tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745328752170382755.post5679368323307587147..comments2024-03-27T15:55:29.704+01:00Comments on European Film Awards Reviews: Nil by Mouth (1997)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745328752170382755.post-52187203847714911522010-01-26T14:47:45.868+01:002010-01-26T14:47:45.868+01:00Point taken, completely - I think we all know some...Point taken, completely - I think we all know someone in our lives who corresponds with Ray's emotional failings and insecurities which he (or she) cannot express in any way apart from violence and subjugation, be it physical or emotional. I can't help it - I still tend to feel sorry for such types because, as I feel the film does make clear, it is normally nurture, rather than nature. Or am I being a bleeding heart?James Drew and Colin Moorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00690364694979729337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745328752170382755.post-38577070622833456432010-01-26T13:31:12.638+01:002010-01-26T13:31:12.638+01:00I genuinely feel the conclusion was deliberately b...I genuinely feel the conclusion was deliberately bereft of irony, and that, for me, makes it extremely powerful. I still maintain that no, Ray isn't going to change, and probably doesn't want to.<br /><br />The film was allegedly "not based on my childhood". I personally don't believe that either.<br /><br />There is a saying in psychology 'you learn what you live'. If Ray's childhood was that bad, he'd have had two choices - hide from it by regressing into himself or a 'happy place' or use it as a role model. Once you live your life subjugating people with physical and emotional violence, or indeed, being brought up in any way society deems unfit, you'll probably stay like it. Of course, I'd love to believe that the Rays of this world could change and feel more than a fleeting moment of remorse, but life tends not to be like that.Colinhttp://www.picturenose.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745328752170382755.post-45517708787272505312010-01-20T16:43:03.022+01:002010-01-20T16:43:03.022+01:00Yes, I take your point Col, obviously - but what I...Yes, I take your point Col, obviously - but what I would still ask is whether you think that, in fact, that Oldman is ironically echoing your sentiments by showing us a 'happy family'.<br /><br />One can only imagine the childhood he must have suffered if he was inspired to make this film, but are we to believe that all wife-beaters, absolutely all of them, are beyond redemption, beyond hope? Doesn't the fact that Ray at least acknowledges, however obliquely, that he's the way he is because of his own Dad's neglect, indicate to you that he may be capable of change? What do you think?James Drew and Colin Moorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00690364694979729337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745328752170382755.post-30065472224955081982010-01-20T16:25:00.151+01:002010-01-20T16:25:00.151+01:00The problem I have with the ending is as follows:
...The problem I have with the ending is as follows:<br /><br />Kathy Burke's Valerie is a downtrodden, broken woman. The only reason she stays with Ray is because they have children together, because she needs him, and probably because she's too scared to leave him.<br /><br />She has dreams, passion, love and drive, all things Ray lacks - a situation he compensates for with verbal and physical abuse of Valerie and her brother.<br /><br />After the scene where Ray nearly kicks her to death in a drug-fuellrd rage, how can anyone see hope in a man whose only method of communication is violence?<br /><br />Valerie is taking him back for all the wrong reasons. She will never be happy, and the next time she 'speaks out of turn', or spends time with a male friend, or transgresses Ray's 'rules' in some other way, she will be savagely beaten.<br /><br />Don't be fooled by the scenes at the end where Valerie's in the bar, laughing and joking with Ray. Her next violent beating could be that very evening.Colinhttp://www.picturenose.comnoreply@blogger.com