Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
This is in response to Katherine’s post. While I do agree with you that the trick-or-treat scene from the movie could very well be what many consider the turning point of the movie, I think a very important part of that scene to mention is when Mateo’s true character really comes out. Once he asks the girls where they are from and about their family, they tell him that they had a younger brother (Frankie) that died, after which he begins to cry. He is saddened tremendously by the death of the late brother of these two sisters which he literally just got to know. I think this further adds to your idea that the trick-or-treat scene was a turning point in the movie because it clearly showed the true character of Mateo: a kindhearted person that wouldn’t wish harm upon anyone. As he even says later in the movie, he loves anything that lives, which was foreshadowed by him crying in the trick-or-treat scene. Later throughout the film, he is also shown to have grown a really great relationship with the girls and gotten very friendly with them, playing games with them and also (possibly) painting. Also, before I wrap this up, an additional note. I don’t believe he had any romantic interest in Sarah, but rather he just liked having people that cared about him around. This is evident by how he clearly enjoyed having a snowball fight with Johnny later in the movie. Mateo even says to Johnny, when Johnny is on the brink of losing his mind that (as I said before), he simply loves everything that lives. Either way, Mateo is my personal favorite character in the movie and I couldn’t agree more with you about the trick-or-treat scene being the turning point in the movie. It introduced this kind hearted individual that adds so much to the story and changes the Sullivan family for the better by the end of this movie.
I completely agree with what Chaz said about the introduction to this movie. The beginning of the movie immediately shows that the family is struggling emotionally due to the death of Frankie, and it is shown by the mistake of Johnny saying they had 3 kids at the time instead of just 2, along with the facial expressions of the entire Sullivan family. Right after the border scene, the director of the movie chose to make a very clear contrast between the façade that New York put up at the time (bright lights, all fun and games, etc.) with the grim reality of what the Sullivan family will have to live through. As Chaz said, they were set up inside of a building filled with what many would consider outcasts. For example, the cashier in the store which Johnny went to to get the plug for their AC mentioned said that the building in which Johnny lived in was the “druggie building” and that he wouldn’t give him a plug for a couple of cents less. Throughout this entire movie, addressing what Chaz pointed out as being the theme, the family goes through many struggles, but do not make it out of said struggles by themselves. They do it with the help of Mateo and other individuals as well. This goes to show that the movie does cover the theme of learning to let go of the past (as the movie ends off on this note), but it also mentions that through struggle and letting go, we all need some form of help from others, and that without said help and companionship, we would have a much harder time letting go of our past and living in the present. And the movie makes this clear later on, evident by the fact that as the Sullivan family makes more friends and relationships with others throughout the movie, their lives ultimately get better and they begin to see live in a more positive manner (especially when it comes to what Mateo showed them about life).
The acting in general was exceptional. One of my favorite parts of this movie was when Johnny was on the verge of losing his mind while talking to Mateo. While interrogating Mateo about why he was so close to his family (which by itself was exceptional acting, showing that Johnny was succumbing to the thoughts of his dead son and stress over his soon to come child), Djimon Hounsou gave an incredible performance, showing off how frustrated Mateo was about his life slowly coming to an end, ultimately getting cut short because of a blood transfusion from the hospital. His response to Johnny was truly saddening and really put into perspective how Mateo was coming to terms with his mortality. Mateo says to Johnny, “No. I’m in love with you. And I’m in love with your beautiful woman. And I’m in love with your kids. And I’m even in love with your unborn child. I’m even in love with your anger! I’m in love with anything that lives!” The way Hounsou acted Mateo’s character in this scene was heartbreaking. It showed how sad and also angry he was. This one scene showed how much Mateo appreciated whatever life he had left and whatever it had to offer, going so far as to even say that he was in love with a negative emotion from Johnny. What added to this performance by Hounsou was how he slowly got louder and louder as the scene went on, showing an angry realization towards an unappreciative Johnny: a person who has a family that is there by his side. And even though Johnny lost a child, the family he had was still with him keeping him company, while Mateo didn’t have anyone and was counting the amount of days he had remaining to live. That’s why I was amazed by Hounsou’s performance of Mateo. Through his amazing acting, we were able to see into the mind of a somewhat silent character through words and actions that all had huge impacts on the viewer.
(339 words)I didn’t know about that last biblical allusion with Corrigan balding and beginning to have the same bald spot that other saints in stained glass or paintings have. As you said, Corrigan really is such a sacrificial figure, or a martyr. He helps so many people just for the sake of helping them, and eventually ends up dying helping someone (Jazzlyn). He doesn’t even get rewarded for helping them, instead he gets belittled, beaten, or even sometimes nothing, which is the best reward he could get. The only thing he gets out of doing what he does is making people’s lives better. I mentioned this in my post too, that despite not even having much he gives whatever he can just to help others. I completely agree with you that the author made the story so that Corrigan was the “forgotten saint”. Overall, I really liked that you pointed out bald spot Corrigan began to form and how it was similar to that of other saints, and how it all ties up to him being the “forgotten saint”. Had it not been for this post, I wouldn’t have noticed this important detail and allusion.
I completely agree with you that Corrigan is the most interesting character in this entire book. As you pointed out too, Corrigan is an extremely selfless person, willing to put his health and wellbeing in danger just to help others out (as he does throughout the book). I too wish that he was a real person. He just seems like a person you could tell all your troubles to and he’d comfort you. After I read the entire book, I thought to myself “he’s the very epitome of what being wholesome is”. On what you said regarding Corrigan and Adelita, I wish Corrigan didn’t die. It would’ve been really interesting to see whether he would’ve chosen Adelita or his faith. Just to wrap up this response, if he didn’t die, I would’ve been really happy if Corrigan choose Adelita over the Order because even if he chose to go for love and he stopped being with the Order, I’m certain he still would’ve been just as nice, if not nicer given that Adelita was someone who made him happy. But that was just my hope, since his story is overall incredibly tragic.
I completely agree with you. I liked seeing the relationship between Thomas and Paul grow throughout the movie. Paul helped Thomas by providing him a home and giving him good practical/life advice, while Thomas inspired and uplifted Paul. When thinking about other bonds and circumstances, I think that all three main characters were connected because of their circumstances. Regarding the circumstances all characters had, Auggie and Paul helped Thomas push through his fear and tell Cyrus he is his son. Thomas and Paul help Auggie by giving the $5000 from Thomas when his cigars got ruined by the spill Thomas caused, which Auggie gave to Ruby to help Felicity. Lastly, Thomas inspires Paul and builds him back up as a person, while Auggie helps Paul at the end of the movie by providing him with the story he needs to give to the NY Times. All three characters were connected and helped each other grow/fix their problems.
I think the way you connected the movie into the way our lives function as New Yorkers was a really solid comparison. In all, we New Yorkers have an individualistic view when it comes to others. There are too many people in NYC for us to notice or care about all of them. A solid example of this is when I would go to school (speaking from a New Yorker’s POV), the ride never felt like I was with others. The people just blended in with the train, and it felt like it was just me riding it 5 days a week to go to school. Thinking about it now, however, it’s crazy that maybe I rode the train with someone who I didn’t know back then and know now, or possibly a professor I have yet to take a class with, etc. We New Yorkers may be more connected than we consciously realize, just like how Thomas and Ruby were connected, despite never physically meeting.
