Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

mismatched, disintegrating marriage is devastatingly potent, fabulously acted by
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Powerful stuff, and great chemistry together
(remember them in Titanic?). Despite the largely bright and sunny exteriors in middleclass
suburbia, the theme is actually quite dark. The problem I had with the film was the
almost total neglect of the two children Frank & April had in their home. Except for one
small scene and previously one tiny scene, the kids do not play an important factor it
seems both to the filmmakers and the of course to the characters (parents). It’s all about
poor Frank and April! Yet I would think the kids would be important, if only as a factor
of consideration for the couple to seriously discuss: Should we make the most of it to
keep the family intact, for the kids’ sake? Or a scene where the parents awkwardly ask
the kids that if either mommy or daddy has to leave, which one would the kids prefer to
stay with?
At any rate, it is not a perfect script, not perfectly thought out with the inclusion
of other important factors. The general social commentary of that period seems off based,
too myopic, not based on reality. But, once again, the focus on the failed marriage due to
hopelessness is heavy, man! Of course I still object to the ending regarding April (I won’t
reveal it here in case the reader hasn’t seen the movie yet). I mean there are always
alternatives. Acting from the belief of hopelessness is not a very help, constructive root
assumption! It depends on one’s character inside. If April had a stronger character
perhaps, she would at some stage say, “Screw you! If you don’t want to go as you
promised before you would, then I’m packing my bags and going to Paris by myself. Au
Revoir!” Both April and Frank were deeply flawed characters. His was that he did not
have the courage & fortitude to take a necessary step in the progression of his life and in
the better development of his marriage. So I am not too happy with the story and faulty
root assumptions and disregard of obvious alternatives but, then again, I’m not the writer!
If you extrapolate from the nature of the characters and developed new scenes, then I’m
sure John would have been even further brutally direct towards April: “Show a little more
guts, lady! It’s hopeless for me but maybe not for you. Leave the bum! Don’t be like
me—don’t do anything stupid!” Once again I have to praise Michael Shannon for his
role as the real estate woman’s (Helen Givings played by Kathy Bates) mentally or
emotionally disturbed son, John. Fantastic character. Maybe, in the spirit of John
Givings, I should review all my movies and scores in his big paper with deadly honesty
and no mincing of words! I do that here and there if there’s a movie or score I detest (like
Starship Troopers 2) but being a Libra rising type of guy with a Cancer Sun, and not a
Mars conjunct Mercury in Virgo or Scorpio type, I want to be generally nice and evenkeeled!
As for John Givings, he was “honest” but terrifyingly so. Maybe that works
sometimes but it would alienate a lot of friends and acquaintances. Look at Herrmann’s
sharp words towards others and how that practice lost him a lot of friends! My wife says
regarding the Tarot that the two dictums are not to be too merciful but also not be too
severe (John Givings character). The Middle Way may be consistently the best approach
in most (but not all) cases.
So if you have not seen this movie, go to Big Lots and buy it for only three bucks!
I definitely recommend it. And do not forget to watch the movie the second time on the
dvd with the commentary on. It is quite illuminating and engrossing to hear. As for the
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