MovieChat Forums > The Big Bad Swim (2006) Discussion > i wanted to like this movie

i wanted to like this movie

posted 16 years ago by brydels
8 replies | jump to latest

i wanted to like this movie... i tend towards intellectual and independent movies. but, i never got there.... i think we're supposed to feel empathy for the human weaknesses of the main characters... all the while, the main characters feel little or no empathy for anyone else except the other main characters. "let's feel something for the good-looking, yet neurotic, but, yes, good-looking popular people.... but let's either dismiss the other characters or, use them for comic relief".... yeah, that's deep.

[–] indijul 15 years ago

Perhaps you missed the point. This film never intended to be an intellectual and deeply moving drama. Let it stand for what it is: a small comedy that stays honest towards its dimensions, if you know what i mean.

According to your mention about "the main characters are only interested in other main characters" I can only say that this is exactly how movies should be made in a proper way. If you start to care about all the characters in the movie you lose emotional focus. Then you can't feel empathy for anybody because it is too broad and uncertain. I hope I got my point across.

[–] hatefilms 13 years ago

May I say that your reply made me absolutely certain I did not want to see this film. And to the person who said get over yourself if you don't want good looking people in a film - I say "more ugly people in films please". Or rather, normal funny intelligent people who aren't clothes hangers or cokehead hollywood producers idea of attractive people.

[–] h1cheng 15 years ago

they totally did dismiss people. like the old lady.

[–] galoipo 15 years ago

I actually didn't want to like this movie but was drawn in. It was a cute movie and I liked the charactes they focused on...although yes they were all good looking.

[–] machicolator 13 years ago

That was the common theme for each of the main characters; they started out self-obsessed and closed off from those around them, ie: selfish and emotionally withdrawn, and by the end they were each starting to get over themselves. I thought it was intelligently and realistically done, with the comedic touches being what kept things moving. Gotta have a sense of humour 'bout life or it'll pummel your posterior...

And, speaking of getting over yourself, if merely having attractive main characters in a movie causes you enough discomfort to dislike the movie, might I suggest that that's not the movie's fault. They were all very well cast for their roles, including the supporting parts.

'For the right price I can give everything up.
Slip into the car, go drivin' to the farthest star.'

[–] hatefilms 13 years ago

See my reply above (to the second post in this thread)

I went to a swimming class once. I leant to swim - it's all about taking your opportunities...

[–] remembervhs 11 years ago

seems like you're criticizing the fact that all of the main characters are good looking.

welcome to movies I guess.

[–] freemanpatrick7 10 years ago

How come whenever some expresses an honest opinion of why they didn't like a particular film there is always ALWAYS some self righteous egocentric pretentious a**hole telling them they "missed the point"? Could the point possibly be that the director has three features to his credit, only one of which got a theatrical release which grossed a whopping 4 thousand bucks? Maybe the point is that the guy makes crappy movies and there are only a few pretentious a**holes who like them.