top notch criticism.

[–] chilone 11 years ago

I liked it....

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!