the ending really makes the movie pointless doesnt it?
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CmdrCody — 18 years ago(July 11, 2007 09:48 PM)
codebreaker: I've enjoyed watching this picture several timescatching all the nuance and subtlety in each person's performance. I also like how both Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman wanted to make this special picturehow it stretched their skill.
I also enjoyed the ground it coversself-delusion, jealousy, lies, limits of friendship, self perception of one's age, relations between men and women, what it means to be deeply hurt by someone you care about. The actual murder part is sick, of course, but a necessary part to create the crucible from which so much truth flows out.
The moment of Chantal's and the Captain's epiphany at the end of the picturethat flood of realizationis so well done and memorable.
Some posters who have watched the film say that they come away from this picture empty. "Meaningless" they say. Disappointed. In a way, the filmmaker Stephen Hopkins wants you tobecause that is Hearst's frame of mind also at the end of the picture. Rock bottom. Betrayed by everyone around him. A realization that his life to that moment was as fake as his hairpiece.
CmdrCody -
CmdrCody — 18 years ago(July 12, 2007 06:10 AM)
Not to beat a dead horse, but your posting got me thinking about the very last part of the movie in the plaza. I cued up that last scene again just to take in what the actors are "saying" with their body languagethere is no dialogue, of course.
The Police Captainfull of regret on how he could be so wrong about his friend. Feeling guilty as hell. Guilty as charged.
Chantalfull of regret on how childly foolish, hurtful and wrong she was towards her husband. Feeling guilty as hell. Guilty as charged.
Hearstin the last moment of the picture, that look of clarity as he first looks at his wife and then towards his friend. They may now know all his dark corners but I think Hearst realizes the true picture of himself as he appears to them.
His friend. His wife. His life.
The last moment of the movie is the REAL moment of Hearst's life.
Thanks for reading my comments. Interesting movie.
CmdrCody -
weezebumble — 18 years ago(January 22, 2008 09:18 AM)
You all make some great points. I think one thing that you missed though is that the wife seemed to be in control throughout the movie. She was the object of Hearst desire and he felt guilty and subordinated to her. In the end, HE was in control. It would be HIS door that he would be banging on.
On another note, the final scenes she looked like she was suicidal, like she couldn't take it anymore. I think Hearst looked at her, bringing her in from the edge. She then tried to embrace him and he denied her. Thus he was willing to save her from the brink but would not redeem her. -
inlovewithmovies — 13 years ago(July 17, 2012 05:59 AM)
His body reaction was of a guy so deeply hurt and betrayed that he couldn't even bring himself to hug her It kind of shows you how great these actors are (Gene, Morgan, Monica) that the final scene was just their facial and body reactions and you could pretty much read it all. I know the movie was right to end it right there.but I was still really curious what happens afterwards when Gene gets upand I guess where they go after this, back at the house.back to the community.
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moviemike16 — 13 years ago(March 27, 2013 08:21 AM)
I thought the ending was pointless, I was hoping Chantal (Monica Bellucci) would have jumped off that ledge she was on, or killed herself some other way after the accusations she continued to make against her husband.
All that aside, if that had truly happened, I don't think they would have let him walk so quick and I'm sure there would be a lawsuit filed against the police station.
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The film is a crued awakening for everyone involved.