MovieChat Forums > El método (2005) Discussion > Had the potential to be a lot better... ...

Had the potential to be a lot better... (spoilers!!)


It is precisely during the first recess, when they are eating, and in the bathroom afterwards, with the sex and the shirt-changes, when I started doubting this movie. It was so great during the first two challenges, I was in awe, I was loving it, but in those afore mentioned moments the movie started drifting, and, for me, never recovered. It seemed like there was one scriptwriter for the first part of the movie, and another one for the second part of it. Even the dialogues and subtexts were better; the movie could be analyzed politically, philosophically and logically, then, it seems, they just kind of ran out of ideas. It sucks though, because I was being a huge fan from this movie. About the ending...

SPOILERS!!

I feel as what is resolved was never put in question or conflict during the entire film, and it is the fact that Nieves changes from business to love, and Carlos changes from love to business, but when was that the conflict? What was the purpose of doing this? What does this have to do with the anti-globalization movement, for which the movie is very keen on?

OK movie, with the pontential to have been great.

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*I feel as what is resolved was never put in question or conflict during the entire film, and it is the fact that Nieves changes from business to love, and Carlos changes from love to business, but when was that the conflict? What was the purpose of doing this?*

Does it really have to be shown in the film, the conflict I mean? It is an old story, love or business, or family or business if you want, especially for women. The sex scene shows Nieves as unscrupulous bitch, leaving Fernando with "finish yourself", however after Fernando tells her THE TRUTH about not having kids, family and waking up one morning all alone, she starts reconsidering the whole thing. Carlos tells her what she wants to hear in order to get her out, and in one moment she is balancing between closing the door or going out with Carlos. Obviously, Fernando's words still ring in her head and she goes out. But Carlos remains rotten to the bone and gets back to the office and wins the job.

*What does this have to do with the anti-globalization movement, for which the movie is very keen on?*

The last scene tells everything, what we've become and what we will become if MMF and WB persist with their way of doing things. It's not only rich or poor anymore, it's not developed countries vs. third world only, it is humans not seeing and not caring for anyone or anything else but ourselves.

I think the movie is great from the beginning til the end.

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Ozhezhi I couldn't agree more. Even though the sex scenes are handled in an extremely crude way, they serve their purpose, which is to build character. Nieves who already seemed like a bitch in previous tests, undoubtedly becomes one. Her actions also trigger a certain love triangle that is defining for the final scenes. I'm not saying I liked the bathroom scenes but I understand their importance. And although it might seem that the first half of the movie is much deeper, I think that this is due to the number of people. When we have a room full of candidates, the backstabbing and plotting is much more interesting. Of course, it is also a better scenario to introduce the subtle philosophical themes of the movie. The second half is less overwhelming because there are less people. The conflict becomes more intimate. The mole is revealed, and the only thing missing is the one who keeps the job. I liked the final scene because it is a paradox of sorts. The whole globalization thing is supposed to be because the world is becoming too open. There is too much contact between nations, however, the truth is the oposite. We are more alone than ever. And we can see this in Carlos' attitude in the elevator, as well as Nieves' last stroll. In my oppinion, this scene is excellent.

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I also had some mixed feelings about the second half, but still thought it was a good, very interesting movie overall. The movie misses some opportunities, but the ending sequence is fitting IMO.

The primary theme of the movie is not 'love vs. business', if anything it's about the competition between all the applicants and how it affects their relationships. So in that sense the conflict between Nieves and Carlos was fitting IMO.

One thing you mentioned (how the 2 characters change) I have been thinking about. At first Carlos makes some clumsy attempts to elicit a breakdown in Nieves, then seems to genuinely accept Nieves invitation to leave. It seems genuine because he didn't know what Nieves' goal was, or how that would ultimately play into her really breaking down. OTOH when Nieves invites Carlos to go, it's obvious by her pause at the door that she is gaming him for the position. A couple of questions though-

1. Shouldn't she have already won at that moment, regardless of what happens in the elevator? Or maybe she paused and was about to close the door, but then decided to really leave with him. So that nullified her victory...

2. Neither character is ultimately more ruthless than the other IMO. As the events unfolded it seems Carlos wins more or less by the luck of the dice. He spots Nieves hesitating at the door, then they talk about it, leading to her breakdown. Had she just walked straight out, I think they're in Africa right now.

Some other points-
1. The older macho character could've had more potential IMO, he ended up being somewhat of a buffoon the way he went out (as well as the tease in the bathroom.) I know that's part of his character, but still...

2. When Nieves and Carlos are each getting prepped for their final 'missions', it would seem obvious that they would suspect the other might get the same (being that they were misled and toyed with throughout the movie.) It might have been an interesting tap-dance if the characters were more conscious of this during the final conversation, perhaps if they came right out and suggested or acknowledged as such (while still reminiscing about the past, etc.) If they were aware, it did not come out quite the way I would have thought.

3. I think Nieves is the more ruthless and intelligent character of the pair, it would have been interesting to have her win somehow in the end. What if the elevator door closes with her on the verge of a breakdown, but then we see that she doesn't cry, and wins the final game? (something along those lines.) Instead, Carlos just sorta seems to win on her final blunder.

I didn't think the movie has that much to do with the anti-globalization movement, but it provided interesting tension as a backdrop to what was going on in the office. Thematically it does relate, but there wasn't an especially strong effort to bring it to the forefront.

I think the movie was still far better than the standard mainstream fare, in that it at least dared to go in directions for the sake of art rather than just box office.

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I agree basically with the last three posts.
My remakrs:

Nieves doesn't really lose, she has chosen not to play into the game when she offers Carlos the deal of going away. She even purposefuly offers herself to do whatever is necessary to make him win if he wishes to (but still she considers shutting the door behind him at a point).

About 2. The film implies they first fall in the manipulation by the psichologists, although as their conversation goes, the start to question and Nieves becomes fully aware in the elevater (and still chooses to leave)

About 3. I actually believe she is more intelligent because she chooses for being more "human" and not being sucked up in the competitive ruthless world they ere being dragged to.

And the demos outside make all the sense, because it was that very same conflict of humanity vs. the present system (the activists outside are suppossed to represent the good of society, I understand not everyone has to agree with it, but take it as a symbol) that took place inside Nieves as well as the streets.

And the final scene is really wonderful, both Nieves and the streets are in tatters after the "fight"

This is how i see it

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I agree. The set-up was good, but they could have done a lot more with it.

The film had a nice 'mafia' (I'm talking about the party game) feel to it in the beginning, but the arguments weren't very strong, and the dialogue overall wasn't particularly good. (Certainly nowhere near '12 Angry Men' which has been pointed out as a similar movie, or even to 'Exam' (2009), which wasn't so good either.)

And later on the whole film became unconvincing and the whole Carlos/Nieves/Fernando triangle felt uninteresting and implausible to me. (For example, Nieves weak spot being family, children, etc. was so trite and stereotypical.)


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