MovieChat Forums > Shopgirl (2005) Discussion > My Review

My Review

posted 17 years ago by delorean01
3 replies | jump to latest

Okay, first of all, I know this film is based on a novel, but film adaptations of books need to be able to stand on their own, so I shall judge the movie thus.

Secondly, I would consider most movies to be watchable, to have a purpose, or to convey some sort of meaning. I would say I'm pretty open-minded, and won't stop watching a movie half way through. Unfortunately, I came very close to calling it quits numerous times watching Shopgirl.

This movie is mostly awful. The dialogue is so bland and uninteresting. The characters are bland and uninteresting. I'm finding it hard to put into words how uninteresting the movie was, because there was simply nothing to it. Clare Danes did the best she could with the character I'm sure, but her role was rendered mainly ineffectual by the presence of Steve Martin's.

I did not understand the relationship between these two characters whatsoever. I understand she was depressed, and lonely, and sought refuge within Steve Martin's rich and generous lifestyle, but there was no chemistry. No conversation. No connection at all.

Which brings me to Steven Martin's character. Did anyone else find him intensely dislikable? I'm not sure how intended this was, but I ended up thinking he was a complete bastard. Lying to Mirabelle about his intentions for their relationship, then sleeping with another woman, then 'joking' about marrying someone else and having kids in New York...plus he was boring, with no redeeming qualities. What made even less sense was the fact the narrator was the same voice as Ray - seemingly defending Ray's actions - as if we were supposed to see him as the victim in this situation? Quite the contrary, I ended up seeing him as a deceitful, cheating, sad old loser.

What annoyed me even more was his justification in his closing narration - "As for my justification for my actions - that's just life." What the hell is that supposed to mean?! That's not how it works. You can't treat people like crap, after they show you infinite patience and care, and blame it on life. And yet, she turns back to him right before going back to Jeremy outside the gallery, smiling lovingly...and I was thinking, how does he deserve that?! He deserves to be kicked the curb and left there. You get the feeling his character could do this whole movie again to another girl once he has got over Mirabelle (which wouldn't take long, I'm sure), and that's what makes me dislike him so much.

The only ray (hah) of light in this film was Jason Schwartzman. Every scene he was in was funny and involving. The whole scenario with him and Lisa was brilliant, hilarious. I just wish he could have been involved in the action a bit more. And I wish I could have seen the relationship between Jeremy and Mirabelle develop a bit over the course of the movie. He seems to come in at the beginning, then disappear for the whole middle section, unmissed and unmentioned by Mirabelle. Then turn up at the end, changed, and Mirabelle latches onto him without hesitation.

I'm happy for them in the end, that there was some kind of resolution (although I completely expected it to come), but I feel like nothing really happened, and nobody really learnt anything, apart from Jeremy maybe.

All in all, it was a very non film. Very disappointing. I know it has been likened to films such as Garden State and Lost in Translation - but I would highly recommend both of those over this. They are well-written, consistently amusing and well-observed, unlike this.

[–] benighted2005 17 years ago

I loved Shopgirl to bits. I liked all three of the main characters and Claire Danes was just outstanding in the film. I liked him for saying, "that's life" and didn't think the narrative has to be morally award-winning.

"There. There."

[–] floydsr 17 years ago

While I agree with much of what you've written, I too would object to your views on the narration. I mean, it's a morally and emotionally ambivalent movie, which may or may not be your thing (sounds like you yourself are open to it) so I dont think it's a problem that the movie is Steve Martin's character's movie. As you pointed out, the other two characters arent really compelling enough to steal the movie. It's his story, I suppose, he can tell it as he wishes.

On a related note, I also felt you're a little too hostile about the "that's life" line. While many writers use lines like this in the place of an actual resolution, and while I personally feel unsure if Id let it slide coming from him, I also feel that for this movie, that line works. For one thing, coming from that character, it's understandable, considering he clearly doesnt have Steve Martin himself's skill at expressing or even properly channeling his feelings. Secondly, the narrator is a bad person ultimately, but not *that* bad. He's bad because he's weak, not because he's a villain. In reality, after watching the film, seeing Claire Danes' character's flaws and her options, and seeing how each of them dealt with the other, I feel like "that's life" is a good way to describe their hard-to-justify yet not hard-to-believe actions

[–] blade101167 17 years ago

I too connected with this movie and think you're being a little harsh.

Of course Ray was kind of dislikable but there are emotionally repressed people out there like him who drift through life constantly looking for something they'll never have. He's never experienced true love for himself but only when it's been directed at him yet felt unable to acknowledge or return it. I felt sad for him since going by his age, he's searching for a rainbow that'll never appear. Sure, he'll meet others throughout what remains of his life but true reciprocated love is extremely rare to find and he'll probably die lonely. Coming from an emotionally repressed person like him, I thought the "That's life" line was appropriate - people of that ilk often lack the ability to sum up exactly what they're feeling inside and disguise this through seemingly flippant comments.

I didn't see the backward glance by Mirabelle at the end as one of love but rather as one of pity and sympathy. She knows he once had her and lost her, that he finally admitted he did actually love her - which is what she once craved - but now it's too late. He's out of her system and she's moved on from him. She'll still feel for him and feels the sadness that he'll probably die alone and never experience true love for himself.

"It's because of movies like this that illegal downloading exists and you can be bored for free..."