Enablers

Well said, judy7. I'm still trying to figure out what the film-makers want us to think about Ben. He is more flawed than most of us, probably, but he grabs his flaws and shoves them in our faces. 99% of me says, "Screw you, Ben, you are a selfish exploiter." One percent says, "You obey your urges and plant little seeds of affection on the way." I guess that one percent is a potential way you deal with mentally unsound people in your circle of family or friends.

this is just a man having a meltdown and refusing to face what so many women who find out they have breast cancer have to deal with ...
he is weak
the only thing you can say about his successful climb up the economic ladder was that he had charm and brains and they helped him succeed when many others failed
but the one time his charm could not work for him--bingo--his weak character just lets him throw a tantrum that lasts for 6 and half years...

who does he think he is???
the rules don't apply to him???
just Gordon Gecko selling cars vs stocks...
what is new with that...

his wife was not an enabler
his daughter was--because she was still trying to "win" his love

MLP's character was not--she kicked him to the curb as soon as he failed the litmus test she set up for him
His charm certainly did not work on the black widow of a daughter she had

His "friend" did not really know him and was pretty naive and so non-judgemental as to be unreal--notice HIS wife never showed up to complain about someone sleeping in her rec room...


"...That's the beauty of argument, Joey. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong..."