MovieChat Forums > Whip It (2009) Discussion > the swimming pool scene!

the swimming pool scene!

posted 14 years ago by Kings_Of_Leon_is_love
27 replies | jump to latest

Wow. My favorite scene. It was shot so beautifully, Drew Barrymore is an amazing director. I can't wait to see more of her work behind the camera. While the music throughout the entire film was incredible (especially the opening with Kings Of Leons "Knocked Up" playing) the song used during that pool scene was perfect! And the chemistry between Ellen Page and Landon Pigg, aww loved it. Sorry for rambling on but I saw this film when it first came out on dvd, and today I just bought and watched it again and realized how wonderful that scene is. I watched that scene 4 times in a row just because I love it so much. Lovely! Anyone else agree? Also, it makes me wanna go swimming very badly. I love pools. Haha

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[–] Disco_Ball 14 years ago

I just watched it today and I love love love that part. Drew Barrymore is amazing and she was so cute in the film. love her name in the film Smashley Simpson lol
And yes I wanna go swimming but my foot phobia puts me off :(

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] dusty_lines 14 years ago

Maybe it's me but i found that scene extremely awkward. Sure, it was cute and Ellen Page looked really shy and adorable, but she looked like she was struggling to keep her eyes open and to hold her breath.

[–] SmokeyTheGreat 14 years ago

Anyone ever tried kissing someone underwater? It's pretty difficult :)

[–] r-taylor13 14 years ago

I thought it was a terrible scene, like the person before me said, it was very awkward. Terrible Film.

[–] rooprect 14 years ago

We all knew the 'corny obligatory makeout scene' was going to happen sooner or later. I was dreading it because I thought it would wreck the momentum of this great film. But I gotta agree, the pool scene was shot beautifully & artistically, and I thought it was really creative & fresh. It's probably the coolest 'corny obligatory makeout scene' I've ever watched. Definitely a highlight of the movie.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] mutantenemeny 14 years ago

I just couldn't get past the fact that she's 17 and he's like 24. Just for the fact that she should have told him her true age and let him decide if he wanted to risk it. This is where statutory rape charges come from.

"Happiness is a warm gun." The Beatles
"No touching guns." River ~ Firefly

[–] Sunshine_pink 14 years ago

is 17 underage in the US???? i got together with my hubby when i was 17 and he was 25 and that was 18 years ago

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] xthisnightiswild 14 years ago

Also, don't forget, she told people she was 22!

-"To sleep, perchance to dream."-

[–] skinky_1999 13 years ago

Also, don't forget, she told people she was 22!

SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS 22 JUDGE!

IT'S ABOUT MONEY, DICK!!!

[–] STXAngel22 14 years ago

I agree it was a great scene, I loved how their relationship also grew through the movie, but was sad when it fell apart and wasnt put back together at the end, boo

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[–] windowlicker269 14 years ago

"It was shot so beautifully, Drew Barrymore is an amazing director"
that shot was probably constructed by the director of photography. i mean drew is no spielberg right? The shot itself was terriblty unrealistic. I didn't know people could breathe underwater?

[–] tehck 14 years ago

I'd have to agree that the underwater scene was another example of a ridiculously unrealistic Hollywood portrayal of sex. Having sex in a swimming pool is difficult (no leverage and no lubrication), uncomfortable, and downright dangerous. The only thing that might be more difficult and even less desirable would be waiting until after you jumped in to try to take your clothes off, which for me was the most absurd element of the scene. But Barrymore has them do it that way so that Bliss's deflowering can be turned into a kind of stylized, romantic ballet that appears to happen in slow motion without having to change the speed of the film. In reality, it's not something any real person would want to do or enjoy very much if they did. It's very much like that other Hollywood favorite date activity in which two characters have sex for the first time after covering each other's bodies in paint. It looks great until you think about it for about a half second. Why in the hell would you want to do that?

[–] charles_b_ellis 14 years ago

Having sex in a pool (or a hot tub, lake or river, though in the ocean wave motion introduces a complication) is not difficult at all. It can be a little slow going at first, but once you get started there is sufficient lubrication. Leverage just requires a little imagination and/or a strong grip. It works really well if the depth is just right for the lady to float on her back.

"We don't make movies for critics, since they don't pay to see them anyhow." - Charles Bronson

[–] blakkdog 9 years ago

I really dont think it was meant to be taken literally. It was a metaphor for sex for her. This beautiful underwater ballet, soundless and gravityless. Its how she saw it. The sex didnt necessarily even happen in the pool. But the medium of water allowed them to portray sexuality in a way that you just cant by just showing the scene. It was a nice twist. Still not sure if it was completely necessary but it was different. And it was cool that it was the only scene in the movie to be so metaphoric in what amounted to a straight forward movie. That takes guts. Clearly Drew Barrymore and others sat around saying ok how can we make this different from the usual hollywood teen hook up scene? how can we convey to the audience just how beautiful it FEELS to Bliss? I think they pulled it off pretty much. It was at least worth the try.

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Using words to describe art is like using a screw driver to cut roast beef.

[–] lillurr 14 years ago

I was too occupied being amazed she used a Jens Lekman song for that scene to be bothered about how unrealistic it was to have sex without breathing under water. Love that song.

"We fell in love. I fell in love - she just stood there." / http://twitter.com/Marielind

[–] LeonardPine 14 years ago

I thought it was a great scene, beautifully shot. I'm not sure if they actually DID have sex....?

[–] xthisnightiswild 14 years ago

She implies it later when she tells her mom that she "gave him everything" -- at least, that was my interpretation...

-"To sleep, perchance to dream."-

[–] xthisnightiswild 14 years ago

WORDDDD. I LOVED all the Jens Lekman she had peppered throughout the film (I believe his "When I said I Wanted to be Your Dog" is cue'd in later on)! I also have been obsessively re-watching this scene specifically because the string intro to the song is the loveliest thing ever, so perfect for the moment she's building up.

What a way to re-interpret a song!

-"To sleep, perchance to dream."-

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] MyShia919 13 years ago

Umm, I don't think she had sex underwater? I think it was just next to the pool. Or at least that's what I got from it with the final shot of that scene.

[–] guitar_chic 13 years ago

Am I the only one who cracked up at the irrelevance of the song? Although, I do like the song and the scene, "I was slicing an avocado when you came up behind me..and put your arms around me" really has nothing to do with the scene...at all.