Have watched it twice now, and the second time I gleaned maybe a morrsel or two more of comprehension regarding plot details. The *gist * of what happens is clear, of course, but, er. . . well, that’d have to be “gist” in the broadest possible sense!
Specific question for starters:
What the hell happened with the older guy, the investor that Aaron accosted once they found him waiting outside Shane’s house in the dark? Specifically, what occured in the time-f*ck continuum involving this guy, and what happened after he went unconscious??
I was a little surprised not to find a discussion, or semi-discussion, thread on it when I searched, but maybe Dopers haven’t checked it out, by and large (?)
Much of it is very compelling, but it’s an example of a film that’s just a little too brainy for its own good, in my humble opinion. I like being challenged in in a Memento-type way, but. . . egad. This thing made the ol’ synapses seasick.
Anyway, would love to hear from anyone who followed more of it than me!
I’d love to help you out, but I’m more confused than you are. I think I need to watch it a few more times. It was too hard for the average Joe to grasp in one sitting.
You’re not supposed to know why that guy showed up (I think I got this in the commentary) - the guys wouldn’t know so you don’t either. It’s obviously a timeline that got obliviated - that guy’s memory is different from theirs. Probably had something to do with the party that they changed.
We did have a thread on it which you can find here. I see that it links to the same timeline that Zsofia mentions, but there are other links you can check out.
Just a note to say that I love this movie - I love letting it wash over me as the time streams get nuts and the whole thing folds in on itself. I know the gist of why time is flipping out due to their various travels, but don’t try to decode the exact specifics.
The execution of the movie is really well done given all of the limitations they faced in making it.
Thanks for the links, Zsofia, Exapno. After wading through some of the ridiculously convoluted explanations and timelines, though, I’m sad to say my initial opinion remains. That is, neat flick, but ultimately hamstrung by its own formidable intelligence.
I have to agree with Winston Bongo from the thread linked by Exapno: be it willfully or incidentally obtuse, a greater attention to coherence could only have made it better.
I guess the point of my little fanboy post is that I disagree with this. When I did take the time to investigate how the time streams intereacted, I could see they made sense and found that satisfying - that Carruth had worked it out to that level. I then promptly forgot the details - very convoluted.
But the disorientation and lack of trackability of the storyline is central to the conceit of the movie - Aaron and Abe violate their own Prime Directive of staying “off the grid” while time travel occurs, and the time stream completely fragments as a result. Having the viewer caught up in that fragmentation is what Carruth seems to have sought…I found it very effective at tying me up in conceptual knots, while reveling in the fact of the accomplishment.
I suppose it could have been effective in a format where the audience remains outside the time fragmentation and the communication to us is clearer. But it would’ve been a completely different movie…
WordMan- for the record, I didn’t find your initial post fanboyish at all. I just wish the film worked on me in the same manner. [dumb guy] 'Cause I love * time travel an’ sht.[/dumb guy]
Oddly enough, I also enjoyed how you couldn’t catch, like, one word in three - it kind of felt like you were always leaning in, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Usually movies where I can’t catch all the dialogue bug the crap out of me.