Rachel Bilson/Hayden Christensen segment
Can someone explain this one to me? Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I have no idea what went on...
shareI know, I didn't really understand it either. I was too distracted by the horrendous acting.
share
MovieChat Forums > New York, I Love You (2009) Discussion > Rachel Bilson/Hayden Christensen segment
which story was this one? what is the plot? i don't know the actors.
shareIt's the first one, something happens where Christensen's character spots Bilson in a photo booth, follows her in a bar and gets confronted by her boyfriend/husband. I didn't understand any of it to be honest, aside from us being revisited to it later on in the film and now Bilson is sporting a blond wig.
sharei didn't realize that was Bilson. i know her from The O.C. She is the one waiting for the guy playing basketball later in the film, right?
you're right, that first story was confusing. at first, i thought he was at a mailbox, but then it was a photo booth? weird. the guy is a pickpocketer. he steals her cell phone, then returns it because he's trying to pick her up. but then her married boyfriend(?) comes in and the boyfriend is also a pickpocketer. they steal from each other (wallet, wedding ring, photo) and then he leaves.
didn't really understand it either.
It was a clumsy beginning. I got the idea they were just partners in crime. I dunno. Funny, that was the only crime they did show in NYC. Talk about washing over the grit of the city.
Definitely, some bad acting which didn't help much to get into the story.
[deleted]
1. Hayden walks past Andy, steals his wallet, dumps the wallet and picture (into the mailbox)but takes the money.
2. By chance he spots Bilson because she is attractive and follows her into a bar and steals her phone as a way to start talking to her.
3. Andy walks in, happens to be her "bf" and a pickpocket as well.
4. They battle it out through their criminal ways, as sort of a private battle between the two of them of pride.
5. Andy ends up being the ultimate thief, of the girls heart and at pickpocketing.
5a. At least initially, I haven't gotten through the movie yet.
It wasn't that hard to get. I enjoyed it.
.:.You cut me off mid funk!.:.
\~It's YOU'RE, as in "you are cool"-not your as in "your friend"~/
I got your 1-5 but I'm not sure what happen after that.
Rachel Bilson came back to the picture booth to take her picture then found Hayden Cristensen. The blond version of Rachel Bilson follow(hang out with) him to the basketball court.
Blond Bilson must have been taking her picture in the booth. Why did she use blond wig? What was her role? Another thief/ liar?
I Hate My Signature
Eccentric maybe?
.:.You cut me off mid funk!.:.
\~It's YOU'RE, as in "you are cool"-not your as in "your friend"~/
I didn't fully understand, but I believe that Hayden's character ended up being the worse pickpocket, so he decided to steal the girl instead? No idea.
Insist on yourself. Never imitate.
I opened this post just to get an answer. Since no one came up with a good one, here's my hypothesis/theory:
I vaguely remembered seeing a movie about professional pickpockets when I was a kid and the older pro's name being Harry. Googled "harry pickpocket" and found "Harry in Your Pocket".
The story in that movie is basically about two young thieves, a guy and an attractive girl, who come across each other and then an older, more experienced pickpocket who puts them through a training regime and teaches them all the best tricks.
My guess is that this short is loosely based on the movie. First, Andy Garcia's character is named Garry(=Harry??). Then there's the attractive young thieves. I think that the whole segment was meant to look like simple coincidental events of thieves crossing paths, but later to be revealed as thieves being trained. When walking down the street, Christiansen manages to pickpocket Garcia(Garry) but throws away his wallet on a whim based on resentment. In the bar everyone stays in character since they're pros, and pros take training seriously. Garcia puts Christiansen in his place, and shows him that he is still just a Padawan(ha!). When walking out frustrated, Christenses comes across the picture, which goes to shows that Garcia, the all knowing veteran, did retrieve his wallet. Bilson(Molly) runs after Christensen, and the segment ends vaguely. Only later when they're seen together at the basketball court, it all becomes semi-clear. The big picture remains as a treat to old timers (or lucky kids) who are familiar with 70's movies.
I'm a movie analyzing badass.
Wow... you ARE one badass movie analyzer. It all seemed to make sense now since Andy Garcia did talk about himself being a great teacher. And the way Bilson laughed when Hayden answered he was a thief.
Then later in the movie, it would appear that Bilson is really checking up on Jumper dude so he could teleport the money from the black guy.
Anyways, it would seem that Christiansen and Bilson really are a couple. Thieves in love...
romanpaz: "Only later when they're seen together at the basketball court, it all becomes semi-clear. The big picture remains as a treat to old timers (or lucky kids) who are familiar with 70's movies."
Okay... I was caught up until here. I get that they're both students, I guess? And Garcia was their teacher... teaching them how to pickpocket? But Bilson never pickpocketed anything. And what's with the wig? And why did Christensen give the black dude money after their basketball game?
So confused... oy.
He probably stole it from him and then gave it back? I didn't listen to the dialogue, I was half asleep during that part.
"It does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty."
He probably stole it from him and then gave it back?
Unlikely. It looks as if he paid the black guys to make him look like an awesome player, getting around them and making layups.
The actress says "you really had me going there" as she's peeking over his shoulder seeing him pay off the black guy. share
romanpaz, that actually seems like a really good theory!
It would also explain their acting in the bar. For example when Molly asked Ben what she could do to thank him etc. I was a little surprised when first watching this scene because usually Rachel is a better actress than that.
But if your theory is correct, it would just be their characters that were not such good actors :p
And I would with barry delaney on the second scene, I think Ben payed the guy to make him look good playing basketball.
the older guy, he's married and a professor at nyu. i figure she was his student or something. anyways, i just took it as to, hayden ended up with the girl, even after being 'beaten' in the macho thief contest. the only one i understood in the whole movie.
shareThe acting of this segment was so bad I almost turned it off. Especially Hayden. Once it got to Portman's garbage it was far too much.
sharesee i would go with this explanation, but i thought the photo of her in Andy Garcia's wallet was her as a blond?
I'm totally confused by how the two segments tie together in time...
but maybe something that was in one of the cut parts helps to explain?
I dunno
maybe the blonde wig is a disguise since they're still "thieves in training."
and since garry the teacher is already married, perhaps she realized she's better off with a single guy who is hayden.
Maybe the girl is a thief as well. Thats why she has the wig because she
changes her identities to disguise who she is. Maybe thats the point. The teacher says Christensen's character looks familiar. He knows he is a thief
he is too but he changes his ``identity`` into that of a NYU professor to disguise what he really is. The same way Haydensen disguises his identity as theif by initially appearing as a helpful stranger to Bilson's character. In the end all 3 of their true selfs are exposed. I guess when she comes after him it shows how she knows and accepts his flaws and bad points and they can enter an honest relationship. Maybe its the idea of finding someone based on the flaws or issues that they both have. Maybe its her choosing to break away from the fantasy/lie that the professor will leave his wife for her, and go into a real truthful relationship. aBasically a metaphor for giving up the idea of a ``fairytale`` relationship for a reationship that is real and more meaningful.
When we see them again the fact he is giving the guy back the money shows how the relationship has grown because they both have nothing to hide so they can be free and happy as they have no secrets and so he gives the guy the money- shows he is different, more honest.
Live life, love life give love
No day but today!
Forever Defying Gravity!
Probably for the same reason I dyed my hair three different colors within a six month period, she likes the thrill of change!
R.I.P. Brittany Murphy {11.10.1977 - 12.20.2009}
R.I.P. Heath Ledger {04.04.1979 - 01.22.2008}
[deleted]
I thought that the other guy in the bar was Hayden's father, because he said something like, 'You look familiar' to him, and Hayden says he only ever met him once at that bar. And then they were both expert thieves - like father, like son? But maybe that is reading far too much into it.
shareI was thinking that too for a bit.
shareIs it possible that Bilson pickpocketed back her lover's (Garcia's) junk off of Christensen in the bar, then gave it to Garcia? Who then whipped it out to make Christensen look foolish?
share