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The One I Love

12/10/2014

17 Comments

 

2.39
C+

Because she's Elisabeth Moss, there's always so much going on behind her eyes. - Jon
This one had me locked into it and intrigued from the start. - Riley
I'd rather a movie paint itself into a corner than not paint at all. - Shane
When I narrowed down my pick to The  One I Love or The Double, I did not know both were going to be about doppelgangers.  Between these two and Enemy, three examples is enough to declare 2014 the year of doppelgangers.  I can't speak to what the other two movies have on their minds thematically, but if they're anything like The One I Love, or every other doppelganger movie, they'll have something to do with best selves and insecurity.

I knew basically nothing about this film going in.  Something about a troubled marriage.  That's always a great way to watch a movie, and that was the case here.  The twist of doppelgangers as a way into exploring a failing relationship is solid.  I like how it explores different masks and personas partners try on.  The fake-Ethan and fake-Sophie are portrayed as real-Sophie's and real-Ethan's ideal version of their spouses.  She cooks him his favorite foods and has basically no needs of her own, and he knows what she wants before she has to say anything.  What that has to say about real-Sophie and real-Ethan isn't flattering, but it feels real.  They were probably both  very much like their fake versions at one point, but drifted away from it as their relationship progressed.  I'm interested in what our married members have to say about this movie.

I was reminded a lot of Gone Girl with The One I Love.  Gone Girl's about a lot, but if you drill all the way down to its dark center, I'd say it's about the many different versions of one person.  In the central relationship, the best version is the one you use to find a mate, but after finding that mate, the best version slowly changes into something that requires less effort.  That film's version of marriage assumes that partners fall in love with the best version of a person, and are lukewarm, if not disgusted, with the low-effort one.  The One I Love isn't as cynical, but it's playing in the same ballpark.  There's the partner in your head, and there's the partner in front of you.  If those two images can't be reconciled, the relationship is headed for trouble and/or murderous rage.

This is the first film credit for the writer and the director.  Both are mostly strong in their debuts.  This is a good basic idea, and I like how what's happening isn't overly explained.  I love how every conversation has so much subtext.  The Sopranos and Deadwood were always great at this, such that so many lines are about the opposite of what the character is saying.  However, the script could have dug a little deeper into the fake-versions, as their traits brush up against stereotypes.  The fake-Ethan is all about charm and self-improvement, while fake-Sophie devotes her life to her husband.  With weaker actors, this could've felt hackneyed and boring, but with director Charlie McDowell guiding his cast, I think it works.  I don't think the camerawork is that impressive, but as an actor's director, McDowell's off to a good start. 

Mark Duplass and Elisabeth Olsen are each asked to play two different characters apiece, and their performances make the movie.  The two Ethan's pathetic poker battle may as well have been two different actors, as there's such a gap in the way they carry themselves.  Differences between the two Sophie's are more subtle, but still clear.  Fake-Sophie tries to put out an accommodating front, but because she's Elisabeth Moss, there's always so much going on behind her eyes.  When she gets called out by real-Ethan, I love the gradual melting of her smile into something much more serious.

In the hail of bullets, I want to call out the score as being bad for anything else, but perfect for the movie.  It's unnerving and unpredictable with all its random noises, ideally sculpted to a movie where what's happening next is unclear.  The ending is predictable, as every doppelganger movie or scene in general has to have one where a character can't tell the difference, picks one, and then regrets that pick later.  The fake versions' unwillingness to engage with questions about what's going on is enraging, such that I began to doubt the humanity of the real versions.  Real people would want to know what the fuck is happening before doing anything else.  I'm overall positive, but this review didn't come naturally and was difficult to write.  I liked The One I Love, but I'm not overly excited about it, and it's themes have been done better, in every way, by other movies.  The definition of a C+.

17 Comments
Drew
12/10/2014 09:38:56 am

Interesting film choice, Jon.

I am unsure what to really say here. This was a bit of mindfuck. The fake Ethan falls in love with the real Sophie but she stays with him at the end, which completely fools the real Ethan. Eh, ok.

Elisabeth Moss is a tremendous actress so I expected her to do well and she did not disappoint. She was able to keep both characters in line and succeeded in that.

Mark Duplass, on the other hand, is an actor from whom I never expect much. He plays Pete in the "The League" and is usually funny. He does well that Pete often reminds me of Shane but outside of that role, it is difficult for me to really see him as anything else. With such low expectations, it was difficult for him to fail and he did not. Like Jon, his ability to play both characters well in the poker scene was sensational. Viewers can clearly tell the difference and that is a great testament to his ability. Outside of that scene, he was average.

The film itself was predictable. Real Ethan gets jealous and tries to get to the bottom of it. Eh, big deal. The premise of it is pretty interesting and the director's approach is unique but his execution, average.

I was neither "wow-ed" nor bored by the film. It was not exactly funny but just an average film with a mediocre plot. Overall, I liked the acting but the story was just too blah.

Grade: C

Reply
Sean
12/15/2014 05:19:21 am

I'm sure Shane will appreciate that someone who gives you low expectations reminds you of him.

Reply
Shane
12/15/2014 04:22:52 pm

I need to watch The League to find out if I'm offended or not. But in general, I prefer to give people low expectations. #Haters

Bryan
12/10/2014 02:35:55 pm

I still have no idea what to make of this movie. Let's get some technicalities out of the way - I didn't notice the score. I thought both the leads were good enough. Duplass plays the same guy in every film, I can't say I'm a fan. However, he's not offputting. Elisabeth Moss is stuck as Peggy from Mad Men for me and I thought this role was modern day carryover of the same actors.

It took about 3/4 of one trip into the Guest House before I figured out the premise. I really wanted to know how it was happening, but the director never really played that hand. I'm ok with that, but he should have stuck with it. There was the computer scene where Ethan finds the voices and the worst scene where the doppelganger hits the imaginary wall, but those two scenes fit in with nothing else. They were a waste and hurt the movie. The mystery should have been preserved.

When Ethan picks the girl to leave with at the end, did he really think it was his wife, what a buffoon, ah back to the role Duplass always plays.

A couple of complements above for the poker scene, but I think anyone in this club can play buffoon self and superior self in the same way.

I was curious as to what was going on, but not anxious about it. Pretty "meh" on this one. C

Reply
Jon
12/21/2014 09:52:06 am

Agree that everything attempting to explain what was happening was unnecessary. Too many movies sacrifice characterization for plot. The central relationship was more interesting.

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Sean
12/15/2014 06:02:39 am

This one had me locked into it and intrigued from the start. Plenty of flaws aside I was anxious to keep watching and learn more. Bonus points for that.

Major flaws I had was that so much seemed contradictory to me. How are the others always properly in the house opposite the correct real spouse and then swap or disappear in the moment real Ethan dups real Sophie into having sex with him. Ok these are somehow supernatural others or alien pod people or something. But if that's the case why is fake Ethan calling real Ethan's friends and family they must not be supernatural because he wouldn't need to learn this crap. Wait a minute, where'd the crazy force-field from Cabin in the Woods come from and where's the merman to devour Fake Ethan while he's down.

Holes so many holes!!!

Elizabeth Moss future mediocrity nominee!!!!!

Great comment by Kissel here as it is obviously what the movie is about and what I feel like the writer is saying about relationships, "I like how it explores different masks and personas partners try on. The fake-Ethan and fake-Sophie are portrayed as real-Sophie's and real-Ethan's ideal version of their spouses. She cooks him his favorite foods and has basically no needs of her own, and he knows what she wants before she has to say anything. What that has to say about real-Sophie and real-Ethan isn't flattering, but it feels real. They were probably both very much like their fake versions at one point, but drifted away from it as their relationship progressed. I'm interested in what our married members have to say about this movie."

As I believe the longest married member of the group 9/16/06, I'll tackle this paragraph. I don't necessarily think real Ethan and real Sopie or real couples for that matter drift away from the ideal versions as much as the early versions of relationships feature a combination of both blinders being put on to only see what you want to see and as Jalen Rose would say on the first date you aren't going you're sending "your representative" and early on you hide the less favorable parts of you. Also our memories tend to go one way or the other, ignore the boring tedium and remember all the highlights Sportscenter style, or if there's a major fuck up and say Ethan cheats on Sophie she's going to see that on repeat Faces of Death style before she gets the fun highlights. This is why real Ethan wants to investigate and doesn’t embrace fake Sophie and why real Sophie wants to experience the weekend. Real Ethan knows life isn’t about alley-oop dunks and behind the back passes, it’s about screening the screener and help defense and all the “boring” shit that doesn’t get played. He has ideal Sophie in front of him because he recognizes that at any given time they could experience another moment to add to the Sportscenter catalog and doesn’t want to just live with his old highlight tape. Real Sophie needs the highlights because she hasn’t been able to get through the end of Faces of Death (real Ethan hasn’t given a satisfactory answer as to why he cheated) in order to make it to Sportscenter.

Quick note on the most real scene in the movie, early in therapy when they’re describing the anniversary date when they jump in the pool hoping the owner chase them out of there again and it doesn’t happen and is a huge letdown. Ethan throws out the ‘Forgive me for trying to be romantic’ or something along those lines. THAT SHIT HAPPENS. It’s real. Valentine’s Day 2010 I packed both our bags and planned a secret trip to Nashville to see a Jim Brickman concert (Mindy’s favorite) and have a 5 course meal at a fancy restaurant that served Top Chef style fine-dining cuisine. We hated the food and it was a huge bummer for me that it wasn’t perfect and I was pissed but I’m sure Mindy would still tell you I was shocked that I pulled off the surprise weekend getaway so it’s probably on her Sportscenter.

Sidebar to the sidebar: If you want some classy dinner music, especially Christmas, just download a shitload of Jim Brickman.

That’s probably long enough. Holes galore say C or lower but the acting and how engaged I was I’ll say B-.

Reply
Bryan
12/15/2014 07:55:05 am

The lowest graded, most engaging movie we've seen thus far.

Reply
Phil
12/15/2014 08:21:23 am

1) Endings can completely fuck a movie up (Looking at you The Fisher King)
2) Still waiting on grades, but I have a feeling this one will have a higher GPA than another engaging movie we all were pretty meh on, The Game.

Phil
12/15/2014 06:44:29 am

I started this movie at 11:30 last night thinking I’d get about halfway through and go to bed. Nope. The One I Love completely hooked me. I was all in, formulating my own theories and trying to read into the themes way more than one person should. And then Act 3 happened. The One I Love had potential. Crazy, fantastically good potential. This is what infuriates me so much about it.

I think I’ll begin with talking about expectations. 45 minutes in, I thought I knew where the movie was eventually headed. I was thinking we were going to wind up with a pretty clever look at marriage with regards to our partner versus our ideal partner. Then the doppleganger date night happened. I was annoyed by this turn, but by this point, I was totally sucked in and I was going to see where it ended. All the supernatural stuff wound up really turning me off, and of course we had to do the decision thing at the end (more on that later). So, in the end, we can file this under “good movies with bad endings.” The ending undercuts some powerful themes about a failing marriage and ultimately, who controls many relationships.

I thought the opening was a great scene. Ethan and Sophie are clearly aware of how bad things have gotten. They’ve gotten so bad they literally try to hit the reset button by recreating one of their happiest memories. The homeowner not showing up indicates what we already know: there are no reset buttons in life. They are trying so desperately to start over with each other, and that’s exactly the chance they get when they go to the guest house.

In the guest house, Sophie finds her ideal Ethan and vice versa. I think Kissel is right that both were probably very similar to their ideals when the relationship started, and I think this is true of any relationship. Early on, we can’t help but tailor our personalities to this person we are infatuated with. Eventually, those walls have to come down, and we become our true selves. The part I found very interesting here was how Ethan and Sophie reacted to the situation once they gathered what was going on. Sophie was happy to be with fake Ethan, but Ethan would have none of it. I think this could be occurring for two reasons. The first could just be that Ethan was the one who started this tailspin by cheating, and he was still trying to fix it while Sophie was fine with moving on. The second reason is that it could be a commentary on men & women in general. Ethan didn’t want or need perfect; he needed Sophie. Sophie was very happy moving on with a “better version” of Ethan. So what we could be seeing here is a woman’s need to mold a man into her image of a man, a theme that was more overtly explored in “Don Jon.”

There are a lot of times where this actually ends up working. I know I’m the exception here, but more often than not, if the man and woman in a relation are not from the same area of the country and they have to choose to live near one of the families, they tend to end up near the woman’s family. Pretty much all décor in a house is chosen by the woman. Generally, it’s the woman who begins the discussion for settling down and having children. Men are constantly being led by women into life-changing decisions, whether they know it or not. From simple surface decisions like décor to major decisions like where to live and whether or not to have kids, it tends to be in the woman’s control.

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Phil
12/15/2014 06:45:09 am

And that brings us to the ending. After fake Ethan quite literally blows his brains out, the final decision on which Sophie is the real Sophie is framed to be Ethan’s decision. I thought that final decision was clearly made by the real Sophie. Ethan has assumed that the real Sophie was moved by his words and will be ready to go with him, but he was dead wrong. Sophie could have used the same tactics as the fake Sophie to help sway Ethan to her side, but that wasn’t going to happen. She had made her decision, and she forced Ethan’s hand. She had chosen to be stuck on the farm and find a new partner with a new life. I don’t think she did this to stay with the now very dead and very fake Ethan. She was no longer even in love with the “idea of Ethan” by this point. I think she wanted out, and she let Ethan think that it was an easy decision for him.

A lot of scenes like the one above could not have been pulled off without some great acting. Elisabeth Moss was absolutely fantastic, floating from scene to scene pulling off those subtle gestures and looks that really made you buy into everything going on here. Mark Duplass has never been in my pantheon of great actors, but I thought he did a great job as well. Kissel is correct about how much of the conversation here had so much subtext. Pulling off those small looks is an art form, and these two were superb.

So there are some great themes and great acting going on here, but ultimately, the fact that there really were doppelgangers just took me out of the end. 60 minutes in, I was trying to decide between an A and A+. By the end, I wasn’t quite there anymore.

+ Powerful themes about marriage
+ Kept me absolutely locked in for the entire 90 minutes
+ Amazing job by Moss
+ Many of the interactions subtext was great
- Ending undermines what was built up beforehand

Grade: B

Reply
Sean
12/15/2014 06:55:50 am

Spot on with real/fake Sophie making the choice for Ethan and Moss' subtleties made the scene. Real Sophie keeps her head down and begins to mourn fake Ethan where Fake Sophie sees her chance and in the moment becomes real Sophie.

Reply
Shane
12/15/2014 04:41:18 pm

There are some obvious plot flaws at work, but I think this movie stays -just- interesting enough with a couple of strong performances to get above that C+ threshold to put it on the positive side of the ledger.

The story kept me engaged. I had no idea what I was about to watch, but I wouldn’t have predicted a movie about doppelgängers. I really thought once the doppelgängers were introduced that we’d have this whimsical romance and the two would fall in love by learning who they could be. I’m glad that wasn’t the case as this was waaayyyy more interesting. But the end really does kill a lot of the good will. Especially because we have no idea what would motivate a therapist to do such a thing. I can appreciate the effort, however. I’d rather a movie paint itself into a corner rather than not paint at all.

Duplass and Moss were pretty good for the most part. Although I HATED their scene in the therapist’s office. I thought that scene was done poorly enough to knock down this movie. But they saved it with their performances throughout. In particular, Moss’s smiling frown when confronted about being a fake was fantastic. Glad to see that we are 3 movies in and we already have 2 excellent lead women's roles.

As far as anything else, I didn't find the rest of it to be that memorable. Pretty standard shots. I can’t remember the score at all. I do have one beef: This movie as so fucking dark picture wise that I had to turn my TV picture brightness all the way up. I really hate that.

Since we can talk about themes, I thought the discussions they were having as husband and wife were pretty good. If those conversations haven’t happened in your relationship (losing the spark, etc), then you at least know someone who it has happened to. Relationships are hard, and that is fine by me.

Also, I was just reading in a book the other night about therapists. There are studies out there that suggest for normal problems (non severe mental illness), non-trained therapists are just as effective as trained therapists in helping people out. The book suggests that some people are just naturally intuitive and that’s what makes them a good therapist, not their educational training. Intuition and practice is it. This flies in the face of out liberal education. Any thoughts? Are therapists worth the paper degree? Would you rather talk to an intuitive psychic or a clinically trained pile of rocks?

In the end, it was an enjoyable movie that I would recommend as a great waste of time.

Reply
Phil
12/16/2014 12:22:49 am

Trying to read between the lines, but does that put your grade at a B-?

Good call on the therapist's motivations. We never find him again as he's packed up shop and left. Somewhat reminscent of "The Game," except there we at least figure out the motivation in the end.

Interesting point on therapists. I think the easy answer to your question is "I'll take whoever helps me the most, degree or not." Granted, this is coming from someone who has never been to a therapist and has no forseeable therapy visits in the future.

Reply
Sean
12/16/2014 02:58:26 am

I've always had general disdain for therapists as it relates to the talk about my problems types. In those cases it always seemed to me talk about your problems openly with your spouse/parent/close friends, etc always seemed to be the logical way to work. As it relates to the study from your book, I think it has more to do with communicating your problem in general than the intuition of the therapist/nontherapist.

Reply
Shane
12/16/2014 04:58:40 am

I guess I see intuition as a part of communication skills. Listening to more than just words.

I think therapy can be incredibly helpful. Some people have no idea even how to communicate with someone. The point of therapy is to learn how to develop a relationship with someone. That relationship has proper boundaries and whatnot and you can learn to trust. So many people out there have fucked up parents who taught them how to interact. It takes a new model to teach someone not to do it like that.

Blair
2/4/2015 02:10:48 pm

C-

Alright, y'all...this is waaay overdue. So, I was pumped to watch this film because of Peggy Olson. However, about 10 minutes in, I knew the dude that she slept with was not her husband and so there must be some weird thing with the guest house where whoever went in saw the version of their spouse they wish they had. So, on that end, I thought the film was predictable - the fact that the husband ended up with the "fake" woman, of course.

However, there are several things that just don't make any sense - why would the psychologist suggest this place? What's the game?
What WERE these better versions? People? Machines? That made no sense and I thought about it for SEVERAL days after watching the film. Every now and then (this was pre-Christmas) I still am creeped out by this film That's why it gets in the C range. But, for quality, blah. The acting was done well, especially since they played two characters and it was basically just the two actors the entire movie. The music was good, too, creepy when necessary.

But, overall, I left thinking...WTF!

Reply
Blair
2/4/2015 02:14:25 pm

also...I've been drinking...

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