1) Why did Joan stay with Joseph after he had his affairs?
2) What did Joan mean when she said the following to Christian Slater's character: "Don't paint me as the victim. I'm much more interesting than that."
3) What drove Joseph to have his indiscretions with other women?
Would be grateful for a response to my questions.
Joan was told (and believed) that a writer has to write and MUST be read or it meant nothing. She believed that her writing would never be read as a female writer and thus remained with Joseph to keep her work out there, being taken seriously. She was using him in a way. She sees herself as a writer, not a victim. The attention she keeps avoiding (in all of its different forms) are all misplaced focus. She's been keeping her writer status a secret but she sure as hell doesn't want a false label in the same empty slot.
Joe was always a philanderer as seen in how he and Joan got together to begin with. His life of fake acumen was a cross to bear so his behavior was a bit of him reclaiming his agency. He was scum.
Their son was a whiny bitch. He had to wave his insecurities around aggressively for the duration of what was ostensibly his father's very special moment.
The movie was terribly predictable for very early on. Good performances but not a very good movie. 6/10 feels generous.
@ AnubisRaydeen
I would have liked to watch a movie that gave unambiguous answers re. everyone's motivations. But that's just me... I need everything to be tied up in a little bow.
Agree with you re. the rating: 6/10 is what this movie deserves.
Thanks for your response to my post.