MovieChat Forums > Before Midnight (2013) Discussion > Didn't work in the same way

Didn't work in the same way

posted 9 years ago by HalBanksy
4 replies | jump to latest

When you have just met someone (or especially if you meet again after years) you might have deep conversations and evaluate how you impacted each others life, etc. But not all on one random day, after years of marriage, with kids and all the normal daily crap. It seemed very contrived and pretentious.

The script in the first two films seemed natural (almost improvised.) But here it was beyond fake and just seemed off. The inclusion of other characters was a mistake as well. That scene while eating lunch was so awkward and forced. Did anyone really care about that pathetically clichéd other couple? The purpose of the scene (showing different couples reflecting the stages of a relationship) was so OBVIOUS. Absolutely no attempt at subtlety.

And I see this has been discussed a lot already... but seriously, what the hell has happened to Celine? Who made the decision to turn her character into this sour, immature hypocrite? Had they actually moved to America permanently, there might have been some justification for her bitterness - but instead Jesse has sacrificed any possibility of having a regular relationship with his son, and is living on the otherside of the world, where Celine has been offered her "dream job." wtf is she complaining about? All through the film she seemed like a genuinely horrible person - completely different from the other films. Zero warmth or consideration (even her attempts at humour always had a passive-aggressive mean spirit behind it.)

Am I missing the point completely... Or was this film supposed to show how a personality can disappear and only leave a vile impression behind.

[–] capperz412 8 years ago

Newsflash: people in real life are hypocrites. Celine's character transformation is totally legit

[–] omarpowermotivation 8 years ago

This is what women do. They respond on their emotions. Spare me of any misogynistic comments. She came off as a high strung career woman with children who lacks any sort of self-awareness. She overreacted and made it all about her when Jesse was venting about not being in his son's life. All the arguments began because she is stressed out from work and it's causing her to overreact. She has no outlets when she reveals she doesn't play music anymore. The basis of all of their arguments is that Jesse has it easy and Celine puts up with more. This is why they say make work your passion and it won't feel like work. Getting into the wrong fields of work can destroy marriages. If you do decide to get into a challenging career you need strategies like meditation, exercise, nutrition, etc to deal with the stress. However that's not the case here so Jesse followed the GOLDEN rule in life, happy wife happy life--so Jesse had to be the nice guy at the end. There was nothing unrealistic about their relationship in this movie. No one was being immature either.

[–] HalBanksy 8 years ago

Spare me of any misogynistic comments.

What? Who is supposed to be misogynistic here?

No one was being immature either.

She was incredibly immature in that bedroom argument.
She actually stopped making any sense.
The whole film was sour, wouldn't watch again.

[–] 8 years ago

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