MovieChat Forums > Shopgirl (2005) Discussion > Ridiculous comment about the narration

Ridiculous comment about the narration


From Time Out's review:

After fashioning an astute screenplay from his own novella, Steve Martin, the producer, should perhaps have paused before deciding to speak the film's commentary himself. The voice-over confuses the omniscient narrator with Martin's role as the reserved yet gallant dot.com millionaire involved with Danes' department store assistant.

Erm... were any of you under the impression that Ray and the narrator were one and the same? Even cursory knowledge of the film would grant you the information that Martin wrote the source material, not to mention this being mentioned in the opening credits. I personally found this a neat touch, dividing us from Martin the writer and Martin's character, in doing so allowing us to feel that the sentiments were coming straight from Steve's mind as opposed to some persona. Admittedly he did spell out too much on occasion, needlessly bolstering emotions that were perfectly displayed just by the solid performances witnessed onscreen, I'm merely commenting on what I considered an outrageously silly critic's perspective.


...and I found out where my edge is... and it bleeds into where you resist

reply

i didnt think they were one and the same person.

the narrator refers to ray in the third person so unless ray has some god complex i dont believe they are the same person.

perhaps the critic couldnt get beyond the fact they were both steve martin?

www.myspace.com/newyorkmoments

reply

I kinda agree with the review. I didn't find it confusing, just a bit weird. And I think there are others whose voice is more suitable.

reply

I agree w/ bima p ~ not really confusing, but a tad off-putting. I did think that it might have been Ray, kind of narrating this episode in his life with the same detachment and distance with which he lived it. He couldn't get as close to Mirabelle as he wished, and perhaps couldn't discuss that experience in the first person either. I haven't read the novella, so I've no real justification for this. : D

I really didn't care for much of the narration anyway, and thought the summation at the end was awkward and trying to be too-too profound (even precious). If it was necessary at all, perhaps it could've been less deep and more natural and authentic, just MHO.



"Live so your friends can defend you, but never have to."

reply