MovieChat Forums > The Perfect Host (2011) Discussion > Great first and second act, the third ac...

Great first and second act, the third act howeve... (Spoilers)


They didn't need to have the whole sub plot of why he stole the money or DHP being a cop. That just seemed like they didn't know how to end an already well done movie so they wrote another one. The first hour of the movie is great and DHP does a wonderful job, but the last 30 minutes just felt forced.






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I agree with OP, the end scene in Warwick's office felt really out of place with the rest of the movie (or at least with the last 30 minutes). I think it should have ended when John takes off his fake scars, or right when you the other detective opens the envelope at the end.

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I'm torn on this point because I liked the confrontation at the end (just because DHP plays veiled indifference so well). I think it would have worked to end it after the detective received the photograph. I don't think it would have worked as well for it to end right after John removes his fake scars. We would all be left wondering if the guy ever got caught. It would be too open-ended and the board would be filled with questions about "What happened next?" in that case. It seems like the writer wanted to give us "closure" on some of the looming questions.

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I thought the movie was good, but the twist at the end felt kind of forced and nobody would have bought his explanation for the Polaroid for a second.

Because sponges never have bad days.

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Yes, end it after seeing the Polaroid -- the only photograph allowed in court because it CAN'T be altered. If they're going to have the fellow show up for dinner, he would have him tailed so he didn't jump with the money. They would also make certain that, if he didn't run for the border, the detective invited for dinner just invites a few of his favorite plainclothes detectives along to help with the sweep.

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Polaroids aren't remotely the "only photograph allowed in court"

Any photograph can be admitted, so long as a witness can swear under oath that it's a true and accurate depiction of its subject

And while Polaroid photos can't be altered, they're easily faked. Just alter a regular photo, print it up as large as possible, and take a Polaroid of the print.

(That second bit was something I learned from this film's IMDB discussion board)

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I liked the third act the most.

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"Phones were built by trolls" - Charlie Sheen

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I agree, the third act explained almost every question I had in the first and second acts and made me want to see more. I want to know if Warwick is doing this to "scare criminals straight" or if he really is just crazy and goes by the minute. Very interesting movie.

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That was the first thing I said after the film ended, "the third act kinda sucked but the rest was great!". The cop thing made no sense. My gf and I hoped it was going in the direction that he just thought he was a cop, that he was imagining all the other detectives. That simple change would have made me a lot happier. The last scene was clunky and bizarre, it seemed like it just kept repeating the same thing continuously with different phrasing, "I have to investigate" "But it's a fake!" "I still have to look into it." "But it's not real" "It's my job to discover the truth" "Why? It's clearly a forgery." "I still have to check." "How come since it's a lie?" on and on with no real resolution.

I really loved the main concept and execution, I think the writer just suffered from not knowing how to tie it up.

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It was the twist this character needed IMO. Was bored until I realized he was a regular guy with not only a life (& interaction with others), but Power over others. That's what made his character interesting, & not just weird

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It was the twist this character needed IMO. Was bored until I realized he was a regular guy with not only a life (& interaction with others), but Power over others. That's what made his character interesting, & not just weird

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Minority on this thread (natch, given the title), but I'm with nycishomexxx

The notion that Warwick was a functional police lieutenant was hilarious to me

That he's able to stick it to John one last time (and John apparently sticking him right back) was a capstone to the game they'd been playing the whole film

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