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Brilliant Concept, OK execution


The film was entertaining because it was carried by two charismatic lead actors: Weisz and Shannon were magic onscreen together. Could literally just feel the tension oozing between them at that party. Also when he follows her out and simply just keeps following her it's entirely believable. The woman has so much charm of course he wants to follow. It's as if he has no choice.

The concept of a perpetual chameleon is a brilliant one and worth exploring but i wanted this execution to be more show and less talk. I assume budget is the reason for the approach, but I feel we could have delved more into both characters' conflict. Why is she back? Does she really want him to go with her, or is she just telling herself that? If he were to go with her, wouldn't she just end up feeling trapped by him at some future point again and leaving him?

I feel like the party reveal is a good microcosm of what happens when Jenny/Alice enters a new life. At first she's charismatic and accepted as a rockstar in the bunch. Then details start to collapse on themselves and the people around her who can't understand and feel hurt by the fabrication, they turn on her. It becomes a pressure cooker. Jenny/Alice feels trapped by her own unraveling fabrications and she is "forced" to leave and start fresh, because wow there again is that rockstar acceptance by the new crowd of people. Why stay to clean up a messy circle of existence when it's easier to move on to something clean fresh and exciting where people receive her as a clean slate, and one they are excited about as opposed to warily watching her as the old the people would be?

Of course maintaining the fabrication takes a lot of energy and eventually the stress of it wears thin. That would explain why she's in search of an anchor, someone who understands and accepts her, but what is the cost to that person? That person may gain access to the adventure and charisma but can't rely on or anchor against her, she will leave or fabricate the moment she is pressed and they both know it.

My guess is that's why Shannon's character doesn't go with her, even though in his heart he would like to. Ultimately he knows he can't trust beyond the moment that she is right in front of him.

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