MovieChat Forums > Duane Hopwood (2005) Discussion > Poorly written, manipulative tripe, in m...

Poorly written, manipulative tripe, in my opinion

posted 16 years ago by Aissez
25 replies | jump to latest

I can't believe this film received anything other than scathing reviews. I honestly felt I was watching a very well acted, first year film school film.

I don't know where to begin, so I'll just note the end. It felt that the producers realized money was tight, and, if the film was shot sequentially, it was time to just wrap it up. Guy loses his children in a custody fight. He's on the extreme edge of sanity, barely holding it together from his cracked grief. Appears wife bails, leaves town with kids. Next scene, she shows up, says, "bye," he's all smiles through his tears, talks about the thanksgiving he's having with his loser roommate, and their neighbors. She leaves, with kids and mum's boyfriend. A perfunctory comedic bit, daddy in a turkey suit - "oh, that wacky daddy that we'll probably see but once a year from now on...isn't this just the kookiest!" - and then the hollywood wrap up...previously dumped hot bartender gives him another chance (20 seconds), thanksgiving with his "clean and sober" outlook, drinking water to everyone else's wine (20 second montage, then OUT! Wrap!)....

Amateurish, tortured tripe, in my opinion.

[–] keera33 16 years ago

One senses in your post a certain, let me guess, British uptightness? The sun never sets on the British UMPIRE apparently. You display an utter heartlessness and complete misunderstanding of the film. I know you Brits are cursed with tiny, clenched, sphincters, from years of squeezing your emotion until it settles somewhere in your lower colon, but you really need to loosen up, "in my opinion."
Sir Turdbrow Piggy-Stilton

[–] Aissez 14 years ago

Dated....but, hahahahahah - nope, as 'merican as it gets (that would be, uh, "Native American," with a lot of Gaullish blood in these here veins). Your clumsy misapprehension isn't surprising, given what passes for "moving," today. I believe in the nobility of good work. I don't confuse saccharine pablum for soul, ridiculously manipulative writing for truth. No worries - you're not alone. Most of the world gobbles this crap up by the bushel.

'cheerio!

[–] LadyAnnaMedusa 13 years ago

uh... "A perfunctory comedic bit, daddy in a turkey suit" ?

per·func·to·ry
   /pərˈfʌŋktəri/ Show Spelled[per-fuhngk-tuh-ree] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
2.
lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

excuse me if I am mistaken but I think you need to check on your definition of perfunctory. I've listed Dictionary.com's definition above just so you can review. I see nothing 'perfunctory' ab a humbled man's attempt at a reconciliation and new beginning with his family in him riding a bicycle in a gigantic turkey suit on Thanksgiving to give his daughters and ex-wife a laugh and to prove he's willing to be a bit silly in hopes of repairing the damage he so willingly admits to in attempt to get back in their graces. It was carefully thought out, executed and out of the ordinary, which is the exact opposite of 'perfunctory'. It was my favorite part of the entire movie.

Character is what you are in the dark.

[–] Aissez 13 years ago

An aged thread, and to be honest I haven't read what I wrote quite some time ago, so forgive me if this is off-mark relative to even my post; but I think if you'll re-read my comments (at the risk of continuing this would-be pedantic dialogue), you'll see that not only was my usage correct - we may disagree what constitutes "care" in the script, but when I clearly state this is "poorly written, manipulative tripe," and that this scene, of them all, felt to me like a truncated, slapdash way to close off an already poorly written effort, well - this isn't exactly "made with care," in my book. Hence, "perfunctory."

You were moved by the scene; I found it exemplary of the failed effort. You would call it "carefully considered." I considered it a careless toss-away (as did a couple of others, if I recall correctly), and therefore my casting it as being "perfunctory" was indeed a correct usage, given my appraisal.

I didn't get a dictionary for Christmas, however. Happy new year!

[–] LadyAnnaMedusa 13 years ago

Well, after taking a gander at most of your negative comments you've posted on here I see that there really is no point in expressing a differing opinion from your'...however I will say when and if I do see another film that has a dad riding on a bike in a gigantic turkey suit I will understand your need to throw the word 'tripe' around.

Have a lovely one, it's going to be much better than the blur that was 2010!

Character is what you are in the dark.

[–] Aissez 13 years ago

Each to their own, Lady; truly. As to David Schwimmer's work generally, I like and respect him, both as an actor and a person; we studied together with Jeff Corey and I always felt he was a truthful, gifted actor and, through his Chicago colleagues, I've always admired the care and loyalty he's shown to his company fellows (Lookingglass Theatre Co.).

[–] Defenseman13 13 years ago

Just watched this sitting here working at home.

Tripe is very close to the word I came up with. "I need a drink" is the second thing I said.

I honestly think that aside from the daughter being in the car, the rest of the movie was very tame. The whole thing is regurgitated from 100 identical movies on the subject, and if anyone surprised me in the film it was Garofolo. (sp)

This seemed less a movie about alcoholism or family and more just... well... any average schmuck whop made a few bad decisions and just needs to grow up.

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2339870/

[–] StoRmy4602 16 years ago

obviously you have never seen first year film student films.

[–] gceez44 16 years ago

Admittedly, yes. I do, however, submit, they don't appear high on Ebert's "Best of" lists, as "Duane Hopwood" did in 2005.

Perhaps some defibrillation to shock your cold, lifeless, heart back into feeling... something?

Sir Filbring Dally-Poof

[–] GrigoryGirl 16 years ago

It's a badly written film. It's all over the place, and the ending is totally sitcomish and completely unrealistic. I think you're right, the filmmakers decided to just finish the film, regardless of content.

[–] keera33 16 years ago

You are an amateur. A wannabe. Roger Ebert called it "one of the best films of 2005." Sorry Grig, I'll have to go with Roger.

[–] fayette60-1 16 years ago

Yeah man, get off it. Go make your own movie you hack. I loved it.

[–] GrigoryGirl 16 years ago

Ebert is not infallible, and calling Duane one of the best films of 2005 is one of his more infamous statements. I'm not saying he didn't say it (he did, and I knew it before I posted my comment), but he's grossly mistaken.

[–] ert8947 16 years ago

"calling Duane one of the best films of 2005 is one of his more infamous statements"

"he's grossly mistaken."

Really? According to who? You? Who the **** are you?
Please, illuminate us with your professional credits and your experience in film. Or, are you just another ***hole with an opinion? Ah, I thought so.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] keera33 16 years ago

I loved it!

[–] cenoslave 16 years ago

This movie felt totally realistic and really hit home with me. I will however agree that the ending was not realistic. Especially the bartender being so happy to seem him. But I'll admit I liked the ending, it meant I could feel like *beep* through the whole movie but feel happy that I watched it afterward.

________________________________
"Are you classified as human?"
"Negative, I am a meat popsicle."

[–] Ezuma 16 years ago

I agree that the ending was... whatever it was. I was sitting there waiting for Duane to overcome his alcoholism and get his kids back. But... nope, he went into his apartment and, THE END.

Come now, let us all genuflect before Lamb of God, for to them we owe our metal souls.

[–] Mikhails_Right_Eye 15 years ago

I'm shocked to hear the general consensus on the ending. Honestly, the ending was my favorite part. I think you just need to look at it from Duane's perspective (it's his movie, after all).

There was nothing more he could do without making it even worse. All of his attempts to get his family back resulted in even more misfortune. So he was left with one option: to accept the inevitable and give his daughters a positive, beautiful lasting memory of their father (which I think the turkey suit touchingly conveyed). A memory where Duane wasn't swinging a baseball bat around like a maniac and wasn't holding on to them through a chain link fence.

And as for the bartender, I don't see what is so unrealistic about her being happy to see Duane. Keep in mind he was an alcoholic, I'm sure they were very close friends. I also don't think she was so much upset at his comment about still being in love with Linda as much as she was sad. She saw him as hopeless. When he came into the bar and presumably told her what had happened, she understood that Duane needed his friend. It isn't like they got married.

I enjoyed the ending so much because it WAS so realistic. Think about all the similar films that have been made. They all have the perfect ending. In Duane's case that just couldn't happen, so he accepted it. Beautiful film.

[–] billr1953 15 years ago

I have to agree that the ending seemed "audience tested." The wife takes him to court and takes his kids away and suddenly we are supposed to believe that he forgives and forgets.

okay movie ruined by a bad ending.

[–] keera33 15 years ago

Low budget indies don't get "tested." And I loved the ending, as well as the whole film.

[–] Razer11 15 years ago

I liked it.

[–] candrew088 15 years ago

I have to agree with the original poster in that I was a bit let down by the ending - it seems like they were running out of money and had to wrap things up in a neat little package for everyone. I guess for a movie, there's nothing wrong with that in and of itself; but isn't this supposed to be an "Independent Movie". Things don't get wrapped up in neat little packages in indie files - that's for Hollywood.

I guess we're just supposed to assume that his new girlfriend who, um, works in a bar is going to cure him of his alcoholism.

[–] xdayton 15 years ago

Actually, I don't think we're supposed to assume that his girlfriend or anyone else cures him. It's very up in the air as to whether he quits drinking or not. He clearly is making an attempt, but the look of sadness on his face at the end suggests that his future is far from certain. The only thing the movie definitely suggests is that his family, including Jogging Bob, is getting on with their own lives without him.

I think the movie owes a bit to The Graduate in terms of its ending, closing on the uncertain expression of its lead character.

But I still think the loss of all visitation rights was far too much of a stretch for what Duane did. Flawed storytelling that pretty much ruined the entire film -- the premise of the story was not credible.

[–] gceez44 15 years ago

Owes "The Graduate?" That's a leap. And, as an attorney in family law? Being arrested twice the legal limit, with your young daughter asleep in the back seat, way past your agreed-upon, court sanctioned return agreement?, then, being exposed in the hearing as having threatened your wife's boyfriend and your wife with a baseball bat?

Sorry, that's plenty to get visitation rights taken away, even from a sympathetic judge to father's rights in family court - and they're, generally speaking, aren't too many of those. No, this guy would be gone, no doubt.

Great picture. Very moving and it made me laugh out loud - and I've seen it all.