MovieChat Forums > Two Lovers (2009) Discussion > Anyone else find Michelle really hard to...

Anyone else find Michelle really hard to like?

posted 12 years ago by MissKateRabbit
12 replies | jump to latest

Firstly just have to say how much I enjoyed this film, from beginning to end I was enthralled and in my opinion all the performances were perfect, this is one of a very small list of films that has actually got to me and I am very pleased to have this in my collection, but my question is this, are we at any point supposed to like Michelle?

I have watched this movie 3 times now and whilst I find her character engaging I just don't find her likable.

she is with a married man, quite happy knowing that fact, then she goes with Leonard also knowing that he has a girlfriend in Sandra, now I understand that she is I suppose quite a self destructive character but isn't Leonard also? Why do I see something in him but not in her? Is it the way she is played or written? are we the audience supposed to like her, are we supposed to be empathetic to her? All the other characters I can find something, Leonard with his somewhat creepy, cute awkwardness, Sandra who was to my mind, a doormat, his mother, overbearing and over protective, I even found something in her married lover, in that he did seem to genuinely care about her.

Am I the only one who feels like this?

[–] BoSoxRule 12 years ago

It's probably because Gwyneth is an icy bitch that you felt this way.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] jason-859-777508 12 years ago

No it was deliberate dramatic irony that you the audience were supposed to know Michelle was cold to Leonard, but that Leonard didn't want to see it. She had to be a fvck up like him, because he was fvcked up from other unrequited past loves.

A fvck up can't help another fvck up. Now I don't think Leonard was a fvck up. HE thought he was, but the audience knows it bc of his unrequited position. Michelle was the true fvck up. She even says it a bunch of times.

Then later Vinessa's dad asks him if he's a fvck up. Leonard says I don't think so. Not bc he's hiding the fact that he's a *beep* up, he's hiding that he's fvcked up. See the diff? Pretty fvcked up.

If your hair is on fire, you need to act like your hair is on fire. - Senator Nina Turner

[–] irishaspaddyspig 12 years ago

She encouraged him in his photography. It was that moment when she told him not to let people discourage him, that he became smitten.

She referred to him as he new best friend.
He wanted more.

She was catnip.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] jason-859-777508 12 years ago

Totes catnip.

Poor little Leonard. Good timing for that reality check though. But its weird timing.

Well then that makes Ronald catnip too!!! UGH imagine having to chew on that plant.

Tell you what irish, TWO LOVERS makes me want to live in Brighton Beach. What a classy traditional place.

If your hair is on fire, you need to act like your hair is on fire. - Senator Nina Turner

[–] irishaspaddyspig 12 years ago

You'd like the Fairfax District in Los Angeles, Jason.
It's Brighton Beach with Calfornia sunshine.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] jason-859-777508 12 years ago

I've seen it!

What a nice district. Kids can actually play in the streets there.

Hope it always stays that way.

And the New Bev Cinema! They were having 'slacker week' when I was down there for Labor day this year.

Great great area.

If your hair is on fire, you need to act like your hair is on fire. - Senator Nina Turner

[–] geoffrey-jackson 11 years ago

Thank you for starting this thread.

I concur. It seems that Michelle's unlikable character was intended. She does, however, have a sort of catalytic effect on bringing people together, in the case of Leonard and Sandra, or pushing them apart, in the case of Ronald and his wife.

By the way, the "People who liked this also liked" facility of IMDb put me onto this film while going through a Kate Winslet phase; watching films like Little Children (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404203/and Revolutionary Road (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/. All three films go well together. I gave the other two films a fairly high rating and was inclined to rate this film fairly low because of its lack of appeal. I should, however, rate this film fairly high because of the good characterisation and clear directing. I'm giving the film 8/10 (and a gold star to IMBd).

[–] NewKonoiche 11 years ago

Yeah, she was annoying.

Unfortunately, I've had friends like her. Always want you to drop everything and give everything to them whenever they need you, but then, they themselves don't follow through on engagements. I'd say she's a toxic friend for sure.

[–] MissKateRabbit 11 years ago

Just looking back at this thread -

Geoffrey -
Little Children and Revolutionary road are two of my favourite films,
(I too have gone through a Kate Winslet phase and it really is remarkable that she has so few box office bombs to her name - she is a great actress)
and you are right - they go so well together

:D

Do the *beep* snow angel, dude. Do the *beep* snow angel!!

[–] wulfthar 11 years ago

Michelle was a nutjob and clearly unstable from a psychological point of view, but she also had some sort of magnetism.

The most absurd moment is when she offers to pay him back for the tickets, I mean, the girl must have been really messed up.

I met women like her in my past, and I steered away.

Juliet Parrish: You can't win a war if you're extinct!

[–] blueeyedrascal05 10 years ago

Just watched this & have to agree with the person that said she is a toxic friend. In fact she really is no friend at all. To me, she is an attention seeker, who uses Leonard in his naivety, shamelessly.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5982) 2 years ago

I don't think it's required to like her, just that you believe Leonard would be likely to like her.