MovieChat Forums > Joy (2015) Discussion > Unusual plot structure

Unusual plot structure

posted 8 years ago by kay_rock
6 replies | jump to latest

Most stories start out with a character with a goal. The goal may evolve, or even change, but the hero is always striving to achieve. They experience many setbacks, and then at the midpoint they experience the "all is lost moment." This begins the reversal, which starts the hero on their journey to success. There will be more battles, but the tides have turned.

This movie, on the other hand, started with the character at the all is lost point. Whenever the character slowly began to climb out of the rubble, they lost again, and again, and again… It was exhausting. Then, almost as an afterthought at the end, they added "oh yeah she made good and everything was fine. Except (we should add in this bizarre narration where we "tell" rather than "show") her family continued to selfishly try to destroy her.".

That was that. There was no satisfaction. No cheering as the hero finally makes it to the top of the mountain. Just a narrated post-script telling us she won.

I've seen documentaries with more of a story arc.

On the other hand, it has a great cast and some snappy dialog. So there's that.

Movies are IQ tests; the IMDB boards are how people broadcast their score.

[–] tallard 8 years ago

Agree with this entire assessment, except for the "snappy dialogue", I must have missed that. How many times to they REPEAT that her and Tony remain friends, how many times to they repeat how her and the boss remain friends. The mamie narration was terrible. Specially since mamie died BEFORE her success... so how on Earth could she narrate a success story, makes no sense.

I was hoping for much much more.

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**

[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

I suppose for some in this socially conservative era, a film that does not follow a conventional approach to the narrative is to be condemned for that sin alone. Not me.

First of all I admit I was mesmerized by Ms. Lawrence, who is fast becoming or is already one of the top actresses in Hollywood. Her performance here, and I will concede it was a difficult role as written to play, was totally convincing.

But on the point that the narrative kept including elements that pulled her back, I thought was an interesting approach.

[–] tallard 8 years ago

On don't mind narratives on principal, just this one :)
And yes, Jennifer is the best 20s female in Hollywood by my count.

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**

[–] Rheli 8 years ago

This need to make cookie cutter, ultra-predictable films is really destroying Hollywood right now. Thank goodness somebody has the guts and the imagination to think outside the box once in a while. Congrats to all involved -- I rated this one a 10!

[–] slidell333 8 years ago

Great analysis. For me, also, she just got bashed so MUCH by everyone throughout the entire film that I wanted some sort of redemptive scene. Instead, we get at the end a brief narration with "oh yea she made good and is doing great even though her awful family did try to sue her for everything...including her dad and sister and Trudy."

To the OP,...exactly. For me there was NO satisfaction. Just a quick narration explaining what happened after she went to Texas. Almost like it was ended after filming or at the last second.

I don't have to have a "yay, I'm so rich and successful now" feel good ending cliche-ridden ending but please give us more than that. Apparently, in the original script they did plan on shooting a court scene where her dad sued for the company which DID happen in real life. I just found the ending unsatisfactory.

And while in real life she still does take care of her dad (the half-sister is made-up) but just the way he talked to her in this version of the story she must be a really forgiving person in real-life because I'm sure most of us would have not been so kind..point being don't show us scenes where her dad is talking to her like she's a complete idiot and, failure like in the bankruptcy scene (where again it appears they're manipulating her entire life) without giving us a proper resolution. God her family were horrible people and I'm glad most of this was fiction...

[–] arvin g borkar (2854) 7 years ago

Probably due to budget cuts. Usually when they tell, rather than show; it is either because it is due to a time constraint or budget cuts.