Wednesday, January 12, 2005

CHICK FLICKS

Lisa claims that chick flicks are all about the main character's flaws, and guy flicks are about external problems. In a chick flick, the main character creates his or her own problems, and in a guy flick, someone else does.

It's an interesting theory. So, for example, in Sideways, the plot comes about from the main character being a whiny loser (chick flick) who's hung up on his ex-wife, while in Die Hard, the plot occurs because terrorists have taken over the Fox Building. In Casablanca, Rick got Ilsa because the war has separated her from Victor Laszlo; he lost her because she found him again; and he's got her again because he's got the two letters of transit. Then he has to send her away again because the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

See? Guy flick.

Which brought up something I'd noticed about Casablanca. Rick does not seem too broken up over sending Ilsa away. Is it possible that he got what he wanted from her when she came to him that night? He was hurt because she dumped him, but she sleeps with him (I'm convinced, from hints in the plot). That makes him feel better. He doesn't really want her around because she loves Victor, and he doesn't want a girl who can love two guys, i.e. a girl who can love someone in addition to him. So he sends her away again (this time he gets to dump her) and goes off to shoot Germans with Louis.

It's a somewhat cynical view of Rick, but then, he's that kind of guy.

3:04 PM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Back to Complications Ensue main blog page.