Friday, 29-Mar-24, 5:43 AM
The Baker Boy - for fans of Simon Baker
 
Home PageRegistrationLogin
Welcome, Guest · RSS
[ New messages · Members · Forum rules · Search · RSS ]
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1
Forum » Film Appearances » Films » Book of Love
Book of Love
jazz Date: Friday, 07-Jan-11, 6:36 PM | Message # 1
Surfie
 
Messages: 88
Status: Offline
Although its not what you might call easy viewing, Book of Love is one of my favourite Simon films. Simon can always make me cry, but in this film I also wanted to give him a great big comforting hug.

I was so impressed with Simon’s performance, particularly considering he filmed it during the break between seasons 2 and 3 of The Guardian. David is an affable, honest, ordinary man approaching middle age and becoming a bit dull, and he bears no resemblance to the boyish, charismatic Nick Fallin.

There is a rawness to the film and I think it deals with its subject matter intelligently and with great perception. For me the storyline was rather weak and was just used as a means to create a highly-charged emotional situation. And this to me seems the main focus of the film - to explore the raw emotion that is exposed when your world is turned upside down by the betrayal of someone you trust. It is the scenes following David's discovery of his wife's betrayal that are riveting and stay with you long after the film has finished. And I think these lasting impressions are due to a heart-rending performance by Simon.

I know some people have found David’s behaviour unrealistic and difficult to believe, but I don’t agree with that view. I think we see a fake cheerfulness, and an attempt to behave as if everything is fine, trying to convince himself that he can suppress his hurt and anger and everything can return to normal. Of course, we can see that its not OK and that he’s not behaving normally or rationally, but I think when someone’s world is rocked they often behave irrationally, although they don’t necessarily realise it at the time – that’s one of the effects of stress.

One of my favourite moments of the film is David's reaction to the students when they're concerned about him, immediately followed by that breathtaking scene where he breaks down in the washroom.

And to balance things out, a couple of lighter moments - the look on his face when the girls take his photo. And when he first wakes up in the garden and has a moment of total confusion.

 
JudeBlue Date: Wednesday, 02-Mar-11, 1:27 PM | Message # 2
Cobber
 
Messages: 112
Status: Offline
I took quite a leap of faith when I ordered this film because the IMDb comments weren't very favourable
and the DVD cost £22 because it was a Dutch import.

Simon is utterly fantastic. I do find some of the plot unbelievable though.

One of the first scenes of the film is Dave and Elaine on the porch. He is working but interrupts that
in order to kiss her - and they pass an ice cube from mouth to mouth - not the act of a couple whose
sexual relationship has gone off the boil IMO. If Elaine is supposed to drool over a young boy just minutes
later in the film I think that Dave should've given her a quick peck and then carried on with his work. The
viewer might then understand why his wife appears frustrated.

The only sign of discord in their relationship appears when he corrects her grammar - other than that they
seem very happy. So why does she so easily allow herself to be jumped by Chet?

The classroom scenes are excellent. When Heather asks him if his wife is pretty and the photo scene - which made me laugh out loud. We see that Dave has daily temptation but easily resists - something his wife can't do.

The day after Elaine tells him Dave is late for school and has forgotten the relevant books. The few seconds where he swears and then looks at the class are magic, as is the terribly sad scene in the loo.

The scene where Chet visits Dave in school is another master class by Simon but again I found the story unbelievable - Dave was taken by surprise. If he had known Chet was coming perhaps he would've planned to still invite him on the Disney trip - to make Elaine uncomfortable - to try to get his own back on Chet - but he didn't have any time to plan and we are to believe that he went from "You ****** my wife" to "Let's all go to Disney" in about 4 minutes??

My very favourite scene is when Dave has been stabbed. The pipsqeak boy has told him that his wife doesn't want him any more and she didn't disagree. The pipsqueak has stabbed him (accidentally really) and his wife is just gawping at him. GAWPING. Simon portrays Dave's complete humiliation brilliantly. Oscar standard I reckon.

This could have been a brilliant film. IMO they should've left out references to Cambodia, left out the lesbian baby and provided more reasons why Elaine behaved as she did.

I mean. Look at the scenes with Gregory Smith and Simon. What sane woman wouldn't choose Simon?

Come on!!

biggrin

 
JudeBlue Date: Thursday, 03-Mar-11, 8:38 AM | Message # 3
Cobber
 
Messages: 112
Status: Offline
I meant to say - what are those pills David takes?

At the beginning of the film - in the bathroom - I assumed they were vitamins - it just looked like his
bathroom routine. But after crying in the loo he took out what was now clearly a prescription bottle and
popped a pill or two. Why would that be in the film if it didn't mean something?

Is it supposed to help explain David's decision to quit teaching? That he really wasn't as happy in that
job as he outwardly seemed?

It's unexplained - along with those odd fish tank shots!

biggrin

 
Fran Date: Thursday, 03-Mar-11, 1:36 PM | Message # 4
Fair Dinkum
 
Messages: 4127
Status: Offline
Hey Jude (sorry, couldn't resist that). I'm so glad you mentioned Simon's portrayal of Dave's humiliation which as you say was absolutely brilliant. And thinking about it, I don't think we've seen any of Simon's other characters express those sort of emotions. Although in The Guardian we see Nick humiliated by Burton quite a lot, its played completely differently - like a little boy awaiting his punishment.

I've thought quite a lot about David & Elaine's relationship before the Chet thing. It seems to me that in all those 'intimate' scenes it is Elaine that is pro-active. David responds but he never initiates affection or physical contact. And I think that in itself can be pretty frustrating.

Personally, I like the fact that David became a father, because I desperately wanted him to find some level of happiness, but think that a 'happy ever after' relationship would have been too glib. David really wanted to be a father and I think the fact that he was able to have 2 children and play a central role in their lives must have brought him some contentment.

My take on the pills is that it was meant to help show that David was becoming a bit of a fuddy-duddy - like his expanding waistline and his baggy underpants, bless him. surprised

 
JudeBlue Date: Thursday, 03-Mar-11, 4:32 PM | Message # 5
Cobber
 
Messages: 112
Status: Offline
I like Hey Jude, feel free to use it any time!

Oh my, yes those pants. Shockers, LOL.

 
Forum » Film Appearances » Films » Book of Love
  • Page 1 of 1
  • 1
Search:

Free web hostinguCoz