Sliding Doors

[beccaelizabeth]

I just watched 'Sliding Doors'. Not my usual sort of thing but it's in one of the film studies textbooks and it was on the TV so *shrugs*
... can I have those two hours back pls?
She doesn't do anything, doesn't choose anything, doesn't say anything that makes a difference, stuff just happens to her. It's all about which man she happens to bump into in what circumstances. Completely chance, no choice. She does what her boyfriends tell her to do. And then both end up in roughly the same place, except for one being dead. What was the point? If the point is there's generally no point the movie made its point.
I'm going back to science fiction. Stuff blows up. It's pretty.

Comments

[shahar-amar.livejournal.com]

Hm, been a while that I've seen that one.

The point was probably some deterministic philosophical... something. She's supposed to end up with that one guy, no matter if she takes the detour with cheating boyfriend or not. Her actions and decisions don't matter, because fate/god/whatever has already decided, that non-cheating guy will be "the one" for her. A person who believes in free will won't accept that so easily and for them the movie falls flat.

[beccaelizabeth]

Fate. My least favourite concept. So fall flat is sort of an understatement.

[shahar-amar.livejournal.com]

I didn't want to say "becomes totally ridiculous", because I saw the movie once severeal years ago and mostly remember being very bored. And wanting to shake Gwyneth Paltrow, because her character is so passive and oblivious (especially the version who stays with cheater).

Yeah, fate can be done cleverly, but all too often it's just a crop-out. Why do these characters, have nothing in common get married/stay best friends/raise a child? Oh, they were destined to do so, no further explanation or developement neccessary. I really don't like that type of stuff either and find the "one true love" variant especially revolting. Show me two people going from hate to respect to friendship and love any day, but don't just say it was destined and be done with it.

[philippos42.livejournal.com]

I like the dual-timeline conceit of Sliding Doors, & I enjoy some of the characters. But unfortunately it amounts to alternating between two rather dull movies.

I like John Hannah's character a lot until PLOT insists on making him appear to be a toad so both Gwyneths can be miserable.

The cheating guy's mate has that wonderfully delivered sardonic line: "I'm your friend, I'm here to help you."

I feel rather sorry for Jeanne Tripplehorn's character.

And I like the end. As in the final scene, & the final line, which actually seemed to make the film almost worth it.

But it drags a lot in the last half, & Gwyneth's character & her toad boyfriend/ex-boyfriend are pretty lousy lead characters.

[beccaelizabeth]

yes, exactly. two boring movies that gained nothing from each other! pointless.