Exactly. This was like watching a great cast exhibit acting class exercises. It was a treat but there really was NO movie here.

I've been trying to find the book (B&N, Amazon, etc.) - no trace. Do you know where I can buy it?

Actuallyin the novel, Chantal does throw herself from the ledge.

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.
http://movietalk.co.nr

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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.

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.

It's no problem. You've made very good points.
But this one's eatting my popcorn!

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

I definately agree with you on all that. The film is a crued awakening for everyone involved.
But this one's eatting my popcorn!

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

Good addition. His conceptions of his life was completely destroyed in the process. His belief in tThe unrealness of his life, something he lead himself to believe, was completely destroyed.
But this one's eatting my popcorn!

codebreaker: Good summation but I might add that at the very end of the picture, Hearst realizes his self delusion about his life and relationships. That's why he doesn't break down and hug Chantal in the plaza, even though she clearly wants to make up with him.
Hearst is well past the point of apology. He can never go back.
Hearst is a broken man. He realizes his life is like his hairpiece. Unreal.
CmdrCody

No, it doesn't. The film is about how a man could be brainwashed and betrayed, not just by others but by himself as well. The innocent man's dark side is pulled out into the open, his confidence is shot and his marriage pretty much dead and buried. The film is about how all things can be destroyed, even more so through misunderstandings and misconceptions. Is the ending pointless? Yes, but that is the point. In the end, all that they went through was completely meaningless. Does the ending make the movie pointless? No. The point of the whole film was to witness this destruction, caused by all parties involved, first hand.
But this one's eatting my popcorn!

i absolutely agree to that.
i would not like to explain every little
soical critical point made by this movie.
either you have the "knowledge" or "wisdom"
(or however someone could call it) or not.
i mean, i think you must be pretty "stupid"
(ignorant?) to not get what this movie is
about IN GENERAL
edit: i wrote something about the "point" that film made in a thread
called "would you consider the ending of this movie as a twist ending?"
maybe it helps the narrow minded
"best/worst-movie-ever"-idiots don't deserve to watch movies at all

Hi tree
Did you mean to reply to the OP ?
I have no problem with the ending. Many people think this is a whodunnit, don't take on board what's happening in the film, so are thrown by the false confession and also by not having the killer revealed - now
that
would be pointless.
Actually, I think there is some point in explaining the ending to those who haven't understood the film, but if the OP was really interested, he/she would read some other threadsit's all been done.
Instant gratification takes too long.

It's one of the great endings I've ever seen! If you don't get it, there's no use explaining it.

What do you think this movie is about, that makes the ending pointless ?
Instant gratification takes too long.

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