MovieChat Forums > The Great New Wonderful (2005) Discussion > I think I'm lost...

I think I'm lost...

posted 18 years ago by BoudreauxO76
7 replies | jump to latest

This is one of those films that you love to hate and talk about and tear apart.

I think that line at the end of the film is the thesis statement. "I think I'm lost." The idea being that after the tradgey all these people are faced with what they lack, with not knowing who they are. Of course not all these stories had a whole lot to do with 911 which in its own way is interesting. As if these things aren't tied to that tradgey at all, as if life just goes on in all its dirty humor and sadness.

My own feelings about this film are conflicted. If you asked me did I like the movie I'd say ahh and make the so so motion with my hand. If you asked me to recomend a good movie I'd probably not suggest this unless I knew you dug this kind of existensial crap. Crap! Such a strong word but yeah that's how I'd describe it. I'd say that no $hit you're lost. Its apparant to everyone you're lost. You're all lost.

You pretend to be happy go lucky but in a moment of weakness cheat on your wife.
You break a tourists arm for trying to get a good picture.
You think expensive cakes are super important and are slapped in the face with the meaninglessness of your life.
You only care about making money and sex and not your own child whose becoming a monster.
You pretend everything is okay when underneath is only rage.
You hold it all inside and never tell your husband how clueless he is.

Its apparant you're lost but what bugs the crap out of me is they never offer a solution. Oh and I know there are those of you who are going to accuse me of being a philistne, not avant garde enough to appreciate the...the what...the meaninglessness of life? The wasted efforts of cake makers and corprate cilmbers? What? I thought the film was compelling enough but I just disagree with its conclusion that life is meaningless. And make no mistake that's the point of the film. I think life is only meaningless in these situations becuase the characters are looking in the wrong direction.

Thoughts? Opinions? Disagreements? Bring it on but can we at least try to be civil...for a couple mintues at least?

I'm Out...

I hope one day y'all will be talking about my stories on this website.

[–] mxt52 17 years ago

So, this movie made you think? made you analyse it? made you angry? This are all signs of a good movie (at least in my book).

And, by the way, if you really care about something (a movie in this case), but feel compelled to hide your true feelings by calling it "existential crap", I think you too, my friend, are lost...

[–] mxt52 17 years ago

Warning: spoilers all over the place!

>>Its apparent you're lost but what bugs the crap out of me is they never offer a solution.

Apologies, I overlooked the second part of your post as soon as I saw words “existential crap” … got all feisty…

I think the movie does offer a solution. As Tony Shaloub’s character (and any good shrink) will tell you, the first step to recovery is to admit that you have a problem. That you are, in fact, lost. So, when you realize that…
- a cake is just a cake;
- you are not as easygoing as you think you are and can’t cheat on your wife without feeling deep remorse (which is a good thing);
- you can’t let a kid run your life, no matter how much involvement this kid needs;
- you can’t ignore your husband (no matter how primitive he is compared to you) and hide in a closet next to your cut-out posters…
… then maybe, just maybe, good things will come to you.

Note that in the old couple’s story the wife (and not the husband) undergoes the biggest transformation, although on the surface she is a better and a more complicated person than he is. She gives the most by facing reality (all the “good guys” were taken 50 years ago and, for better or worse she’ll have to live the rest of her life with that guy in the living room). And when she stops hiding and expresses her true feelings (by trying to throw her husband off the balcony, no less), good things start happening to her – her husband becomes just a little more understanding (starts washing his own dishes), she starts drawing again, etc, etc. Maybe she’ll finally go to Italy after all…

So, please admit that it’s not the movie that’s lost, it’s you who are lost (and maybe not just about the movie). Try to understand where this anger about not finding the solution is coming from. Admit that it’s OK to like “existential crap”. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll understand the movie (and perhaps more…)

[–] BoudreauxO76 17 years ago

Interesting response. As I read over my last post I realize that perhaps I was a little bit harsh. I don't remember maybe I was having a bad day. Anyway still there was something about this particular film I didn't like, which I labeled existensial crap-a term I first heard my sister say who incedentially has more of her life 'firgured out' than I have of mine. So allow me to re-phrase, I felt something lacking in this film. Your assesment seems very fair upon a second look but from what I rememeber there was something lacking...at least for me...anyway as to my personal issues like I said maybe I just had a bad day.

I hope one day y'all will be talking about my stories on this website.

[–] BoudreauxO76 17 years ago

Again mxt52 I realize now my original post was quite harsh. Sorry didn't mean it that way.

I hope one day y'all will be talking about my stories on this website.

[–] mxt52 17 years ago

too bad that you are backing away... it could have been an interesting conversation. Your statement was pretty strong (even though I disagree with it) and I thought you were asking for opinions...

How can we " 'all will be talking about my stories on this website." if you are shying away from an argument?

[–] BoudreauxO76 17 years ago

Crakes knuckels and neck, crazy glazed look comes over eyes. Is that a challenge? Just kidding.

Actually as I rethought the film in light of your examples I realized that you might have a case to make. However the problem with the "I think I'm lost" statement is here are a group of people who all pretty much feel that way and the filmaker is saying that its okay to feel lost but in turn rejects the idea that there is a substantial answer. Judy's Story is one that provides some sort of window into truth. The old man, who is either an active jerk or a passive dimwit, changes, and we see this as a good thing. In Avi and Satish's Story we are led to see Avi's breakdown as a sort of repentance, he acknowledges what he did was wrong. The problem as I see it is in the other three stories there is no such acknowledgement, we are led to belive that every human action has equal value. Do I deny that two parents should have a moment to enjoy each other, as in David and Allisons Story? Of course not, but neither do I feel that they actually loved their child, or admitted that they had anything to do with his horrible behavior. The same goes for Sandie and Emmie. The abmivalance of their stories left this viewer empty, thinking so what? Who cares? I've spent the last two hours watching self-abosorbed people liveing out their petty little lives and I still don't really care about them. Make me care about them more and you've done your job as a storyteller. Or make me laugh. Seinfeld was a bit of a nihilistic show, but it was funny and it only lasted thirty minutes. The Great New Wonderful still seems a bit pretentious, espcially since its packaged as a comedy.

I hope one day y'all will be talking about my stories on this website.

[–] mxt52 17 years ago

>> filmaker ... rejects the idea that there is a substantial answer
Well… there may not be a substantial answer. Oftentimes one is limited in what they can do about their life by circumstances, obligations, personal limitations, past baggage, etc. Have to move in baby steps, not in “substantial” steps. On the opposite side of the spectrum are those movies where to the drumbeat of energetic music a 300-pound heroine walks in the gym – bam, bam, bam, three cuts, 30 seconds, and she walks out a 120 pound blond killer with bigger boobs to the envy of her loser ex-boyfriend. Or a school janitor hits the library – bam, bam, bam, 30 seconds – walks out a Nobel laureate in math. Or… you got the idea. This “bam, bam, bam” does not happen often in real life, does it? I really hate these “inspirational” movies – they teach my kids that everything can be easily achieved without much effort. But in it’s own quiet way the “Great, New…” was just the right inspiration for me – I guess it depends on personality.

>> we are led to believe that every human action has equal value
You have a good point. The movie surprisingly justifies selfishness and egoism, especially in the David and Allison’s story – the ending is so unexpected, I had to come up with an alternative explanation (see my other post) just to come to terms with it. We are all raised to value parental sacrifice (not surprisingly – because we heard about it so much from our parents). Don’t know what to say here. Although selfishness is the way to go in modern society (divorces, adoptions, abortions, all the victimization game, etc) it is still a moral taboo and picturing parents getting rid (physically or emotionally) of a troubled kid is shocking. But shocking makes a good movie – that’s why we are still talking about it.

>> Make me care about them more and you've done your job as a storyteller.
You may be right here again. The movie is subdued – either deliberately, or just because creators could not do any better. But sometimes understatement and unanswered questions make a good movie (I am getting repetitive here) – just because this makes you think.

Overall, if it wasn’t for this movie, you and I would not have this exchange, and maybe would not think about some important things in live – and this is something great, new, and wonderful!