MovieChat Forums > Still Alice (2015) Discussion > Was I the only one who thought Alec Bald...

Was I the only one who thought Alec Baldwin was cheating on her?

posted 10 years ago by asc85
40 replies | jump to latest

There were a number of scenes where he announced he was working late, there was at least one time he suddenly had to take an important call and left the table. I kept saying to my wife, "he must be cheating on her," and kept waiting for that to be shown during the movie. But much to my embarrassment, it never happened! I didn't read the book, and if it's not in the book, that makes sense, but seeing so many films in my life, all the "cheating" conventions were there (or so I thought).

[–] cherylrice 9 years ago

I totally expected the movie to reveal he was cheating, which would've been so sad for Alice of course. But there were signs. Yes I know it's a work of fiction and the signs could have been legitimately because he worked all the time etc etc. But he seemed sketchy at times, and movie goers are sort of programmed to see all those cues as hints of cheating. There were so many!! And Alice and her husband seemed so removed from each other!!! I kept waiting for it but I'm really glad they didn't go there. Would've just been too sad! And the movie was already so sad!! At any rate, yes it's a tangent to speculate about that, but it obviously seemed that way to a lot of viewers or this thread wouldn't exist!! Glad I wasn't the only one!!! ;)

[–] andyd-1 9 years ago

very good point, maybe you are supposed to wonder that without finding out, a bit like Alice wasn't likely to be able to find out either.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

Interesting way to look at it. It didn't occur to me that he was cheating (for one thing, part of his "working all the time" that she complained about was right in front of her with his laptop), but from her POV that could absolutely be valid, and she would not be in much of a situation to figure it out very easily.

--------
My top 250: http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=SlackerInc&perpage=250

[–] Savybones 9 years ago

At no point did I believe he was cheating on her but I kept waiting for her to catch him, like a jump scare that never comes.

Maybe it was in the performance.
Or cliche "Wife having medical problems, Husband going to cheat."

OH SPOILER ALERT!

[–] ricardito-1 9 years ago

Definitely I thought he was, especially as the film doesn't show any emotion from him apart from one scene was his daughter towards the end.

[–] ljackson-53207 9 years ago

Never thought he was cheating...never crossed my mind. He was so emotionally detached the entire time & I saw no change after the diagnosis....he did mention that she was the smartest woman he ever knew..probably a let down for him...

[–] gmoxie 9 years ago

I did not think he cheated even once. In this case I believe his job was extremely demanding and he really had to work late and take evening phone calls. Similarly, at the onset of the movie, she was also extremely busy with her classes and her speaking appointments, and they had trouble matching their schedules so they could have a getaway at the beach. I think this was standard for their lifestyle, unlike other movies where "working late" means having an affair. I think in this case he was completely devoted, and the reason he left for the job at the Mayo clinic was not only because it was a tremendous opportunity but because he was in so much pain being around her, it tore him apart; and because he needed the money (since they no longer had 2 incomes).

[–] stefan-79-235442 9 years ago

No he didnt, he was just a workaholic

[–] mmitchell355-2 9 years ago

I saw them both as hard working professionals, with very demanding jobs. They matched perfectly. Alice's illness changed her routine. It made his busy life look out of proportion to hers. He was the same person, his wife changed. Her personality changed. And I don't think the personality of the new Alice meshed with her husband.

[–] derfball 9 years ago

Baldwin cheats on all his women; life imitating art, or the other way around?

[–] ascaav 9 years ago

No, just admittedly unable to cope with it. Really, very selfish. It was not about him, it was about her.