MovieChat Forums > Charlie St. Cloud (2010) Discussion > One thing I don't quite get... (Possible...

One thing I don't quite get... (Possible Spoilers)

posted 15 years ago by zfischer_05
19 replies | jump to latest

If Tess and Charlie spent the day out on his boat ("The Splendid Slinter" I think) the morning after their cemetary romp, how did it end up back in the barn, untouched and covered with dust and tarps when he went back to check on it the next day? Charlie is real, and he was physically out on the boat, so what's the deal? Did it happen or not?

I refuse to believe that any of it took place in his imagination because everything else that happened between Charlie, Tess, and Sam would have been possible, even if Tess and Sam were just invisible spirits with physical presences. The whole disappearing sailboat thing I just can't quite explain, though... seems like a little bit of a plot hole, to me. If they would've just deleted the three second clip of him opening the barn doors and seeing his boat, everything would have made sense... but they didn't and now I'm confused!

The only rationalization I can come up with is that Tess was out sailing on an invisible boat. Maybe it was a spirit version of Charlie and Sam's sailboat that could only be seen by Charlie, and the physical boat never left the barn. Of course, that would probably have looked a little suspicious to anyone else who would have seen him out on the water... y'know, since all they would've been able to see was him, and not the boat that was helping him to float across the water. I dunno... I just don't get it!

[–] CBlodg 15 years ago

Yeah, that one still has me scratching my head. Had the boat been cleaned up it might have been better to understand.

[–] prouvaire 14 years ago

It can't make sense. We just have to accept that and just accept the storyline. But I get what you mean, it really did annoy me. Also the fact that they were playing catch, how on earth can a spirit throw and catch a ball? It just doesn't make any sense. But as I said, I suppose we have to just look past that.

scandal is gossip made tedious by morality

[–] TheaterGeek26 14 years ago

Plus, if the boat was uncovered when he looked, he'd have probably never made the connection between Sam and Tess, and would have no reason to go find her. Dunno, maybe that's it, but then again, I didn't read the book.

[–] I_have_a_brain_cloud 14 years ago

They have the shot of the boat after Tess sails it in order to create a sense of mystery about whether or not the sailing actually took place.

You--lighten up. You--big trouble. You--get in the car.

[–] DonNova 14 years ago

Your name fits perfectly because nothing you said makes sense. It's not meant to create mystery, it's definitively telling you that Tess was a spirit. All the events DID take place since it was confirmed when Charlie tells Tess the quote that her father liked. Charlie couldn't have known that if he wasn't actually communicating with her spirit those past couple days.

[–] I_have_a_brain_cloud 14 years ago

But Charlie doesn't know. The boat looks the way it does to help us understand Charlie's confusion.

What's with insults on the internet? Really don't get it. anonymity+meanness. So sad. No wonder the world is all fcked up.

You--lighten up. You--big trouble. You--get in the car.

[–] DonNova 14 years ago

You are hopeless. And, what's with stupidity on the internet? Really don't get it. kids + lack of education. So sad. No wonder the world is fcked up.

[–] SunshineUponMyFace 14 years ago

What is it with people writing informal and fragmented sentences? I really don't get it.

So sad.

[–] DonNova 14 years ago

You sure aren't the brightest of the bunch, are you? ;)

[–] PvtRolandBozz 14 years ago

"Really don't get it. kids + lack of education. So sad. No wonder the world is fcked up. "

Talking about stupidity yet you make numerous grammatical errors. "Really don't get it." is not a sentence. It would be kids with a lack of education, not kids plus lack of education, or kids and lack of education. You come off so standoffish and mean to the other poster and try to put yourself on a higher standard, but you are the true idiot.

[–] DonNova 14 years ago

Want to know how stupid you are? I was mocking the poster, douche:

Really don't get it. anonymity+meanness. So sad. No wonder the world is all fcked up.

That's what the poster wrote, and this is what I wrote:

Really don't get it. kids + lack of education. So sad. No wonder the world is fcked up.

Haha, congratulations retard .

[–] PvtRolandBozz 14 years ago

Okay, so you mimicked his post, regardless hes right about your inclination to be mean and put him down for no reason

[–] DonNova 14 years ago

Oh no, I insulted him! Haha. I love how your argument has now changed, after I pointed out your ignorance in not realizing I was simply mocking the poster. Hey, at least you accepted the fact you were ignorant. Maybe you aren't a complete moronic douche .

[–] PvtRolandBozz 14 years ago

Well my argument was always backing up the guy you were mimicking.. the internet doesn't have to be a hostile place but some people like to think they are above others so they constantly feel the need to talk down to them when all he was doing was expressing his perception on what happened.

Why the need to put him down? Are you trying to push yourself up?

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bing-57 14 years ago

> I refuse to believe that any of it took place in his imagination because everything else that happened between Charlie, Tess, and Sam would have been possible, even if Tess and Sam were just invisible spirits with physical presences

Not so. We saw Sammy throw the ball back to Charlie and rip his magazine. Had someone been hiding in the woods watching, they'd see a ball magically stop in mid-air, turn around, and fly back to Charlie.

So, if you believe Sammy physically existed and threw the ball back then you have to believe that Charlie was in an invisible boat hovering three feet above the water.

And imagine the movie if Ghost Tess got pregnant!

But, the real solution is that Charlie indeed imagined the physical interactions with the ghosts. The ghosts might have actually appeared to him, but any physical interactions they might have had were imaginary.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

[–] porcelain_god2000 14 years ago

The yellow note that read 'come find me' still existed after she left as well. The boat is definitely a plot hole.

[–] nikkiten1979 14 years ago

If Tess and Charlie spent the day out on his boat ("The Splendid Slinter" I think) the morning after their cemetary romp, how did it end up back in the barn, untouched and covered with dust and tarps when he went back to check on it the next day? Charlie is real, and he was physically out on the boat, so what's the deal? Did it happen or not?

the boat was never moved. Charlie wasn't physically out on the boat with the ghost. He travels with them like in a dream.

I refuse to believe that any of it took place in his imagination because everything else that happened between Charlie, Tess, and Sam would have been possible, even if Tess and Sam were just invisible spirits with physical presences. The whole disappearing sailboat thing I just can't quite explain, though... seems like a little bit of a plot hole, to me. If they would've just deleted the three second clip of him opening the barn doors and seeing his boat, everything would have made sense... but they didn't and now I'm confused!

it wasn't an imagination - at least not really. the ghosts or spirits or souls were real. for Tess, she might have been having an out of body experience and met Charlie as if in a dream - that's why she said she had these vivid dreams at the end. so their spirits were connected.

The only rationalization I can come up with is that Tess was out sailing on an invisible boat. Maybe it was a spirit version of Charlie and Sam's sailboat that could only be seen by Charlie, and the physical boat never left the barn. Of course, that would probably have looked a little suspicious to anyone else who would have seen him out on the water... y'know, since all they would've been able to see was him, and not the boat that was helping him to float across the water. I dunno... I just don't get it!

you are right on the spirit part. in the spirit world it's all about memory and things that have a meaning. with Sam there was never a ball, but that's what Sam and Charlie loved and that was their passtime - throwing the ball around, and right before he died Charlie promised Sam that he would always meet his brother at that place to practice. so that's why Sam is always in the same spot and can't really leave the place. Sam was stuck in the in-between because Charlie wouldn't let go of him and Sam would let go of his brother. Sam wasn't ready to go to heaven or wherever he was going (reincarnated maybe ). Tess was having a near death experience so her spirit was floating around.
Also remember that some people did think that Charlie was a little cuckoo from their point of view because he seemed to talk to himself. that british guy at the cemetary saw him talking to "no one" even though he was talking to Sully's ghost.

i seriously thought this movie would suck, but i still saw it. it was very pleasant and heartwarming (as well as heartwrenching)... the acting was good also. i give it a 7.5 out of 10.
(•_•)

can't outrun your own shadow

[–] blacknyellowsquid 14 years ago

I'm not really sure why people are trying to make logical sense out of an obviously implausible plot. Who knows, maybe he was sleeping the entire time and dreamed it all, but it was still a vision of her trying to get him to help. Did he just have sex with the air, too? Nah. I think it was indeed her entity somehow reaching out to him to try and find her. But I don't think he really did all the stuff with the fake-her as portrayed. Not the boat, not sex by himself in the graveyard, etc.