MovieChat Forums > All Is Lost (2013) Discussion > Do you talk when you're alone?

Do you talk when you're alone?

posted 11 years ago by normalou
42 replies | jump to latest

I do, though not always, but enough to say if I'd awakened to my boat taking on water I would have at least said, "What the HELL?!" And if this movie had starred me... I would have had pages of monologue.

What an odd choice that our sailor Redford says nothing, barely even a groan throughout, except one loud f-bomb. This bothered me more than anything else, even the shaving scene.

Interesting film overall, and a good performance by mute Redford.

[–] Crusher_8000 11 years ago

When I'm alone I have times I constantly talk to myself. I walk around the house holding conversations I had in the past or might have in the future in my head. I have the people asking me questions in my mind but I answer them out loud. Hell, I have times I'm pretending to explain to people why I'm talking so much to myself.

Especially when I had a discussion and I'm alone I tend to form the situation in my head and try to support my position as clear as possible so when I do get the chance to say my mind I can do it as good as possible.

When I'm driving my car or showering I tend to talk even more but a lot of time I'm barely aware of it. Basically what I would normally think in my mind I start to say out loud because the shower or my car becomes an extension of my mind.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] coolbrett 11 years ago

Yeah, I kinda get why his character didn't say anything. Some people are just like that. There's no need to talk to yourself if you already know what's going on. Some people yell and mutter things only if they want to communicate with someone. I myself am one of those people that mutter to myself every now and then, but usually only when I hurt myself or something, or something annoys me. If I'm out in public however, and I drop $2 down the drain, I might go "ahh" silently to myself, but I don't go "NO!" or "aw damn-it!" or anything like that. Sometimes when bad things happen I don't say anything at all, because I learned that life is too short to allow yourself to get frustrated. I think Redford's character was the same. He'd rather keep a steady head and think logically rather than emotionally.

[–] thrillho1010 11 years ago

It's not about what you would do in this situation. It's about what Redford's character does. He's not you or 99% of the population. He's a single person. His character isn't one to outwardly express his frustrations. You know he's frustrated, you know he wants to scream out and freak out, but that's not what he DOES. He's older, draws on life experiences and knowledge and instinct and moves forward. That's the character. Stoic, intelligent, planning, and resourceful. He's painting a picture of who he is by these actions (or inactions for that matter). Personally, I saw him as a great man. Probably very successful in life while being respected by many. A guy who talks to himself constantly, is overemotional, and doesn't see the task at hand wouldn't paint the same picture for me. If you can't accept that, then that's on you. The character didn't act in a way that was unbelievable because it's not how YOU would act. I don't get how people don't see the difference.

[–] coolbrett 11 years ago

I know. Why are you telling me this?

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] notorious_souljah_17 10 years ago

I did find it weird that he didn't mutter any words or shout out swear words from frustration, The only thing you hear him say is when he talks to the radio. When im alone i talk to myself, its perfectly normal. this guy is just weird

[–] geraldpayne 11 years ago

All the time. Some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had have been with myself.

Moreover, I have a sailboat and when it's just me and her, I talk to her. They could have had Redford do that. Tom Hanks had his Wilson as a vehicle by which we the viewers could get into his head. That said, I appreciated Redford's stoic reticence.

[–] gmoxie 11 years ago

Since the question is directed at me, yes, I definitely talk when I'm alone, without a doubt. But not everyone does. Some people write down their thoughts instead of speaking them out loud. Some people don't even yell "ouch" when they get hurt. I think the Redford character effectively conveyed on his face and in subtle ways what was going on inside his head (or he showed us through actions within 60 seconds) without spelling it out in words. I thought this was a rather refreshing effective approach. I admired the character for staying relatively calm (rather than whirling into a mad panic each time a new disaster struck -- how many times have we seen THAT scenario in a movie). His mind continued to be working even when enormously tired, and he faced all the challenges and took deliberate action right up to the end.

[–] DantE_9247 11 years ago

i don't really want to defend the movie, because the silence was killing me during the movie, but it was an artistic choice to not have him talk at all. if you want to keep it as minimalistic as possible and cut every monologue, you have to make the antagonist mute or else you are left with nothing but curse words.

no, i don't think it's realistic and i don't think it worked in favor of the movie but it was a choice they made and we just have to roll with it. another actor might have pulled this off, redford didn't imo.

only a ninja can sneak up on another ninja

[–] gabypanama 11 years ago

I've said "NO!" or just curses in *beep* up situations. I thinking a sinking boat-situation applies.

[–] YepiTsTrue11 11 years ago

I did think to myself that it was strange he wouldn't say more. However as another poster said, I did appreciate this approach. It was very different. Every time I expected him to lash out in some way, he didn't.

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 11 years ago

I do talk out loud to myself, all the time when alone. I do a lot of running commentary, and if I had been this guy there would have been endless "Holy crap! Okay so where is that damn thing when I need it? Right, got it. Now then.... put this....on here...."

But even though that may have been more realistic to Redford's situation, as a lot of people would start the above chit chat with nobody, I think it was an elegant choice to make him basically silent.

[–] springz_nineeleven 11 years ago

I don`t talk to myself but I would be cursing up a storm. Like when the ship rolls I`d be like Mother *beep* SON OF A BITCH!``