Any reason for the nudity? - Open Water (2004) Discussion

[–] jacktheraperx 18 years ago

Yes, there was reason for the nudity, and you guys say you're not prude or anything, but I see you arguing the nudity and not the blood that happens to be seen at some point later in the film, that's just prude.

I think that the reason Ms. Ryan was in the nude (wich I appreciated since it was very tasteful in my opinion) in that scene was merely to show what most couples do!, just laying around naked and talking, why? because they can! plus you have to consider THEY WERE ON AN ISLAND, this means the weather is terribly hot, and excuse me, but if I had a chance to just lay around naked in the bed with my girl in those conditions it would much more comfortable than having pijamas on or something

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[–] clk264 18 years ago

I think it was shown, like you said, it's what couples do. I think it was used so the viewer would believe the characters more as a couple.

Americans are really stupid.

-My roomate, Mich, who just came to America.

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[–] zephyr-123 18 years ago

"Americans are really stupid."

Foreigners can pretty stupid too. We see many examples of it in the news.

Grrrrrr!!Aaargh!!

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[–] clk264 18 years ago

You should watch foreign news on America. One can see why we look bad to everyone else.

Americans are really stupid.

-My roomate, Mich, who just came to America.

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[–] zephyr-123 18 years ago

I've seen foreign news reports. I can understand why we look bad to everyone else and yet there is still lots of "stupid" in other countries as well. Americans aren't especially more or less stupid than other countries. America hasn't cornered the market on "stupid". There's plenty of it to go around. I'm done with this thread. It's gone OT.

Grrrrrr!!Aaargh!!

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[–] clk264 18 years ago

Fully agree. My signiture seemed to prove a point.

You just called me on a dead man's phone.

-Billy Costigan, "The Departed"

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[–] raveoddgrl 18 years ago

I don't believe that the nudity was "necessary" but I think it helped to further accent the relationship theme in the movie. First, she is lying in bed naked (reading or checking her e-mail I believe) instead of having wild, hot, island sex. Personally, if I had time off away from work on a beautiful island, I would be enjoying every bit of my partner's company. Also, they have been together so long and are so comfortable together, that nudity does not automatically imply sex to them anymore. Third, though I am not a nudist, my boyfriend and I will lounge around naked in our bedroom if it is a lazy day and we don't have work or school.

Finally, it's an island. I attend school in a town not far from Savannah, Ga on the coast and I'm Jamaican-American. I know how humid it can get when you are near the water and you will usually wear as little clothing as possible. If that means lying in your bedroom naked, then you grab a spritz bottle and get on with it.

Ay, amor, eres mi luna, eres mi sol, eres mi pán de cada día.

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[–] ednorson 18 years ago

Lying naked on bed is normal as ordinary life... That's it!

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[–] Sly-Norton 18 years ago

According to my mate, seeing the women naked is about the only interesting thing that happens in this movie.

"If you want the position of God then take the responsibility"

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[–] scvido 18 years ago

almost wanked while watching the naked Ryan, her body is ACE because it is sooo natural (beautiful) with and without the excess and lacks the 100% perfection that most girl wanna look like. that little bit of fat in her tummy as she turned off the light is so sexy.

she's the protrait of the perfect body. imho

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[–] LoveIsAForce_OfNature 18 years ago

unnecessary. reason number 999 why this movie sucked. IMO

"Love Is A Force Of Nature"
~Brokeback Mountain

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[–] hereminton 18 years ago

Well, yesterday was Blanchard Ryan's (who played Susan) 40th birthday, and I can tell you she looked as beautiful as any 40 year old woman likely ever has, and seeing her like that added to this.

"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park

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[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] arice204 18 years ago

Chris Kentis, the film's writer-director, distances himself from the Lonergans in the Lions Gate publicity.

"When I sat down to write the film," Kentis is quoted, "I wasn't interested in portraying the real people involved. I did no research on them. I didn't want to represent their relationship or their lives."

Kind of shoots down all the theories on the board for the nudity

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[–] lesmarsden 18 years ago

There is - and was - a very valid and quite simple reason for this scene, shot as it was:

Unbeknownst to them, and to us, at this point - this is their last normal evening/night together. They had the opportunity to share a deeper, intimate experience of love that night and (sadly) didn't. Susan wasn't in the mood. It was critical that the scene had to be made especially memorable and -- the nudity certainly made you all pay attention! The reason the scene had to be memorable was in order that it would readily flash through your mind at the conclusion of the film so you would then realize they had squandered a final opportunity before their unanticipated death. In effect: don't waste time, don't waste opportunities = because you might be dead in the very next moment. If you have the opportunity to express love to a mate, whether verbally or physically - DO IT! Because it might very well be your last chance.

Incidentally, Daniel Travis WAS also nude in the scene; as I think a previous poster may have noted, there is that element of prudishness in this country which precludes (in most cases) showing male genitalia. But my wife and I noticed he was nude, he just got into bed quickly and pulled the sheet up.

Damned good movie, BTW. The dramatic tension was remarkably well-handled; throughout the film, I kept turning it to my wife to marvel at the writing AND direction. As well as the performances, of course, but this was really a writer/director's dazzling showpiece. And yeah - don't worry; we watched it at home as I NEVER talk in a theatre during the showing of a film!

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[–] transmentalist 16 years ago

People should go back and read lesmarsden's post. It's the ONLY post on here that actually tries to answer the question and does so in a way that's probably "correct" from the actors' and writer's perspective.

The point of the scene was to show "lost opportunity" just because the woman was "not in the mood." The theme of dying young and giving up life's opportunities was echoed in Ryan's own commentary, particularly at the end of the film.

So, yeah, there may have been and probably was a prurient "sex appeal" motive behind it, but there was also a very important thematic reason behind it.

BTW, I've ALSO not seen anyone directly address this point: the fact that it was "hot" isn't enough to justify nudity. Because Americans are prudish, nudity has IMPACT, so it's overkill to use nudity to sell heat. Were that the actual reason, I'd agree that it's a rationalization and a weak one at that.

However, it IS sufficiently justified as (A) shorthand to show how comfortable the couple is together and (B) lesmarsden's point that it shows a lost opportunity on what will be the characters' last night "on earth [literally]" (and yes, I know this is just an opinion).

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[–] beforethewindjay 18 years ago

I'm surprised to find so many people that think sleeping in the nude or even lying in bed nude is so unusual. I'd say more people I've known sleep nude than not. Remember they made a point of telling you that the air conditioning was broken and it was hot as hell. I've been on dive and other trips to the tropics and always slept in the nude--why in the world would someone wear clothes in that heat?

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[–] rochelle-rochelle 18 years ago

The nude scene had NOTHING to do with the plot of the movie. Anyone who thinks so is basically a pathetic man who needs to get laid.

Am I a small number person or a severance package person?

~ Michael Scott

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[–] darkstar-8 18 years ago

LOL

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