I wouldn't say they are not well-defined, but not easily defined. They are more enigmatic, especially in their desires. Is Marina really in love with Neil or is she just in love with love or wanting/needing to be love. I would even suggest she might like the polarized relationships - extreme love and extreme anger as opposed to a steady, quiet relationship.
I can understand your point on Marina, but Neil needs to be a cipher. Without this, the film would have been weakened. How can you understand the inexplicability of why relationships fail? Instead of pointing us directly to predispositions or psychological underpinnings we can use to understand - Malick leaves us to decipher for ourselves. He offers a multitude of clues.
I'm not sure what choices she makes that aren't adequately set-up. There was a very clear foundation for her cheating, even though the decision itself might have ultimately been an abrupt choice. This guy clearly showed a flirtation toward her. And as Neil was distant, she probably found herself subconsciously wanting to be seen as desirable to someone, if not Neil. I'd say Neil significantly harmed her self-esteem.
McAdams was a bit underused, but only because I wish they had a reverse shot when her and Marina pass glances. I'm curious to know her perspective in those events. Based on both actresses' comments at TIFF, they did shoot a few scenes together. I'm curious to see a longer cut of the film since it is Malick's shortest film of the past two decades.
But perhaps we don't need anymore. I can imagine what McAdams' thoughts are toward Marina. Marina was living the life she thought she wanted, but was likely better off not having. This is quite summarized in the single shot together as Jane walks with confidence and poised while Marina is wet, disheveled and lost.
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