Since the scenes where they're together are so much less convincing than the ones where they fall apart, watching the movie is like being on a double-date from hell.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Ebert says the movie is more convincing when the characters are fighting than when they are together. Watching their relationship feels like experiencing a painful and unpleasant date.
- In plain terms
- The couple's arguments feel more real than their time together, making the movie painful.
- What can you take from it?
- Romantic relationships in film must feel convincing in both conflict and harmony.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does conflict make a relationship more realistic?
- How important is on-screen chemistry?
Another view
Some dramas intentionally focus on dysfunction rather than harmonious connection.
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