Posted by sean at threshold9n.jpmorgan.com on February 12, 2002 at 14:34:21:
In Reply to: Very little to do with the above -- "Ghost World" posted by Isis on February 12, 2002 at 14:04:25:
: Was I the only person who HATED this movie? Everyone I know who saw it recommended it to me, and I thought it was one of the more hateful, hopeless pieces of material that came out in the last couple of years. I haven't been more depressed by a movie since "Welcome to the Dollhouse".
The ending was pure hope, though.
: I think my problem with it has to do with a matter of perspective...it purports to be from the viewpoint of these two teenaged girls, but it's written by some dude who probably sees himself as a Seymour type. I doubt that's how any teenaged girl actually thinks, particularly those who see themselves as outsiders. Thora Birch's character was the least relatable of any in the history of film that I'm familiar with. Even Scarlett O'Hara wasn't such a heartless bitch.
Isis, I forget how old you are, but I can't believe you went to high school so long ago that you didn't know that girl. I did. I knew her at the beginning of college too. I think my sole problem with the POV and voice that you're talking about was that it took the movie a really long time to decide if it (and, by extension, we the audience) sympathized with them or found them mock-worthy (or even flat-out insult-worthy). I do think that by the end, though, we're supposed to think that the punishment way exceeds what her behavior has warranted, since most of the worst things she did work out okay while the things she did that weren't so bad wind up (ironically, I suppose) fucking her over.
: P.S. The only good part was the shirtless numchuck-wielding redneck. He RULED.
Come on, now. David Cross was brilliant as well, whichever way you slice the rest of the flick. Don't be crazy, crazy.