MovieChat Forums > Indecent Proposal (1993) Discussion > The REAL problem?

The REAL problem?

posted 9 years ago by thephoenixxx
13 replies | jump to latest

This is just my interpretation, but I think the biggest problem between David and Diana wasn't that Diana had sex with Gage. I found that there were two other problems Firstly, David couldn't provide for he & his wife, so he essentially had to pimp out his wife to another man (who was more successfully financial) and thus felt emasculated. Secondly, Diana wanted David to be possessive of her, and he wasn't. These issues were evident before she ever spent the night with Gage. The fact that David had a change of heart, yet she went through with it (like they agreed), then made it worse from both their perspectives. Diana's hates that her husband actually let her sleep with another man (she wants someone to stand up for her), and David felt inferior to Gage (he accuses her of wanting to sleep with Gage before he even made the offer, constantly questions her about enjoying it, etc.).

That was just how I saw their relationship, it wasn't the sex between Gage and Diana that ruined their marriage, it was a lot deeper and more personal than that. I think the big issue was mainly that Diana wanted, and expected, David to flat out say no other man would ever touch her & she was all his, and he didn't. That alone, even if no sex had actually happened, would be enough for Diana to start questioning their relationship (I certainly would if that happened to me!).

[–] McQueen1980 9 years ago

its a guy thing

before they met gage their marriage was ok money or no money

when gage comes along hes showng diana hes more of a man than david ergo he has more money and he must have boned her good and hard as mysteriously she never talks about it

also why do diana and david have no kids?? that is never mentioned in the movie

[–] davebuffalo (3491) 2 years ago

why do Diana and David have no kids?

They were still young and dedicated to their careers. They wanted to get a house and get settled before having kids. They had plenty of time. And this made the infidelity more realistic. Also, guys are less likely to hunger over a MILF, for anatomical reasons that I'm not going to "enter into", pun intended.

[–] moviechatterer (15769) a year ago

" less likely to hunger over a MILF"
really ? cuz they have had a baby and is not all , er , tight ?
I dont think many , if any , guys give AF about that

[–] savaya 9 years ago

Kids would have made the decision to say no a lot more easier. I believe that's why there were no kids in the picture so that it was just a conscience decision on whether she would do it or not and not a family decision.

[–] Ghst51 9 years ago

Firstly, David couldn't provide for he & his wife, so he essentially had to pimp out his wife to another man

Well, this brings into question the meaning of sex. After all, like they say, its just 1 night right? It's just 1 night of sex...

I like this movie because it really has us question what sex and love is - what the difference is - and how our morals revolve around it.

The act of sex needs to be defined between people. Is it just a recreational activity? Is it something sacred? Is it an act of love between 2 people?

Believe it or not, there are couples that get off on this sort of thing. Specifically, there is a fetish called "hotwifing" where a man will willingly lend out his wife to have sex with other men. So for them, sex is a recreational activity, and nothing more, and their relationships seem to stay relatively stable.

So, I think this really shows the strength of the existing relationship is not there. David and Diana are not a couple wholly in love. If they are, then they do a terrible job of defining boundaries.

David felt inferior to Gage (he accuses her of wanting to sleep with Gage before he even made the offer, constantly questions her about enjoying it, etc.)

Well this just shows how insecure David is. Perhaps his insecurities are somewhat warranted - insecurities dont just pop up for no good reason. The sex was probably really good. Remember, the act of sex bonds people. If Diana is relatively inexperienced, she could have bonded to Gage more than they thought she would have. He did her real good. Another mark against the strength of their relationship.

[–] yusef-ghanima 9 years ago

you're an idiot, the evil beyetch wanted to fock the rich guy and she was married to a gay cuckold.

[–] WorldSacred 9 years ago

The real problem would have been that David was worried Gage was going to feed it to her slowly, just so she would get comfortable. Then after about half an hour of activity Gage was going to be so swollen in his member, he would break the condom, and splash enough baby batter inside Diana that Diana would be at odds about whether to have the pregnancy or an abortion. Then there is the issue of Diana walking funny for a while. And her asking David "Is it in?" for the first couple months of love making. But that's what I think David would be thinking.

[–] davebuffalo (3491) 2 years ago

baby batter

ROTFL. You need to write professionally.

[–] red_rackham_77 9 years ago

Both the couple were tempted by Gage's wealth and maybe Diana may have been impressed and found it exciting to be the object of a sexy billionaire's attention. David was tempted to use this to get money for him and Diana and she did say she would do it for them, that isn't exactly being pimped by her husband.

[–] Kellymariekitty (158) 6 years ago

Ok first of all: It’s not David’s fault the recession hit and him and Diana were struggling (so does everybody in a recession)
Secondly, David did not pimp out his wife, she decided to do it herself and he didn’t argue or stop her. Ok he should have stopped her but she did kind of insist. You saying Diana hates the fact her husband let her sleep with another guy?? What is she five years old and can’t say no??? If she loved her husband she would never have gone through with it, money or no money. Also when they broke up, where did she go???? She ran to gage and started dating him. Not what she should have done if she had no feelings for him. David was spot on at the end (his speech) he felt she was right to want gage and he was the better man. No Gage wasn’t the better man, he just had more money and that’s why he divorced Diana. He gave her what she wanted, a richer guy. Which makes Diana a mini gold digger

[–] ATG6 (3000) 4 years ago

the real problem is the Redford character would be charged with human trafficking these days

[–] Ripkens25 (2030) 3 years ago

One of the best lines in the entire film is when Woody’s character says (and I’m paraphrasing): “It’s not that you may have wanted him. It’s that you were RIGHT to want him”.

Such a well-written line...and spot on. We can’t control how any of us (including ourselves) may feel about someone....even if it’s someone other than our spouse. We can only (hope) that the bond we’ve built over time with our spouse is enough to overcome that attraction.

Example: If a guy who looked like Brad Pitt and was a doctor and was rich....came on to my wife at a party while she was in Miami with her girlfriends....she’d be RIGHT to be attracted to him. She’d be right to WANT him. Heck, he may even be the better man. Nicer....funnier....more generous and philanthropic.

So where does that leave me, the husband? People leave their spouses over 50% of the time....so it would be naive of me to think I’m better than anyone she will ever meet...and that love will conquer all. It’s a real and present threat.

Incidentally, this works the same for a woman with HER spouse meeting a more compelling match.

I’m not married....but I certainly understand a.....concern....about a better, more compelling person coming into the orbit of one’s spouse. And it’s not jealousy. It’s realism.

It’s NOT jealousy.... or even insecurity. If my wife (for the purposes of this point)....met a guy like Brad Pitt...nice, funny, handsome and rich....and she coveted him.....she would be right to.

I’ll say it again: She would be right to. All I could do at that point is hope the history we’ve accumulated together....will be enough to overcome that. But that is pretty naive.

Ain’t love grand?