MovieChat Forums > Wicker Park (2004) Discussion > I could have improved the film with one ...

I could have improved the film with one single detail change

posted 16 years ago by themax-2
33 replies | jump to latest

I loved this movie, I thought it was really well done, apart from one aspect.
A lot of people (including myself) were sure to be confused by what was past and what was present in the movie, to the point of taking away from the enjoyment of the plotline.
Easy Solution: Have Josh Hartnett grow a beard for the scenes filmed where he's Matthew in the present, and be clean shaven for the scenes in the past where him and Lisa dated..
It would make so much more sense! You would know what was happening now, and what had already happened.
It would also explain the fact that Lisa didn't recognize him in their close-misses and glances.

Sheesh.

Still... 7.5/10

[–] dv_forever 16 years ago

It's supposed to be somewhat disorienting time wise, that's how the story is told. It wasn't very difficult to follow the plot anyway, just pay attention.

Having a beard on Josh Hartnett would be too visually obvious and would belittle the intelligence of the audience.

[–] yorktom58 13 years ago

"Having a beard on Josh Hartnett would be too visually obvious and would belittle the intelligence of the audience."

Seriously, [you/they/????] are watching an American remake of a French film which was only all right in the first place. One couldn't belittle [your/their/????'s] intelligence any more if you tried.

[–] HowardBeale1950 16 years ago

I haven't seen Wicker Park in a couple of years, I just watched the film "Sliding Doors" last night and it reminded me of this movie. In that film the star, Gwyneth Paltrow dyes her hair blond and gets it cut short in one of her two lives that unfolds. From what I can remember of Wicker Park, Josh Hartnett is always dressed in a suit in one life, I think it was the past because he was suppose to be on a business trip to China, and the other life he wears casual clothes. I might be wrong because it was about 2005 when I saw this film, but that seems to be what I remember.

"
"
Time is the best author. It always writes the perfect ending.

[–] tread_lightly 16 years ago

Uhmm.. it wasn't that difficult to follow. That's not the greatest idea. A beard would most likely show Matt as being depressed, and chances are he wouldn't have that good of a job with one.. Being in major, important business meetings looking all scruffy.

[–] throcko872 14 years ago

Lots of businessmen wear beards. A well-kept, full beard looks distinguished, not depressing.

[–] Crazyonyou 16 years ago

As someone else said, there were physical differences already. The past Matt is casually dressed with unkempt hair, while he's smarter as the present Matt.

[–] Squirrowl 15 years ago

Totally agree
BUT there some pretentious directors who think that mixing the time line of the movie make it better or more interesting.

If this movie will follow a straight line Im pretty sure I will give it a 9 or at least an 8 BUT hell no I give it a 5.

[–] therock0603 15 years ago

It wasn't hard to follow for me. If he was working at the camera store or he was with Lisa, then it was the past. If he was looking for Lisa, it was the present.

[–] jmcghee001 14 years ago

Rock, you've nailed it. If Lisa's around, it is in the past. If he's searching for Lisa, it's present day. Duh.

[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

That's much easier to say AFTER you've watched the movie. I guess I'm dumb, because I had to watch it twice to really follow the timeline and understand it completely.

[–] Wrenton7 11 years ago

You sound dumb.

[–] thespread 15 years ago

I heartily concur. I missed the start, which didn't help, but I found all the plots threads to be greatly confusing. It was a lot better than many mushy romantic films I've sat through, beautifully shot and that scene towards the end with Rose Byrne in the restaurant was really good, made you re evaluate her character considerably which was a lot more complex than I expected for a movie like this, but all the same, the plot was rather convoluted. A bearded Josh Hartnett might have dragged the movie up to a 7 or even an 8 for me.

No, no. Psychopaths kill for no reason. I kill for money. It's a job. That didn't come out right.

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[–] simplypm2004 15 years ago

In the earlier french film, L' Appartement, the hair styles of each of the four characters was so radically different that the question doesn't even come up.

(PRN) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id-bFpYQzXE

[–] KutWrite 8 years ago

Just to save people a wasted search, YouTube removed that video on copyright grounds.