misunderstood movie

AMEN.
Well said.

I think the performances were outstanding but that the pacing was a little too slow. I was disappointed with the ending too. Although entirely plausible (because I can totally see that the characters would behave in the way they did), it was too rushed so it feels forced. The ending should have unfolded in a much more deliberate manner IMO.

I was most impressed with Law, Wright-Penn and the Gavron kid. The Law and Wright-Penn relationship felt genuine, a real couple drifting apart to breaking point. The stress in their home life felt so real I totally understood why Will would rather spend his nights staking out his office than at home. I thought Binoche was rather melodramatic, her every gesture overly emphatic, her sadness expressed like a clown's. I also have no sympathy for her because somehow everything she did was presented as though she is always a victim, and her victimhood is supposed to excuse her scheming. It just made me feel like a sucker, I guess that's just how Law's character feels too.

I think the ultra-liberalism is where the film falls down -- the immigrants are always the victims here. (There was a hint that Amira's affair with Will is partly because she wants him and not merely because of self sacrifice. That is intriguing but not explored nearly enough.) The rich white folks (esp the men) are always to blame although they are good well-intentioned people. That is simplistic. The characters are well drawn and the actors are so good they bring them to life, but the plot sets them up and sort of boxes them in, as though each of them were pieces in a puzzle, like *ideas* of people instead of being real people in themselves. This is a flaw I cannot forgive. Minghella made the same mistake in Cold Mountain too. His head is so full of metaphors and symbols I'd like to just shake him and say, sometimes the thing is just the thing; it doesn't have to stand for anything.

[On the prostitute side story, at first I thought it may have been superfluous, but no. The hooker actually knows what Will wants before he does himself. She keeps pushing it on him but she was the wrong package and he refuses. I think her part really shows how lost Will is with himself.]

About the cool to luke warm response, my guess is it's due at least in part to the film's unabashedly liberal attitude. Law's Will is a completely convincing portrait of a man caught in all sorts of conflicting threads and tries his best to work it out; but the story sets up him to be a 'typical' liberal white male. Since liberalism is a dirty word in the media these days, that in itself is cause for the media to sneer. Many of these media types should see themselves in Will.

I saw this movie last December and was fascinated by it. The performances, specially that of Juliette Binoche and Jude Law were superb.

I've heard from some people that the ending should have been different. I strongly disagree. Not all movies should end how we expect or want it to end.

To break and enter into one's life, love, etc.,for any purpose, not always ends
as expected. Thieves sometimes get caught, lives are sometimes shattered, and loves are usually lost.

Jubinne

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