Rii
Rear Admiral
I recently saw Atom Egoyan's 2009 film Chloe starring Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried. Overall I found it a surprisingly engaging film, marred somewhat by an ending that is emotionally satisfying but not intellectually so.
In thinking about the film, I keep coming back to the question: who is Chloe? The titular character's introductory monologue is, I think, crucial here:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywusLbhcmVU[/yt]
Two lines here in particular jump out at me: "It's as important to be able to describe what I'm doing as it is to do what I'm doing," and "If I do it just right [...] I can actually disappear."
I'm no expert on high-class escorts, but the first line seems, frankly, incongruous... except outside the immediate context of the film, wherein - in retrospect - its import is very clear. In any case it suggests her behaviour in the film is a function of careful, orchestrated, professional detachment. The second line could be read as purely observational, perhaps even professionally boastful; but to my ear it has a slightly mournful note: Chloe wants to disappear, it's easier to play a role than to play herself. And thereby that much of Chloe's behaviour in the film reflects the emergence of Chloe and her fears and desires.
At one point in the film Catherine asks 'when did this stop being about money?' Beyond the obvious interpretation, there seem to be pieces pointing respectively to 'before we even met' and 'never'. Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?
In thinking about the film, I keep coming back to the question: who is Chloe? The titular character's introductory monologue is, I think, crucial here:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywusLbhcmVU[/yt]
Two lines here in particular jump out at me: "It's as important to be able to describe what I'm doing as it is to do what I'm doing," and "If I do it just right [...] I can actually disappear."
I'm no expert on high-class escorts, but the first line seems, frankly, incongruous... except outside the immediate context of the film, wherein - in retrospect - its import is very clear. In any case it suggests her behaviour in the film is a function of careful, orchestrated, professional detachment. The second line could be read as purely observational, perhaps even professionally boastful; but to my ear it has a slightly mournful note: Chloe wants to disappear, it's easier to play a role than to play herself. And thereby that much of Chloe's behaviour in the film reflects the emergence of Chloe and her fears and desires.
At one point in the film Catherine asks 'when did this stop being about money?' Beyond the obvious interpretation, there seem to be pieces pointing respectively to 'before we even met' and 'never'. Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?
