I just wanted to make a comment. Although I agree with the majority of what you said, I stongly disagree with your comment about the needlessness of the scene where he knocked the goldball into the car. Firstly, a film and director of this calibre are sort of past the point where you can critcize minor elements of the plot. Clearly he has a plan with the project, and every scene is necessary to his vision. Secondly, as far as I can tell, that was a brilliant scene for two specific reasons: Just as you said, the goldball getting knocked off does cause a humourous reaction to the viewer, which totally escalates the emotion of what happens next, because you're totally off gaurd. It's a great technique to actually effect your audience, although I can't really see it as being a technique - this film is too organic for that. The second thing that makes it brilliant to me, is that it creates a very striking message about the imperfection of human experience. Clearly there are some heroic type elements to the main character, but like any real human he's deeply flawed, which can be seen throughout the film in other scenes. Putting the golfball scene didn't really advance the plot in any conventional way, which is why I can you see people finding it unnecessary - but that's the whole point - none of this movie is necessary. It exists on another plane from most other films and can only be understood in that context. People always complain about holes in the plot that ruin the movie for them - well, what is a hole in the plot? It's where some lapse in logic destroys the film's illusion of reality, right? Well, reality is weird and unpredictable, and can't be viewed in black and white terms - just like this film.
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dcold
20 years ago
I can see where you are coming from but there was no tie-up to the scene and for such a tight movie, I guess I felt it was just hanging there out in space.
I agree that the shock was increased because of the humor of the situation, but felt that it needed a reflection later on in the story. In other words, in the real world a police report of the injury would have been made and the police would have tied the golf ball incidences together.
I appreciate your comments however. I WAS very pleased with the movie. It was quite moving.
D.
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captainampersand
20 years ago
I didn't have any problems with the golfball scene so much as the reaction the main characters had to it afterwards. Like the other poster said, it made the hero too unsympathetic. He was (possibly) responsible for someone's death, half-sobs it off, and returns to normal the day after. I guess there should have been more added to the movie about the consequences, like the movie "13 Conversations About One Thing", where a character hits-and-runs, and his guilt slowly boils over him. Also I think the ending sequence where he learns to become a phantom was a bit too absurd.
Otherwise the movie was fantastic. I watched it three times.
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kujasp
20 years ago
(i've just seen this movie this afternoon, and as i don't remember the names of the main characters, i'll just say HE and SHE) This movie was a lot about symbolics and metaphores. The characters never talked together, all was about their behaviours towards each other, symbolizing things that happen in a regular relationship. When SHE gets in front of HIM to make HIM stop playing golf, it's like the usual "stop doing this, take care of me !" it was sort of an argument. Then it gets out of control, as it happens often, and someone external gets hurt in the process. What was strong in this scene, is that when HE's crying after hitting the "innocent" girl, we can see that SHE feels guilty too. What if she didn't get in front of HIM and made him change his aim ? What if SHE went on with the "argument" and went again in front of him, like the first scene when HE stops playing.
That was a really good scene, and it makes their relationship stronger. As for his lack of reaction towards the fact he hurt someone (or killed, though we don't know for sure), i can live with it. HE was never very excessive in his expressions during the whole movie, part of the character, and we really don't know how long he was there crying, or even if what we see next is the very next day. Anyway, it's still coherent with the whole character.
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20 years ago
[deleted]
cChevy
20 years ago
Why is it called 3-Iron? Is it because of the golf bat he used?
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heathermcdixon
20 years ago
The 3-iron is the least used of all the golf clubs, according to the director.
"There's a hole in the world. Feels like we ought to have known."
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mac_alain
20 years ago
I stongly disagree with your comment about the needlessness of the scene where he knocked the goldball into the car.
The scene was needed IMHO but the only thing that puzzled me was that a golf ball, at that distance, could have gone straight/clean through a car window and then inflict the damage it did. But then I am not a golfer, and I guess the director would have done his research.
BTW was I the only one who did not laugh?
Great movie, and
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring is even better
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heptaparaparshinokh
20 years ago
I laughed at first, because their expresssions were funny to me, but as soon you see what happens, the emotional content of the scene completely flipped on me - which is why i thought that scene was so brilliant. Maybe I just enjoy having my mind played around with by the films I watch. When a director makes things too easy, it's boring to me.
I bought the coast gaurd from Ebay and still haven't seen it yet for some reason. This reminds me that I should watch it... like right now.
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