(I'm just like you in that I shy away from direct competition and choke in quiz situations. It's agony to go on something like NPR's 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." So I fully appreciate your reaction.)
No worries! When I responded to #2 I thought "guns" was too easy, but now that I've kinda gone back through the movie, I see how different guns are used.
In his book "Consider This," Chuck states that the "gun" is the sailor. I can also see the strong arguments for that pov since it creates a major turn in the story.
Right, but these questions are about the objects. The Sailor is also the good-boy martyr in the martyr/murder/witness formula. In his uniform he's the epitome of the boy/man. And the witness also serves as the murderer just as Big Chief does both roles in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'
I’d say the answer to question 2 is sunlight. Several key moments in the film are centered around sunlight coming through doors and windows. Robert basks in the light looks toward openings several times, including both the beginning and end of the film which take place outside the event hall.
1) To search for signs of their personality. They want them to have none, be props in a grizzly reality performance in which the audience installs their own personalities on them, rather than have them pre-formed.
2) For me it was the time-board and the slogan 'how long will they last' that hovered them constantly, ticking down.
3) She didn't. She took it when having her 'moment' with the even organizer.
Okay, Tom. Congratulations. You've got #3 correct. Please email Dennis your best mailing address and other details per the instructions above.
Note: In the book the gun is just a secret small revolver that appears at the last moment. It feels unearned and like a cheat in the book. Swiping it from Rocky in the movie is much more effective and reveals Gloria as wily. In the book she's just wanton.
Oh, that's fantastic! Thank you so much. It's been a stinker if a day and winning this means so much! Been out of work for nearly two years, had an interview for a job coaching writing students at a University they actually asked me to apply for.....then didn't give me, so my mood has been at rock bottom.
Given that I don't live in the USA and postage will undoubtedly cost you more, how about I donate whatever you spend on postage of my prize to a charity of your choice? Charity can be a UK based one if you like, or an American one?
I have no idea about the questions, other than maybe she got the gun from the head of the dance contest. I do look forward to seeing the answers, though.
I just wanted to talk about it. I felt like the ominous beginning where the kid watches the horse being put down made the ending slightly cheaper, but it might be a taste thing. The heaviest part of the film is the allegory of the whole thing, where the contest is life and some people just get tired of going through it. I have friends who suffer depression that I'd never show this film to.
Isnt the beginning really essential to the movie? Because its actually this backstory that gives the guy the belief that its ok to shoot her. She is broken and thus ok to be put out of her misery. Without the backstory the guy would just be some guy that suddenly agrees to shoot her. Which would be kinda weird and coming out of nowhere. Just my two cents.
Oh, totally. It IS essential, but it FEELS like it's only so that they can say "they shoot horses, don't they?" at the end. It COULD be because I was born in '76 and have had 45 years of gradually more contemporary movie-making to compare it to, but to me the "thumbnail" or foreshadowing intro was a little cheesy, especially when she dies in the field at the end. But I totally get why it was needed. It was also a way to show that he was raised on a farm, etc. They call him "cowboy" at the beginning of the dance, but having grown up in Texas, I wouldn't have known he was a "cowboy" without that intro scene and by them calling him "cowboy."
Very agreed. The opening is sappy, but it works better than the corresponding scene in the book, which cuts to a summarized flashback -- killing a plow horse -- at the moment Gloria dies.
Maybe they search the luggage to find things that they can exploit to make the competition more interesting, which leads to him ruining the dress at one point?
1. They're looking for anything that might affect their performance, like the guy with the medicine
2. The gun; there were cuts to gunshot sounds, the firing of a gun to start the event where they race in circles, the gun for shooting the horse in the flashbacks and the gun at the end that Gloria gives to Robert
3. She stole it from the host (it's the starter pistol) when she goes into the back room with him after she sees Robert and the actress together
1. To make sure they didn't have any restricted substances or objects that would help them get through the contest.
2. The gun comes up at the beginning of endurance events and then winds up being the ultimate end to Gloria's endurance. But I also noticed the disco ball as a constant overseer of their downfall and in the shower scene, the shower head above Alice as she has her breakdown very much mirrors the disco ball. It felt intentional and important.
3. She took it from the host when she seduced him in the office.
I'd say that (1) is also done to show the audience that Gloria didn't arrive with the gun. That she didn't have that plan the entire time but rather that the contest drove her to that point and she made moves to get what she needed to end it.
Kimber! Thank you, you got #2 correct! All the red herrings about opiates and what-all are procedural, but misdirection. The scene is to demonstrate that nothing contraband could be brought in. It's early set-up so we can later realize Gloria's motive for dorking Rocky.
Please send Dennis your mailing information. Congratulations.
I thought Gloria's actions were motivated by revenge at Roberts betrayal - as the couples journey is frequently likened to marriage. A "now we're even" moment made all the more harrowing by Gloria's repulsion for what she is doing ("don't touch me"). The following split and Alice's comments about "you should go back to her" all fit this. And as for Gloria's new partner - she's bearing her soul and he starts his own conversation between hers, not listening - not caring. It's heartbreaking. I do wonder how her story of the dog ended (I suspect it's to show mercy, giving the film three mercy killings to end suffering.) And by the time of the second rally Gloria is paired up with the sailor, and the starter pistol is fired here - which is why I assumed Gloria took the gun from the office after rocky called her a loser and revealed the competition clauses of payment?
No biggie. It's an experiment, here. Just a way to put something at stake and create energy.
(I'm just like you in that I shy away from direct competition and choke in quiz situations. It's agony to go on something like NPR's 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." So I fully appreciate your reaction.)
They also use a canon to start the races.
Was just kicking myself for realizing that after my original post. Thanks though!
No worries! When I responded to #2 I thought "guns" was too easy, but now that I've kinda gone back through the movie, I see how different guns are used.
In his book "Consider This," Chuck states that the "gun" is the sailor. I can also see the strong arguments for that pov since it creates a major turn in the story.
Right, but these questions are about the objects. The Sailor is also the good-boy martyr in the martyr/murder/witness formula. In his uniform he's the epitome of the boy/man. And the witness also serves as the murderer just as Big Chief does both roles in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'
Yowza, the derby canon!
#1 To check if they have any drugs or substances that will help them during the endurance contest.
1. to make sure they didn't bring some contraband
2.people
3. the gun is used by the host through out the movie to signal something new and exciting
#2 guns
#3 I think Gloria mightve taken the gun off of Rocky when they hooked up
Exactly. But late! Next Quiz.
I’d say the answer to question 2 is sunlight. Several key moments in the film are centered around sunlight coming through doors and windows. Robert basks in the light looks toward openings several times, including both the beginning and end of the film which take place outside the event hall.
1 - Opium
1. To see if they are hiding anything that would make them less than mentally competent, drugs, weapons, booze, sex toys, poppers
1) To search for signs of their personality. They want them to have none, be props in a grizzly reality performance in which the audience installs their own personalities on them, rather than have them pre-formed.
2) For me it was the time-board and the slogan 'how long will they last' that hovered them constantly, ticking down.
3) She didn't. She took it when having her 'moment' with the even organizer.
Okay, Tom. Congratulations. You've got #3 correct. Please email Dennis your best mailing address and other details per the instructions above.
Note: In the book the gun is just a secret small revolver that appears at the last moment. It feels unearned and like a cheat in the book. Swiping it from Rocky in the movie is much more effective and reveals Gloria as wily. In the book she's just wanton.
Oh, that's fantastic! Thank you so much. It's been a stinker if a day and winning this means so much! Been out of work for nearly two years, had an interview for a job coaching writing students at a University they actually asked me to apply for.....then didn't give me, so my mood has been at rock bottom.
Given that I don't live in the USA and postage will undoubtedly cost you more, how about I donate whatever you spend on postage of my prize to a charity of your choice? Charity can be a UK based one if you like, or an American one?
Hell no. You deserve an even bigger prize now.
That's really kind of you to say. Thank you so much.
1. Weapons
2. The Dress/Nice Outfits
3. I don't remember
2. Gloria’s dress - to symbolise the riches-to-rags theme
Alice’s dress, rather
I have no idea about the questions, other than maybe she got the gun from the head of the dance contest. I do look forward to seeing the answers, though.
I just wanted to talk about it. I felt like the ominous beginning where the kid watches the horse being put down made the ending slightly cheaper, but it might be a taste thing. The heaviest part of the film is the allegory of the whole thing, where the contest is life and some people just get tired of going through it. I have friends who suffer depression that I'd never show this film to.
Oh, and #2 HAS to be that sound that gets them out of break and back to the dance floor.
Great comment. I got that from it too, the allegory of the whole thing.
Isnt the beginning really essential to the movie? Because its actually this backstory that gives the guy the belief that its ok to shoot her. She is broken and thus ok to be put out of her misery. Without the backstory the guy would just be some guy that suddenly agrees to shoot her. Which would be kinda weird and coming out of nowhere. Just my two cents.
Oh, totally. It IS essential, but it FEELS like it's only so that they can say "they shoot horses, don't they?" at the end. It COULD be because I was born in '76 and have had 45 years of gradually more contemporary movie-making to compare it to, but to me the "thumbnail" or foreshadowing intro was a little cheesy, especially when she dies in the field at the end. But I totally get why it was needed. It was also a way to show that he was raised on a farm, etc. They call him "cowboy" at the beginning of the dance, but having grown up in Texas, I wouldn't have known he was a "cowboy" without that intro scene and by them calling him "cowboy."
Very agreed. The opening is sappy, but it works better than the corresponding scene in the book, which cuts to a summarized flashback -- killing a plow horse -- at the moment Gloria dies.
Which is almost the F.Scott Fitzgerald trick I'll discuss soon. The cut-away to distant past is tricky. Fitz manages it perfectly. More soon.
Maybe they search the luggage to find things that they can exploit to make the competition more interesting, which leads to him ruining the dress at one point?
1. They're looking for anything that might affect their performance, like the guy with the medicine
2. The gun; there were cuts to gunshot sounds, the firing of a gun to start the event where they race in circles, the gun for shooting the horse in the flashbacks and the gun at the end that Gloria gives to Robert
3. She stole it from the host (it's the starter pistol) when she goes into the back room with him after she sees Robert and the actress together
Nic, correct on #2 & #3, but a little late. Next time.
1. To make sure they didn't have any restricted substances or objects that would help them get through the contest.
2. The gun comes up at the beginning of endurance events and then winds up being the ultimate end to Gloria's endurance. But I also noticed the disco ball as a constant overseer of their downfall and in the shower scene, the shower head above Alice as she has her breakdown very much mirrors the disco ball. It felt intentional and important.
3. She took it from the host when she seduced him in the office.
I'd say that (1) is also done to show the audience that Gloria didn't arrive with the gun. That she didn't have that plan the entire time but rather that the contest drove her to that point and she made moves to get what she needed to end it.
Good one
Kimber! Thank you, you got #2 correct! All the red herrings about opiates and what-all are procedural, but misdirection. The scene is to demonstrate that nothing contraband could be brought in. It's early set-up so we can later realize Gloria's motive for dorking Rocky.
Please send Dennis your mailing information. Congratulations.
I thought Gloria's actions were motivated by revenge at Roberts betrayal - as the couples journey is frequently likened to marriage. A "now we're even" moment made all the more harrowing by Gloria's repulsion for what she is doing ("don't touch me"). The following split and Alice's comments about "you should go back to her" all fit this. And as for Gloria's new partner - she's bearing her soul and he starts his own conversation between hers, not listening - not caring. It's heartbreaking. I do wonder how her story of the dog ended (I suspect it's to show mercy, giving the film three mercy killings to end suffering.) And by the time of the second rally Gloria is paired up with the sailor, and the starter pistol is fired here - which is why I assumed Gloria took the gun from the office after rocky called her a loser and revealed the competition clauses of payment?