We began our study of literature with film because of the height of film at this time. Most Americans are more used to commenting on film than on literature, and this may also be the case with you.
We have talked at length about "It's Complicated," featuring Meryl Streep (Jane), Alec Baldwin (Jack), and Steve Martin (Adam). We can use the film as an introduction to talking about plot and character. We have said that the plot is a basic boy meets girl story, and we have stated that in order to create a unique story from this very basic plot there must be some twist, perhaps some inherent difficulty, contrived difficulty, or crisis. In this case, the surface difficulty is an adulterous affair that breaks up Jane and Jack's (Jack and Jill's) marriage, but perhaps beneath this surface is the classic question of whether male/female, human relationships are fraught with difficulty. Is the match made in heaven (sanctified by the Bible) actually one full of trouble, and, if so, what is the basis of the problem?
One of the questions for your mid-term will be to speak about the above questions, and you will be asked to consider as well how the specific characters as they are drawn in this film and the casting of Streep, Baldwin, and Martin either serve well or do not serve well the main theme and plot of this film.
For the purposes of this blog post, please respond to the following: how does Jane and Streep's playing of this character point to or not point to a fundamental male/female problem?
Streep's character does point to a female problem, in my opinion. Her character is the type where she wants everything to be perfect, including herself as well. She is the ideal woman that high society would love to have. However, she gets the feeling of sometimes wanting to step outside her comfort zone and take on a new personailty. In the movie, she does this by having an affair with her ex-husband, Jack. She doesn't realize until later on down the line that the only reason he loves her now is because she's finally turned into the woman that he's always wanted her to be. She's more exciting, instead of boring.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point. Is a point maybe being made about marriage?
DeleteI think Streep's roll definitely points to both female/male problem. She has everything she wants and need, but like most- it's complicated! She indeed played her rolled, even though her ex-husband was married to a beautiful woman, they reunited in their own way and had sex, which was the cause of most of their problem, especially for Jack because he is married! After sexing around, which I'm sure took Jane mind back and realizing after all that she love Jack, but really don't love him! And boy did Jack feel it! Even in their affair, Jack was still messing up- not showing up for the dinner dates! But she gives it back to Jack, made him jealous on several occasions , especially at the party when she is dancing with Adam.
ReplyDeleteAny larger ideas at work?
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