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In Reply to: Love Me if You Dare (2003-France) posted by mr grits on August 17, 2005 at 19:58:31:
Yes, I agree on French flavor, but you can get much better films with same. But certainly when compared against your usual Hollywood dreck it shines - and perhaps that is how films should be judged these days?I hope not...
Follow Ups:
I found the film to be less than satisfying. A concept of "dares", not particularly original in and of itself, consumes the lives of two people, such that not only are their lives negatively affected, but also the lives of good people who love them. It seemed to me that the film makers tried to take a rather benign subject matter and shoehorn it into a film involving love, akin to a "tragedy" like Romeo and Juliet, where the characters really did love each other, and the tragic ending was logical, and more importantly, earned by what came before.The film seemed to cop out at the end. It sets up a tragic ending, then skirts that ending by showing scenes of the characters doting oever each other in their old age. Problem is, one, it raises the question of whether there was this tragic ending (which, in any event, was a cop out), and two, if they did live to dote over each other, it is hard to believe that they would dote over each other in old age when they did not do so as younger adults. Would a couple who took a dare not to see each other for ten years, and followed through, dote over each other? Not likely. I am not sure I see any love in a couple who are willing to remain apart for ten years. The dare is more important to them than being together. Folks, that is not love, or any love I have known, or personally witnessed. Rather, love is placing those feelings above all else, particularly what is, at best, a silly kids game.
The film does not take a position on the those who are negatively affected about their little game. What of the woman who loves the male character? Or his children? Or the female's character who has a husband who clearly loves her. And here is another problem. The film portrays real love, but ignores it at the expense of this "game." Rather, the film maker apparently feels that the characters somehow deserve some glorious end to their relationship. I say they deserve to be in a car accident the victim of a drunk driver.
I would not agree to giving the film a free pass because the makers were French. While watching the film, I kept thinking that it is more like an American film than a French film, and Patrick's comments not long ago that more French film makers are emulating their American counterparts. This film should not be compared to an American film, because it is an American film spoken in French. A lump of coal is still a lump of coal whether you wrap in pretty paper (French), or loud and obnoxious paper (American).
Don't expect people to be normal in movies. Some seriously obsessed people could/would wait ten years to make a point. I approach movies as creative entertainments not logical stories that can be readily compared to like things--although, that's what critics do. To me, movies are not the "truth" about much of anything--that only exists in the minds of the writer and director.
I agree that some obsessed persons may wait ten years. I agree that movies do not necessarily need to reflect real life. Nor be logical. Those are not the issues. These are clearly obsessed, dysfuntional people. I have never been the France. But I have been to England, Scotland, Iceland, and have relatives living Ireland, where I have also visited. I can therefore assume that the behavior depicted in the film was not normal for Europeans.The problem with the film, and the film maker, was that he championed their behavior. These people hurt each other, and more importantly, the good people around them, then, as a reward for their behavior, get a glorious ending to their relationship. The film maker apparently believed that the story rose to the level of Romeo and Juliet, which it most certainly did not.
So what do you have? An entire film based around the premise of a "dare", which is not particularly original. Two characters who are not likeable, and show no growth through the story. The are basically the same as adults as they were when children. A story which makes no sense. An ending which is completely illogical, and is not earned by the dental floss of a story. Though I will agree that the film looks good, and is well filmed.
I can accept a film which has little connection with reality. I watch them all the time. But I at least ask for something logical, a character I can like, or hate that gets their just desserts, so arc of a story. Something. This film had none of that.
That's what I grew up with. I find French film, in particular, very refreshing and different. They clearly demonstrates that they think and emote like no one else on the planet. (I don't mean that as praise but as an observation.) Their films seem so much more "personal" relying on performance and characterzation more so than plot or objectivity. Plus, they can exhibit a creativity (eg, Junet) that American banker-studios would never allow.
Believe me, I was not trying to be dismissive, simply hinting at the fact that there is whole another world outside the Hollywood, where quality and stakes are much higher.
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