First off, I'd read a lot about the film and expected

much more, to like it.
I thought The Swede's performance was pretty good, what there was of it. Hell, I'd have been happy for two hours of HIM! As it was, he didn't have enough to do, say. Most of his time was spent in silently being shaved.
I don't want to drum the beautiful woman thing too much: we disagree. EVERY woman was beautiful. Every one. Even the transcriber, for goodness' sake.
Lourdes? He was a massive heel to her during the visit and after it, too.
Some people are so scared of death they will live on no matter what. In and of itself, I find them no more or less interesting than someone like Bardem's character in Sea Inside. What makes a character interesting is novel thoughts, novel actions in trite circumstances.
It's hard to make a film about a person in terrible circumstances because we all know it's not going to be difficult not to become a pity fest. It's like having a puppy or cute kid as a lead character, the emotional blackmail. This film didn't pass that test for me: the character found beauty around him? Uh, superficial appearances is all the guy ever noticed. Whoopee!
An autobiography doesn't have to be just about you. Those are the bad ones. Reagan's for instance. The good ones talk about the subjects's friends, acquaintances, etc. We learned nothing about anyone but the guy. And he didn't reveal much about himself except that he was selfish. It seems he remained so, didn't it? I mean the question sincerely. No thoughts about how much he was hurting the mother of his kids by continuing speaking to his woman on the side. All about him.
Not a remarkable guy.
Or story.
Helen Keller, now, THAT'S a rip-roaring story.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly:" seldom has a film - tinear 15:45:12 02/25/08 (31)

speech therapist was the sexy assassin in Munich! nt - Duilawyer 16:57:27 02/26/08 (0)

Obviously, I disagree. - Harmonia 13:27:03 02/26/08 (1)

I'm with you. Best of 2007. nt - Duilawyer 16:55:33 02/26/08 (0)

"to what seems like hours of it" - dave c 19:56:34 02/25/08 (27)

Exactly. - Harmonia 13:03:35 02/26/08 (0)

One can convey boredom w/out boring the spectator. That - tinear 05:21:54 02/26/08 (25)

RE: One can convey boredom w/out boring the spectator. That - jamesgarvin 15:37:40 02/26/08 (0)

sorry he didn't change story to fit your expectations... - dave c 13:36:21 02/26/08 (2)

No, no: - tinear 16:38:01 02/26/08 (1)

"I like criticizing a film as much as praising one." THAT, is obvious. - sjb 17:20:25 02/26/08 (0)

LOL! Women are either too ugly to bear or too pretty to take seriously. - sjb 06:18:57 02/26/08 (10)

Yes, and the secretary, his wife, the girlfriend, the therapists, etc. - tinear 06:52:24 02/26/08 (9)

Plenty has been posted about why people like it. - sjb 07:59:08 02/26/08 (8)

Deaf Beethoven: interesting. Almost blind Rembrandt: fascinating. - tinear 10:17:16 02/26/08 (7)

You still haven't said how the film-maker should have handled the fact the women in his life were beautiful. - sjb 15:03:33 02/26/08 (5)

First off, I'd read a lot about the film and expected - tinear 16:48:28 02/26/08 (4)

Fair enough. nt - sjb 16:56:01 02/26/08 (3)

RE: Fair enough. nt - tinear 17:13:53 02/26/08 (2)

LOL! - sjb 17:19:25 02/26/08 (1)

RE: LOL! - tinear 04:38:33 02/27/08 (0)

"a execrable rag": is this a freedom fries thing? nt - dave c 13:41:05 02/26/08 (0)

Millions of people have loved this film... - EBerlin 06:05:16 02/26/08 (9)

Millions love slasher movies. So? Care to trot out some - tinear 06:53:59 02/26/08 (0)

the sheep - Eldragon 06:41:38 02/26/08 (7)

I've not the slightest objection to his not liking the film... - EBerlin 07:29:27 02/26/08 (6)

But my dear E., I am certain I find it a miserable excuse for a film. Your - tinear 10:20:08 02/26/08 (5)

You are right.... - EBerlin 11:27:04 02/26/08 (4)

Then it's hardly, "miserable," is it? ;-) nt - tinear 13:16:45 02/26/08 (3)

Oh no, not at all... - EBerlin 13:19:39 02/26/08 (2)

oh stop it both of you - dave c 13:39:06 02/26/08 (1)

After Nader gets in I'm having him - tinear 17:18:04 02/26/08 (0)

Follow Ups

First off, I'd read a lot about the film and expected - tinear 16:48:28 02/26/08 (4)

Fair enough. nt - sjb 16:56:01 02/26/08 (3)

RE: Fair enough. nt - tinear 17:13:53 02/26/08 (2)

LOL! - sjb 17:19:25 02/26/08 (1)

RE: LOL! - tinear 04:38:33 02/27/08 (0)

First off, I'd read a lot about the film and expected

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