Why did she have sex in the police car?
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probitionate — 20 years ago(September 25, 2005 09:31 AM)
Actually, I disagree entirely.
As I mentioned in another thread, this has to be one of the worst misteps in movies in recent memory.
Regardless of whether Jean would have done something like this, from a storytelling point of view, it made no sense whatsoeverespecially given the fact that very little is explored between the two characters throughout the film. Before or after. This story is, at the core, about Einer, not about Jean or the Sherrif.
As for whether she would have done this Not in a million years. Here's an abused woman who's been on the run from the source of her abuse, with her young daughter, who has to throw herself on the mercy of her estranged father-in-law
She may need comfort. She may need physical comfort. Reassurance. Validation. There may even be a part of her that, like a moth, goes towards the flame, the damaging light, due to her ingrained self-esteem issuesbut there is no way at all that she'd suddenly, after hardly any lead-in, have a need to have sex with this stranger. This is NOT who Jean was.
As a screenwriter, my jaw dropped when this scene unfolded. I'd love to hear from the director why he felt it necessary to leave it in.
As a point of interest, I'm reading the novel from whence the film came and I'm curious as to whether this scene is in the book. -
jltyler — 20 years ago(September 25, 2005 11:02 AM)
"As a screenwriter, my jaw dropped when this scene unfolded. I'd love to hear from the director why he felt it necessary to leave it in.
As a point of interest, I'm reading the novel from whence the film came and I'm curious as to whether this scene is in the book. "
You should also try to get a copy of the shooting script to see if any "lead-in" scenes were left on the cutting room floor. The character issues that you mention all provide valid motivation, but I agree that something palpable was needed to trigger her decision. -
probitionate — 20 years ago(September 25, 2005 12:35 PM)
Yes, you're right, nmou, it is in the book. I've just gotten to that chapter.
But it doesn't unfold the way it does in the movie.
It doesn't happen when he gives her a ride home. There's more setup than just 'Oh, and by the way, how about taking a detour and having a quickie?' She very calculatedly propositions him; she wants a 'shag-pal', plain and simple.
Although I have known/been with women for whom sex can, as Jean in the novel says 'settle me right out', I don't buy that this woman's instincts or even her longterm habits would lead her to want a roll in the hay as stress relief. Uh-uh, no way. I certainly don't buy that she's looking for some degree of approval or whatever because she's so vulnarable, on the run, having to contend with Einer's feelings for her. (In the novel, he'd just answered her question 'What is it that you hate the most about me?' with 'That I have to breathe the same air as you.")
As far as the film, the scene wasn't necessary because it didn't lead to anything. The relationship is only really shown to be developing at the very end of the film. If the Sheriff had turned out to be a pivotal character in the tale, then this sudden acceleration might have made sense, been less jarring. However, even if that had proven to be the case, the movie contains less Jean than the novel, and even in the novel there simply isn't enough of her there to warrant this exploration. Never mind that I don't buy her character doing it. All that had been necessary (given that Jean is, at best, the fifth most important presence in the film, after Einer, Griff, her father Griffin and Mitch; doesn't leave too many, does it?) is that the Jean and the Sheriff had taken a detour home, shared a quiet moment and allowed Jean to 'settle' herself.
I'm no prudeI used to write erotica for Playboy online for a livingbut this scene's tone just didn't fit with the rest of the film. To me, it was a filmic non sequitur.
And yes, jltyler, you're right, getting a peek at the schooting script would answer my question of the director. -
Random_1 — 20 years ago(September 28, 2005 06:28 AM)
This scene almost made me lose interest in the movie, i orgionally felt for JLo in the movie, but this scene made me lose a lot of respect. I have to say that in the end it was a great movie, but it was hard to get past this.
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MaynardRules — 20 years ago(September 29, 2005 01:31 PM)
According to Griff, this is just another one of her mother's guys that she brings home. Clearly this kind of thing happens regularly although the rest of the movie doesn't portray her this way. The rest of the movie makes it seem as though she stays in abusive relationships for a while, then moves to the next one for a while. It doesn't imply that she moves from one bad boyfriend to the next regularly.
Einar clearly discusses her motives as someone all ready said. The scene makes much more sense when you think about it his way. It doesn't take away the fact that it seemed kind of out of place, but it doesn't seem as out of place.
Ultimately, I think the scene makes sense, but it could have been implied. I also think it might have made a little more sense later in the movie. -
Sherazade — 20 years ago(October 04, 2005 02:16 AM)
The scene was stupid. Julia Roberts would have asked for such a scene to be cut out but J-lo is too afraid to have such guts!
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gapeach1 — 20 years ago(October 04, 2005 04:31 PM)
I thought it was out of place - until I realized that she didn't have a very high opinion of herself. Her guilt because she thought she was responsible for her husband's death - made her a woman who felt that this was her only worth. But - even with that - it still could have been left out.
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drew_graham1 — 20 years ago(October 05, 2005 12:32 AM)
I did think the scene was inappropriate, but it made sense to me why her character would do it. I thought it could have been a lot more subtle, but it does sort of make sense. She was insecure and weak, and she didn't think she could take all the pressure. It was a sort of lame way of releasing her tension or something.
I agree, it could have been gone and nothing would have been missed. -
ThomasEdison — 20 years ago(October 30, 2005 04:47 AM)
Those familiar with the mindset of women who go from one abusive relationship to another would understand Jean's actions are very realistic. Add to it the protection factor and her relationship with Crane becomes even more compelling. I do agree that the immediate sex seemed out of place. A better sequence, with no added time, would have been to have Crane take Jean to her parent's home first, offering a little relationship-building time, and then step it up to a sexual level. Also Lopez' acting of the role was a little too flirtatious and not enough vulnerability, and the portrayal of Crane was too simple and perfect. Give him a little more fire that's what Jean likes. Her husband was a rodeo competitor!
The hard-to-hide afterglow made it easy for the screenwriters to set up immediate tension for Grif toward the new boyfriend. Grif has seen it way too many times before. This too is very typical in such relationships. -
bidwell — 19 years ago(April 08, 2006 01:30 PM)
She had sex with Crane, the town police officer.
I thought that scene was out of place too. One minute he's having coffee, the next minute she is asking for a ride and then jumping him. I'm not a prude either, I just thought her skankiness was out of character for this film. Who knows.
Apparently Josh Lucas said J.Lo was the best kisser in his films, but we never see them kiss. Maybe he was getting some off camera action.
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drenei — 19 years ago(April 11, 2006 11:29 PM)
just watched the movie.
the sex scene didn't feel out of out place to me, rather it seemed to put another piece of jean's character together. as people have already mentioned she's dealing with a large set of problems - including guilt (about her husband's death, as well as being a mother), loneliness, low self worth and loss. with all of that she wouldn't want to/be able to spend to much too much energy on an emotional investment. at the very least she'd be very hesitant about it (especially after her past history of abusive relationships). definining and limiting her relationship with crane to casual sex for three weeks seemed like a reasonable step for her character to take.
of course it sounds like book wrote the scene out differently (as is usually the case). and there's always a lot of different ways to make a point or define a scene/character. i also dont have any sort of problem with sex in movies, so i am biased in my own way.
still decent film. redford and freeman were great as was gardner, and lopez wasn't half bad. -
C.S.Wood — 19 years ago(April 14, 2006 03:21 PM)
The funny thing is, when she says she's leaving in three weeks, I said out loud "which means we have between now and three weeks to have sex."
I had a good laugh when that car scene happened seconds later.
"Action is how men express romance on film." Kurt Wimmer