Monday, March 15, 2010

*Spoilers* Remember Me Ending - Thoughts...

***** SPOILERS******

If you have NOT seen the movie, DO NOT read this.... It will SPOIL it and in a way that will lessen te enjoyment of the movie for you in my honest opinion.

I am all about spoilers often, but for this movie, it is far more enjoyable without spoilers so go away if you haven't seen the movie yet!!

And go see the movie NOW then return to read this post....


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'If it was edited down in any way, I don't think it would be the same thing,' Pattinson says of the script. Beware of major "Remember Me" spoilers below.

From Paul Greengrass' nerve-jangling "United 93" to Adam Sandler's maudlin drama "Reign Over Me," the events of September 11, 2001, have served as both the main event and the trauma-infused context for a string of Hollywood films. The latest cinematic exploration of 9/11 comes during Robert Pattinson's romantic drama "Remember Me."

At the end of what appears to be a commonplace love story between two young New Yorkers — played by Pattinson and "Lost" star Emilie de Ravin — the audience learns that the events of the film are actually set almost one decade in the past. Pattinson's character travels up to his father's office, which we suddenly realize is housed in the World Trade Center and that he's gone to meet his dad on the morning of September 11. He is killed as the planes collide with the towers.

It's a controversial ending, no doubt, one fraught with issues of emotional and historical memory, the exigencies of narrative storytelling and the potential exploitation of 21st-century America's defining trauma. These are all matters that weighed heavily on the minds of Pattinson and his co-stars, as well as director Allen Coulter. MTV News spoke with each of them to get their personal take on the ending of "Remember Me" and why each felt 9/11 was so integral to the story at large. Here is what they had to say.

Robert Pattinson: "When I first read the script, it seemed so much a part of it. As soon as I read it, I felt immediately connected to it. If it was edited down in any way, I don't think it would be the same thing. I always feel there's some kind of power to the script. I wanted to keep that in the movie."

Emilie de Ravin: "For me, it was handled so beautifully, but it was also just such a surprise to me the first time I read it. I think I've cried every time I read this script and seen this film — so I might have to walk out when we're watching it! But it's such an important part of history and I think everyone's going to have a completely different opinion because everyone has a different experience, whether they were involved or know somebody involved. Everyone remembers exactly where they were when they heard about it."

Pierce Brosnan: "Will Fetters, the writer — this young man really drew up a beautiful story about this significant, emotional time in all our history and all our life, one which the generations will reverberate from. That bright blue morning of 9/11 is indelibly etched in our hearts. So this young writer took a love story and painted the story up against the backdrop of 9/11. The movie is a simple movie, but it makes you appreciate the moment of life and time.

Chris Cooper: "I had some concern about the portion of this film that is a bit of a surprise and I hoped that it would be handled tastefully — as tastefully as it could be. I must say after I saw it, I don't know how you could handle it anymore tastefully but still get the idea across of the loss. I think the strongest thing in the film is the idea of loss. My character and my daughter [de Ravin], early in the film we've encountered heavy loss and we learn more about Robert Pattinson and what is going on with his family and what they have lost. I just think it's a theme throughout."

Director Allen Coulter: "The fact is that, from the very beginning, this is a story about what we call 'the bolt from the blue' — the unexpected event that alters the trajectory of your life. We start with a very personal story, and as the story unfolds that very notion is enlarged upon and goes from the personal to the universal. We felt we were trying to humanize that kind of event."

Mandy's Mind - I found the ending to be a complete shock. I also feel it was handled tastefully, in a way that was not graphic nor offensive but instead emotionally moving. I cried, a lot, it brought back such strong emotions I experienced September 11, 2001.

Had they shown anything more after zooming away from Tyler in the buildings I would have had a problem. Like I had a problem with the Olympics showing the death of the luger, like I have a problem with the news showing actual bodies or horrific acts.

The attack on the twin towers was shown September 11, 2001 and when the second plane hit iwas in shock, still believing it was simply a replay of the first attack.

This movie deals with complex and intense emotional relationships between family and lovers and friends. It is heart wrenching through and through and just when things start to look up, it ends.

The ashes falling down on the roomate and girlfriend, the father staring up in horror at his offic ebuilding knowing his son was up there, the sister's fears, the mother's sorrow.... it all captures real emotions that were experienced that day.

I do not think it is a cheap attempt at emotion or a twist in plot to scam people into feeling for the movie... the characters and their relationships and their experience sand their problems were all present and developed, albeit quickly, before the twist.

I loved the movie, I plan to see it again, I thought the twist was shocking, emotional but tasteful.

What do you think?

See my spoiler review of the movie here


[Source]

4 comments:

QuiltNut Creations said...

i caught part of an interview with Rob earlier in March and in the interview it was said how the movie dealt with a tragedy in Tyler's life regarding 9/11.

when we find out Tyler's brother Michael had died, i figured that he had died in 9/11. i didn't see Tyler dying instead.

when Caroline and his dad were driving in the car, i thought something was going to happen to them. it was a shocking ending but it worked. i sat there with tears literally streaming down my face

Mandy's Mind said...

See I didn't know anything 9/11 so it was a shocker, though I kept wondering why it wasn't 2010.... LoL.... I too thought the father and sister were going to be in an accident or something.... so shocking and moving

prstlk said...

I thought that the ending was handled wonderfully. It showed that 9-11 affected everyone - and anyone. It showed the randomness of the victims and that they were from every walk of life.

Those who are upset about the ending and thinking that 9-11 is being exploited are just wrong. We must never forget how that one single day changed the lives of millions of people.

The lesson I came home with is to love the ones you have chosen to walk your life path with and eat dessert first. You never know what will happen in the next minute.

I’ve seen it twice and plan on seeing it again at least 1 more time in the theater. Will have it on my purchase list when it comes out in DVD for sure.

pamj said...

The movie and the ending say the same thing - we never know how long we have, so we have to live in the moment.