I couldn't stand the gamekeeper! - Lady Chatterley (2006) Discussion

[–] aija_smith 16 years ago

Yes!!!
He looked bolding and old, and I completely could not understand what the hell she is doing with him, the whole act would last for about 3 seconds without any caressess for the first half of the movie (and it did not improve much later on...)

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[–] linda303 16 years ago

He was certainly unattractive but at the same time his character was so much more interesting than hers. I thought she was very weak, but that was probably due to the poor screenplay than her acting ability.

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[–] BrianDrbys 10 years ago

What's "bolding" ? Very brave ? Being bold ? Or tiny penis which is what he had.

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[–] monsterflick 16 years ago

What??? He was sexy as hell, with his dark brooding brow, relaxed masculinity, and natural "working class" body. I liked how solid he looked, with his heavily muscled upper body, thick but strong midsection, and furry butt and legs. This is what a real man looks like!

Would you have preferred a gym-buffed Hollywood metrosexual?

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[–] Neodemia 16 years ago

I have to agree with Monsterflick on this one.
He certainly grew on me as the movie went on.
I have to say I'm delighted to see a MAN and not some "fake-tanned-pretty-boy" .
Am I totally blind or am I the only one who can't see the so-called wobbly body?
He looks fit and strong, looks like a real man.
I guess people are so used to the Hollywood-look that they don't know what real people look like.
I can only say I'd be happy with a man having such a body.
But then again, I do prefer men to boys, always have and always will....

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[–] missyamerica18 16 years ago

I agree with several of the other comments. At first, I couldn't believe that she would be having an affair with this man. I really didn't get the appeal at first but by the end of the movie I was feeling something for him too. That is the power of the performance. Like others have said, I liked that very "real" look about him.

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[–] onegirlrev 15 years ago

He was unattractive and i figured the attraction was based on personality. He also had a very small.......

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] SataiDelen 10 years ago

I have to say I'm delighted to see a MAN and not some "fake-tanned-pretty-boy" .

Chalk it up to the shallowness of Hollywood. Too many people now a days are too used to the fakeness of Hollywood.

I liked this man too. That was the point. He was a MAN, not a BOY!

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[–] Luxn 10 years ago

Wow! What the heck is wrong with some of you people? The Gamekeeper isn't intended to be eye candy. He is a tough man who has had a hard life.

I couldn't relate to the actor at the beginning but I think that has something to do with how well he portrayed the role. The character (and the actor) grew on me.

By the time she spent the night in his house, I was smitten with the pair of them. I thought that whole scene was so touching.

This actor speaks volumes with his facial expressions and the way he looked at her sometimes made my heart melt. Subtle but powerful.

If you think this guy was ugly, then I guess you haven't watched very many European films. We tend to feature actors who look and act like people do in real life.

And those of you lusting after Sean Bean...are you serious? Maybe I've gotten a bit bored of seeing him on tv over here so often but he's no better looking than the guy who played Parkin in this film, IMO.

The actress was lovely. Quite mesmerising to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

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[–] HoferPM-1 14 years ago

Yep, you said it all. He was as sexy as hell !

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[–] brightfox-859-539169 13 years ago

I agree, monsterflick! I cannot abide what passes for "masculine" these days: either pretty boys or roided-out monstrosities. I'd would have jumped Parkin's bones! Give me a real, dark-haired, hairy man anytime!

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] moreymark 16 years ago

In the 1920's, everyone wore a tie (and probably a waistcoat). If there's a problem with his appearance, it's that he seems under-dressed for this period in time.

Think back to the scene where she lookes at herself naked, fantasising no doubt, and shortly after she sees Parkin. Given that she was a virgin when she was married, and her husband couldn't have sex with her, she was still a virgin. Is there any wonder that she was aroused by the one man on the estate with whom she could have erotic thoughts about? Certainly not the servants or the men in the small village, but the lonely gamekeeper away from prying eyes?

So he's her erotic fantasy and he knows it. Later, he's awakened as much by her as she by him, and his character is more fully revealed.

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[–] vampyreaayin 16 years ago

Well, in the book, she's not a virgin before she gets married. She had an affiar when she was still in school.

These are the keys to the Bermuda Triangle. Lock up when the world ends

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[–] linda303 16 years ago

Yechh! I would divorce my hunky, in-shape husband if he ever let himself go like that!

And why then wasn't the actress more ordinarily chubby and flabby?

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[–] sirlancelotksa 15 years ago

You're forgetting something here: he is a working class guy and, at the time the movie takes place, men like him would hardly be fit; they had to fight for a living and hardly had gyms available. She, on the other hand, belongs to an upper class, meaning that it's not so shocking she looks nice. IMHO both characters are very convincing.

Generally speaking, movies in Europe tend to deal with real life, and in real life real people are bald, fat, short... and according to that reality, actors don't have to obbey some Hollywood imposed standards. That's nice because the average citizen sees himself/herself portrayed there instead of developing inner problems, considering plastic surgeries and so forth...

And for those who wanna see reversed roles try The Mother, another European movie that deals with a real life issue; this time is the woman who (according to some standards) wouldn't be so appealing...

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[–] davidgoesboating 15 years ago

I thought he looked a little odd at first, but having seen the film now, I reckon it was inspired casting. He fits the role brilliantly, way more than some Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves look-alike would have.

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[–] birinak 13 years ago

Yechh! I would divorce my hot, in-shape wife if she ever let herself go like that!

Little experiment. As it turns out, it's a horribly shallow thing to say both ways.

On the first day, man created God.

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[–] funkymunkybananas 15 years ago

I thought the same. I thought he was very unfortunate looking and I personally was not attracted to him in the slightest.
But I think that just adds more to the meaning of the relationship.
The Lady wasn't really after looks, it was purely physical. Just being able to have sex with someone, despite their looks, appealed to her.
I also don't think they had much of a meaningful relationship as far as conversation and interests go.

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[–] eolloe 10 years ago

Not so sure it was just physical. She wanted to experience a kind of intimacy (physical and emotional/spiritual) that was lacking in her marriage.

And there is more to sexual attractiveness than beauty.

Have you seen the pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger's housekeeper that he had a child with while still married? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but she'd probably not be a finalist in any Miss America pageants.

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[–] mcdowelldjl 15 years ago

You are absolutely right! If the French think him beautiful -- Yuck. Give me Nicholas Clay any day. The Gamekeeper is supposed to be someone out of his element too. Too bright for the class he was born into but not what he aims to be. Nothing is brought out of that by this actor who seems just animalistic.

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[–] arty_mom 15 years ago

Oh, I really fell in love with this character by the end. JLC conveyed so much with those sad, wary eyes. His hesitancy at being a dalliance for her - his suspicion of her motives in the beginning. Then later, he expresses wonder at her beauty and interest. Nothing stated verbally, just all in those eyes. I came to adore this man's face by the end of the film. I'm sure he was quite striking when he was younger.

By casting this particular actor as Parkin, they seemed to be able to fill in a history for him without filming a backstory: his careworn face looks like it has lived and suffered. Also, his non-typical body grew on me. I can see why LC had such a strong reaction to his rippling back when she first spies him bathing. His body has a presence that I found riveting! As someone else said, inspired casting.

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[–] BarbiCute 15 years ago

The role was perfectly cast, in my opinion. If you recall, they didn't just fall in love right away. She had been coming to the hut for a while. Slowly she became attracted to him and vice versa. She came to respect him, then to become comfortable with him and in time, became physically attacted to him --- which is how a romance should evolve. The fact that they became physically involved was a natural progression. It really didn't have anything to do with looks or body type in my opinion. It had more to do with the awakening and connection of two souls. You'll notice in the beginning of the movie they both kept their clothes on whenever they had sex. After the rain washed away all their inhibitions, they were able to see each other for real and off came the clothes with inhibitions. I hope you will look at the film again with new eyes; then see if the fact that he isn't a pretty boy matters.

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[–] morganseer 15 years ago

Gosh, you girls are tough. I found this guy sexy from the beginning. I saw no disrespect, only hesitation about letting her intrude into his world. In fact I thought she was rude to insist on having a key to the shed, when he obviously didn't want her to have it.
And I didn't mind the frontal shot. We've been shown women's nudity for years. Hey, make that centuries. Time for the guys to put on a show.

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[–] likeNefertiti 15 years ago

He was perfectly casted in this role. A rugged outdoorsman who choose a lifestyle not unlike that of a monk. Apparently he had been in love before, had a physical relationship before and removed himself from that life. He didn't want her around at first. He didn't want those feelings awakened. I like the strong acting of showing stoic strength and vulnerability simultaneously. The uninhibited way he has sex with her, the gasps, heavy breathing cries of release. Throwing himself into in the moment while clinging to some self respect and distance until he can no longer resist his need for her.

Increase the Peace -release endorphins :^D

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[–] doravale 15 years ago

If you didn't think he was sexy, I hope it's not because you've been brainwashed by Hollywood's rigid (and let's face it, rather dull) standards of attractiveness.

The French are much better in appreciating beauty in individuality - not all their film actors have gym-honed torsos, perfect sparkling teeth, Botoxed faces and hair extensions, like today's Hollywood starlets.

I'd be interested in hearing whom you DO find sexy.

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[–] popcorn-venus 14 years ago

I just saw this movie and I agree with folks who say he may not fit the "Hollywood Ideal" but that he had a certain something that grew more attractive as the film went on. When I first saw Parkin, I was disappointed & doubted that I would buy their passion but he definitely grew on me. His personality--the complex layers of feeling he brought to the role--is what makes him sexy. Besides, part of his appeal for Constance is his "roughness" and raw, unabashed physicality--qualities that are sometimes better conveyed with a more natural, florid physique. Also, I think because this is a film people are inclined to be a bit more picky...but in real life everyone has at one point found someone sexy and charismatic who is not "Hollywood handsome" or in tip-top shape because, well, they just have something that does it for you.

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[–] funky_monkey_8_ 15 years ago

jolie-laide

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