I have seen this movie. I liked it but think Marc got what he deserved at the end. He treated both Kay and his girlfriend horribly and deserved to be alone.
Did not have the same affect on me as Brokeback Mountain did.
i kinda think marc got what he deserved at the end, but i liked that it was an open ending with potential for him to improve. that's kinda how i saw bbm: ennis never did alma or jack right in the movie. i used to want to write a story starting up when jack got the divorce card. we do have one wonderful story starting at that point: If I Asked. i think the ending of BBM was so powerful because Ennis only seemed to realize his loss in the face of Jack's death. the ultimate tragedy.
I have a different outlook on Marc, and don’t see the ending as him getting “what he deserved”.
So here he is, straight guy, middle class family, pregnant girlfriend, and he’s making a life with her. He didn’t go looking for this, Kay came after him with both guns blazing, he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew Marc was in a committed relationship, knew he was an expectant father, but wanted him enough to turn Marc’s life upside down.
I don’t think either was to “blame”, although Kay is generally seen as the one who is “wronged” by Marc (and Bettina, of course) and he seems to get a free pass, even though he is the one who pursued Marc. Kay must assume some of the responsibility for the outcome.
Hanno Koffler played this character so well that, even though I lost patience with Marc sometimes, and wanted him to make up his mind one way or another, I still felt compassion for him. He was being torn in two directions. He wanted to do right by Bettina and the baby, he tried to leave Kay more than once, but his feelings were
( ... )
you have a more sympathetic view of Marc's situation, which i actually share, but which you really have to think about to arrive at.
You’re right, I’ve been thinking about this movie since the first time I saw it in March, so I’ve had a lot of time to process it.
Do you see Kay as the victim? That Marc led him on and then couldn’t pull the trigger...couldn’t make the choice?
About particular scenes: did you notice after the jog in the forest the first time - when Kay gives Marc the shotgun with the joint and then kisses him - the scene where Marc is packing up his running gear, he puts his running shoes in the bag and stops and looks at them for a few seconds....he’s thinking about that kiss.
And the phone call! The day after sex in the rain, when Marc answers the phone.....what on earth did Kay say to him to make Marc get that sweet smile on his face?
no, i don't really see Kay as the victim because of what you said in a different comment elsewhere: he came in guns blazing knowing that Marc wasn't really on board, and even after he saw that Bettina was PG and that Marc was in a committed relationship with her. If i was a harsher judge, i would see Kay as a homewrecker. i don't see him that way, but i'm not sure we can honestly say that he doesn't carry some of that blame. what would've happened if he'd shut marc out after he realized B was having a baby? would M have let it die
( ... )
Great question: what would Marc have done if Kay stopped his pursuit after finding out about Bettina? You can see in the scene at the bowling alley when Britt & Kay come in, Marc is beside himself. The last thing he wants is for Kay to be there...and in the men’s room: “So, now you know
( ... )
Kay has a total "Oh Fuck!!" look on his face as he looks at Bettina and Marc does his best to convey that he's invested in her and he baby, but when he says, "So now you know," i kinda take from that that he's saying, "This is why i can't be with you. Because i'm already committed (and trapped)." Which in my mind kinda implies, if it wasn't for the baby, things would be different.
We don't get to see any of their interactions beyond the bathroom scene, but i'm thinking Kay was probably well-behaved in front of their co-workers, so nothing to get Marc all wound up, but just seeing him and being around him is enough to have Marc pacing and smoking and thinking and wanting.
then Kay invites him to go running but he just offers the invitation and then walks away - no pressure - and Marc says no but then he shows up anyway.
See, I have a different read on the “so now you know” in the men’s room from Marc. That’s why it’s interesting to discuss and see the different takes. There’s a lot going on in this movie.
I see it as Marc going on the offensive, telling Kay “that time you jerked me off in the forest didn’t mean anything, nothing else is going to happen between us, so just forget it.” A one-shot thing.
Thing is, of course, Marc can't forget it....as you said, just seeing Kay and being around him is enough to get Marc thinking & wanting.
After the karate class when Kay says “if you do want to go jogging sometime....” he’s leaving that door wide open for Marc to walk through - but Marc didn’t say no....I mean, not that I saw...he just stood there staring after Kay. And then he went headlong through that door. I’d love to hear that phone call to Kay
( ... )
Did not have the same affect on me as Brokeback Mountain did.
Reply
Reply
So here he is, straight guy, middle class family, pregnant girlfriend, and he’s making a life with her. He didn’t go looking for this, Kay came after him with both guns blazing, he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew Marc was in a committed relationship, knew he was an expectant father, but wanted him enough to turn Marc’s life upside down.
I don’t think either was to “blame”, although Kay is generally seen as the one who is “wronged” by Marc (and Bettina, of course) and he seems to get a free pass, even though he is the one who pursued Marc. Kay must assume some of the responsibility for the outcome.
Hanno Koffler played this character so well that, even though I lost patience with Marc sometimes, and wanted him to make up his mind one way or another, I still felt compassion for him. He was being torn in two directions. He wanted to do right by Bettina and the baby, he tried to leave Kay more than once, but his feelings were ( ... )
Reply
Reply
You’re right, I’ve been thinking about this movie since the first time I saw it in March, so I’ve had a lot of time to process it.
Do you see Kay as the victim? That Marc led him on and then couldn’t pull the trigger...couldn’t make the choice?
About particular scenes: did you notice after the jog in the forest the first time - when Kay gives Marc the shotgun with the joint and then kisses him - the scene where Marc is packing up his running gear, he puts his running shoes in the bag and stops and looks at them for a few seconds....he’s thinking about that kiss.
And the phone call! The day after sex in the rain, when Marc answers the phone.....what on earth did Kay say to him to make Marc get that sweet smile on his face?
I could talk about this movie all day....
Reply
Reply
Reply
We don't get to see any of their interactions beyond the bathroom scene, but i'm thinking Kay was probably well-behaved in front of their co-workers, so nothing to get Marc all wound up, but just seeing him and being around him is enough to have Marc pacing and smoking and thinking and wanting.
then Kay invites him to go running but he just offers the invitation and then walks away - no pressure - and Marc says no but then he shows up anyway.
ok, we're off to shop some more. laters!! :)
Reply
I see it as Marc going on the offensive, telling Kay “that time you jerked me off in the forest didn’t mean anything, nothing else is going to happen between us, so just forget it.” A one-shot thing.
Thing is, of course, Marc can't forget it....as you said, just seeing Kay and being around him is enough to get Marc thinking & wanting.
After the karate class when Kay says “if you do want to go jogging sometime....” he’s leaving that door wide open for Marc to walk through - but Marc didn’t say no....I mean, not that I saw...he just stood there staring after Kay. And then he went headlong through that door. I’d love to hear that phone call to Kay ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment