MovieChat Forums > Trade (2007) Discussion > One of THE worst movies I've EVER seen

One of THE worst movies I've EVER seen

posted 16 years ago by seriousduke1
73 replies | jump to latest

I was an extra in the film when they filmed in Albuquerque... http://youtube.com/watch?v=zDq07aJk3Ko

... and I was eagerly awaiting to see it. It sounded very intriguing.

However, the movie was VERY unrealistic. I know Jorge didn't want to involve the police, and it would just complicate things, but in todays world that would have happened - NO DOUBT. They would have been involved from the get go of Kevin Kline's character and Jorge meeting. Jorge was a brat, why the hell would Kevin want to trust him -- EVEN if he was looking for someone too, and felt inspired.

And, I know there is also a thread, but they didn't really build up the REASON why Veronica killed herself(she ran right past me btw when I was an extra). I feel that this could have been justified had they built up more of a story for her character, and the other surrounding characters, but there was nothing.

And, don't get me started on Kevin Kline's acting. TOTALLY uninspired/dry/boring. I didn't care for any of the characters in this film, and it had the potential of being good and it wasn't.

And too, the build up of Jorge starting a good life... and then just killing someone in the end. *beep* STUPID and pointless... what's done is done your sisters still a virgin. Also, let's put a kitten in a basket in the back of Kline's car for no reason.

Bad film, and I totally agree with the majority of the critics.

[–] Trioxin_Zombie 16 years ago

You were an extra in the film were you?.

Saying such things on message boards is classed as the: LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME syndrome.

"Those that trespass against us, beware the shadows of dusk"

[–] seriousduke1 16 years ago

Lol, no.

I have a fan base on YouTube, I make films, and the people wanted to see me in it. That's all.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] andypoolhustler 14 years ago

I have around 3000 dvds and i know a good film when i see one. And have to say how it was not not up for an oscar im surprised. The 1st person who posted what he thought of the film must not know much about films. I thought the acting was very good. I must admit i liked Taken and it reminded me of that film. But if you wanted to find things wrong with each film you could do. It almost makes you want to cry when you watch this film. Everything is done well from the scenery to how bad they could have made it in the rape scenes. It just shows you be careful if you want to be famous dont trust everyone and hand your passport to just anyone.

[–] jarekp40 9 years ago

I guess majority from your DVD collection are cartoons for children. Such bad acting as in this film can rarely be seen in movies. Superficial weeping of Jorge, the idiotic winces of all characters and last but not least the plot beyond any likelyhood. The internet action was the real gem!!!

Only total retards can appreciate such unrealistic plot and artificial acting. But I might be wrong. After all I have only 1000 DVDs in my collection

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] BoredLikeWood 16 years ago

That's not at all how it sounds. <--- I don't even remember why I said that so I decided I should add something. Trade did completely suck! I mean, it was just awful. I can see it being one of the worst films you've seen. The problem is that there are so many movies that look terrible and this one looked somewhat okay. Sure fooled us, eh?

[–] eapplebaum 16 years ago

Hey Sgt! THAT's EXACTLY what I was thinking when reading the extra's comments.
Extra really did them-self in when they whined about how the actress playing "Veronica" ran right past them on the set; sad little pathetic tool.

"Sgt_John_MacTavish

You were an extra in the film were you?.

Saying such things on message boards is classed as the: LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME syndrome."

[–] dtox428 9 years ago

Look at me, followed by, why you looking at me???

[–] filmmakeracf 16 years ago

I agree with you.
I posted a bad review on these boards and I was attacked for saying the film is bad.
here is my review if you are interested...

"TRADE is an embarassment for all involved. What a brilliant subject to take on and, in the correct hands, this could have been a masterpiece of power. Unfortunately, the film is a joke. It plays like a Lifetime T.V. movie with bad words and sexuality.
The director presents this horrifying topic with stupidity. There are dumb chase scenes, moments meant to thrill us that don't belong in a film such as this one, embarassing coincidences, and script-dictated actions by the characters that are completely ridiculous.
Kline looks as if he is struggling to find meaning in his character as it is (under)written. The "bad guys" are stereotypical and badly presented. The rest of the cast, including the lead brother and sister is plain bad. The dialouge is atrocious.
TRADE takes a powerful subject and teaches us nothing about it. Films of this nature should educate us to the horrors of their subject matter. This one tries to be a thriller while making us gasp at the theme.
TRADE is the worst film of 2007"

filmmakeracf

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] filmmakeracf 16 years ago

I feel that I am in agreement with you about the characterizations. I think I misspoke. I should have said that the "bad guys" were not fully fleshed out and we learned nothing about them other than the fact that we were meant to hate them and be apalled at their actions.

By the way...thanks for opening up a dialouge on this film. I posted my review on these boards and some morons just wanted to attack it/me, instead of discuissing it. After all, that us what these boards are supposed to be all about.

Anyway, I hope that there will be more major films to speak on this horrid subject.

filmmakeracf

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Murphy_Angier 16 years ago

I have just read the article that the movie was "based" on. I can post a link if anyone is interested....but there is a lot of controversy on the validity of the article. I will post all links if anyone wants to read them.

This is a subject that I have had an idea for a movie about for several years. Still trying to flesh the story out, but this movie has definitely inspired me to finish the story.

I don't mean to impose, but I am the OCEAN.

[–] shaundee 16 years ago

Post the link then

[–] Murphy_Angier 16 years ago

here you go:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04EEDA1439F936A15752C 0A9629C8B63

C'mon man. The food ain't that BAD baby...

[–] baumann-5 16 years ago

Go watch "Lilja 4-ever" by Lukas Moodysson. This is a true masterpiece about sex trafficking.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] tingeyh-1 16 years ago

This is just my interpretation but I got the feeling that the bad guys were not fully fleshed out intentionally, reflecting that they really were just looking to make money and had no concern about what they were involved in.

[–] shane-158 16 years ago

SPOILER ALERT!!!

OK here are my comments. I think it was a great film. I thought the acting was great. The characters were believable and NOT stereotypes. I did think the back story was a little weak on Ray's(Kevin Kline) search for his daughter, but I wont be too negative about this, because I didn't think it was a huge plot point. It was simply an explanation of why he(Ray) was helping Jorge.

I thought it was obvious why Veronica(Alicja Bachleda-Curus) killed herself. The phone call where she found out that her parents sent her son off with "The Agency" to go to America, left her without hope. She had nothing to live for, so she killed herself to screw that guy over.

I thought it was brilliantly written. I don't think it was stereotypical, and if I were in the same situation where I thought my daughter was sold and someone said their sister was kidnapped by these same people, I would be sympathetic and want to help.

The cat was also obvious. He can't have children, the woman that was selling the girl was his daughter. It means he is starting over. I thought it was a great way to explain that his search for his daughter is over.

I could go on, but I wont.

If you didn't understand the clues, don't ever watch a film that you have to think for yourself, and don't become a detective! I can't stand films where they spell out every detail. . . twice! It's an insult to our intelligence.

By the way, films are supposed to take you on an emotional roller coaster. Well this film did that. It pissed me off and made me want to help in the efforts to put those sickos behind bars. AND it did it with a story that wasn't agenda driven.

I love it when movies are movies. They aren't supposed to be accurate, factual, 100% true stories. They are supposed to move you emotionally, by visually depicting ideas, or situations.

I think it is a great film because it moved me emotionally, not because it was accurate, and factual, and real.

[–] valenzuela-5 16 years ago

I totally agree with Shane-158, some people man! Why do they have to be so an@l about films. This movie did it for me, almost everyone that bashed it sound like single-minded conservatives who could never relate to such horrors because they have never suffered beyond a scrapped knee! I was laughing at how correct and simple Shane-158 made his point.
These people man............

[–] Rich359 11 years ago

Are you serious? Why do evil people have to be fleshed-out? They are brutal people, to assert their POWER over people. Did you think when the Polish girl was raped it was because the abductor was overcome with sexual passion?
We don't need to know the motivations of the scum-bags that led them to this enterprise, that's what is wrong with the world these days, it doesn't matter.
Its their actions now that counts.

[–] Fizcaray 16 years ago

I agree totally. Some people should not bother to write for others to read at all. They are an embarassement. Well, when 99% of the people praise something like this excellent movie, I guess there is still the other 1%.

[–] djkitt 16 years ago

The film wasn't written/made to educate and the producer and director will tell you that. Anyone who expects to be educated by a movie is barking up the wrong tree. Documentaries are meant to educate people about something, or people should read articles like the one written on this subject many times before.

As far as the film itself, whether is was good or not is purely opinionated and can and will be debated for the rest of time. It's dependent on the viewer and how much Hollywood they like in their films. Personally, I thought it was a good film, and I like some Hollywood in the films I watch, but sometimes I don't. This was a good film. But that's my opinion and it means nothing to anyone but me.

[–] jonasera 16 years ago

I couldn't agree more with your review. This movie is terrible I just hope that Kate del Castillo won't turn into a Bichir Phenomenon, wich means having her with small roles in any given film as those guys.

[–] authorNYSE 16 years ago

WOW... you were an extra in this film and still are so far off base that its like you didn't see the movie.

1. "I didn't care for any of the characters in this film"

Really, you didn't feel for a virgin 13 yr girl being kidnapped out of her native country and forced to perform sex acts with adult men. You didn't feel for a Polish woman manipulated into sex slavery who's infant child was taken from hyer? You didn't feel for that Tai boy who was being drugged and raped? Are you not human?
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2. "but they didn't really build up the REASON why Veronica killed herself(she ran right past me btw when I was an extra). I feel that this could have been justified had they built up more of a story for her character, and the other surrounding characters, but there was nothing."

From day 1 when "they" let Veronica know they know where her family lives and that she has a child, her son was all that she thought of. So when the opportunity to escape finally came around she aimed for the phone to see if her child was safe. Of course hearing her mother on the phone (which you must have missed) say that "people came and showed me papers, did Gregor make it to America" Veronica knew her son was gone! At that moment she was gone and that was her motive to commit suicide. Constantly reminding the viewer of her son thoughout the movie in dialogue would have been amatuerish storytelling. The torn picture of her son spoke a thousand words throughout. The rule in movie making is "show it, don't tell".
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3. "the build up of Jorge starting a good life... and then just killing someone in the end. *beep* STUPID and pointless... what's done is done your sisters still a virgin."

When do they show Jorge starting a good life? They flew back to Mexico City, he returned his sister back to their mother then sought out the head of the snake. I think all you saw was a better dressed Jorge and assumed he was now working for a newpaper or something. Jorge was not a saint, he had one more justified sin to commit. Even still after stabbing the 'snake head' the guy's son is shown crying out for his dead father and Jorge reflecting in a frozen moment. The cycle still turns.
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4. "Also, let's put a kitten in a basket in the back of Kline's car for no reason."

Again, you weren't watching or listening to the movie. Kline's calls to his hysterical wife showed the contrast of horrid situations happening in womens lives abroad then that of a bored American housewife having a mental breakdown over a dying pet cat. If you listened to the movie Kline's character being happily married was in an affair that ended. He later learned that affair produced a child. Being that he and his wife never had a child of their own the pet was their bond. He was bringing home a new pet to console his grieving wife. I sensed he (Kline) had a feeling his long lost daughter may have been the woman administrating the sex trafficing organization.
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Having worked background (extra) MANY times before, you are the reason WE are hated by some cast and crew on set because deep down and on the surface you're a bitter and idiotic hater. Your YouTube link is an embarrassment, hope you get blacklisted in Hollywood. Love to see you put that nonsense on a would-be reel.

TRADE is an excellent film.

aN:

http://www.MySpace.com/authorNYSE

[–] jaydel3 16 years ago

agreed..The original poster clearly didn't pay attention.

[–] turquoiseyes 16 years ago

Like authorNYSE, I can't believe this person actually claimed they saw the film, was even an EXTRA in it, and still managed to completely miss out on some of the film's main points.

The questions that this person brought up were obviously answered in the film. Next time I suggest paying attention to something before bashing it.

[–] deborahnellie-1 16 years ago

Here here, author NYSE

[–] eapplebaum 16 years ago

YES! I am impressed and agree whole heartedly with NYSE. NYSE, you put that accurately and eloquently. Having worked in the film business for years as a Line Producer and Locations Manager I can't agree with you more about the ignorance that embodies the majority of extra's. Thank you for reminding me that ALL extra's are not closed minded balloons full of hot air. Your intelligent comments about the film and responses about the dumb-ass pathetic "extra" who posted trite self serving blind foolishness was perfect. Thank you!

[–] Kalloyan 16 years ago

authorNYSE you are very right on the money with your explanation to the "extra guy." I was going to respond to his post the same way as you did, but after I read yours I just let it go. And one more thing, I think that Trade deserved to be nominated for an Oscar.

[–] ave_roma2004 16 years ago

Well im not an extra, and I still say this movie wasnt that great. The first rape scene was the best part of the movie, and after that it got dull. I'm used to hollywood cliches (the idiotic victims standing around when they should be running), but the lack of any real sexual content was disturbing.

Actually, it wasnt disturbing - and thats what was wrong with this movie. I dont feel empathy for other people, so I have to SEE something terrible to understand it. I didnt understand why this movie is supposed to "Reveal dark blah blah sex trade blah blah shocking blah blah."

It wasnt shocking. It wasnt dark. It was almost not even about the sex trade - there wasnt enough on camera sex.

Thats just the opinion of someone who isnt an extra.

[–] Alex-273 16 years ago

>>2. "but they didn't really build up the REASON why Veronica killed herself(she >>ran right past me btw when I was an extra). I feel that this could have been >>justified had they built up more of a story for her character, and the other >>surrounding characters, but there was nothing."

>>From day 1 when "they" let Veronica know they know where her family lives andthat she has a child, her son was all that she thought of. So when theopportunity to escape finally came around she aimed for the phone to see if her child was safe. Of course hearing her mother on the phone (which you must have missed) say that "people came and showed me papers, did Gregor make it to America" Veronica knew her son was gone! At that moment she was gone and that was her motive to commit suicide. Constantly reminding the viewer of her son thoughout the movie in dialogue would have been amatuerish storytelling. The torn picture of her son spoke a thousand words throughout. The rule in movie making is "show it, don't tell".

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I just had another thing or two to add to this: (and I didn't see the movie with subtitles so I had to use my limited language comprehension and reading the actors)

-When we see the flashback of her in the travel office she stares at a picture of some cliffs/some beautiful mountain scenery. When she was standing on that rock she saw the beauty that she had been dreaming of. The impression I got was that she was finally in the presence of something amazing, and she knew she had a horrible life ahead of her with her son gone and soon to be sold. And when she said that she would make him pay, I think she simply meant that she could not harm him herself, and she might have realized that she could not save the girl from the eventual abuse, but she could end her life and cost that man thousands of dollars and get him in a lot of trouble. And basically that was the only thing she could do to free herself.
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-Also some man posted a bit further down that there wasn't enough sex in the movie? That the movie peaked with the rape scene? I mean wow.. its bad enough to actually THINK that, but what kind of warped reality are you living in when you openly *admit* to that sickening view. --->

Ave_Roma2004's post (and I still can't believe he wrote this..):

Well im not an extra, and I still say this movie wasnt that great. The first rape scene was the best part of the movie, and after that it got dull. I'm used to hollywood cliches (the idiotic victims standing around when they should be running), but the lack of any real sexual content was disturbing.
Actually, it wasnt disturbing - and thats what was wrong with this movie. I dont feel empathy for other people, so I have to SEE something terrible to understand it. I didnt understand why this movie is supposed to "Reveal dark blah blah sex trade blah blah shocking blah blah."
It wasnt shocking. It wasnt dark. It was almost not even about the sex trade - there wasnt enough on camera sex.
Thats just the opinion of someone who isnt an extra.

[–] ave_roma2004 16 years ago

I have no problems admitting that I'm a deviant mofo. This movie wasnt good. It wasnt touching. It wasnt even about the sex trade. Some chick got raped, and some little girl cried for seemingly no reason, other than the fact that she was kidnapped. Yawn.

Now give me 120 minutes of Irreversible-esque quality rape scenes, and I might soften my heart.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] bonn_pogi 16 years ago

Isn't there like an IQ requirement to be an extra?

Please stick to being an extra and stay away from analyzing movies... might be too hard for you to understand.

[–] Murphy_Angier 16 years ago

^^No, hence the term "extra"....

I don't mean to impose, but I am the OCEAN.

[–] suekline05 16 years ago

If you had an intelligent point in here, you buried it with your whining. If you know so much why aren't you more than extra?

Sorry to be harsh, but this really smacks of sour grapes. Get over yourself and give an intelligent critique of the movie.

[–] BryanBaca 16 years ago

the film was good but flawed. i think it was made more as to open your eyes to what is going on. i think the messege could overcome the flaws for me and i think veronica's "jump" was a very emotional scene, even if it was unrealistic. it was more amovie to be an emotional film and to make you feel for the people in this trade, even if that means stretching the realism.

[–] sipasoda 16 years ago

Wow, really easy to criticize from the cheap seats. You needn't be so self-important. As far as your you tube comment-what a joke! If you have to tell them who you are, you aren't.

[–] deborahnellie-1 16 years ago

I was rapt by this movie. Loved the acting. By the way, Veronica killed herself because she had nothing left to live for, and a future certain to be horrifying. Even if she got away from her captors, she would have to face life wondering about the love of her life, her toddler son. I would've done the same thing.