Likewise, I just saw the screening, and the movie was a lot more intense and put together than I thought it would be. I couldn't help but watch with a critical eye, so I have a lot of questions about the plot, structure, and continuity of the film.
For me at least, the scenes didn't seem to flow together as much as I would have liked them to. Some of the discontinuity was easily justified by imperfect scenes that Pollard wanted to cut out for his own sake, but the back and forth between romantic comedy to mysterious thriller left me with a slight feeling of lack of decision on Pollard's part.
Later, Pollard explained that this sharp contrast was intentional, and it was in an effort to display how life is not always a romance or always a suspense. A simple event like talking to someone you have feelings for could turn your day around. After hearing that, it made me appreciate the effects much more, but I still felt a little built up in multiple areas with a completely different climax. The mysterious notes David Dailey continually received seemed unimportant in the beginning, nothing more than a distraction, but the ending was based on the solving of the puzzle behind it and the identity of the sender. I felt like David and Melody were more amused with the puzzle than anxious to solve it.
Being as anal retentive as I am, I noticed a lot of little things like how the ice cream they were eating was half eaten in some scenes and then completely untouched later. Or, how the traffic lights didn't match the flow of traffic. And, personally, the generic music in random scenes made it less attractive to me because I tend to look for original, underplayed music.
What I did enjoy about the film was the incorporation of Christian Kane's musical talents. I, being the estrogen filled female that I am, loved all the sappy things he does for Melody, but I don't like how Melody immediately doesn't trust him without cluing in the audience as to why. I understand his obsession and deception later on fills us in, but the secretary lady also stalking Melody seemed as though Sean's father was being nosy, not Sean. Personally, I was just left with an impression that Melody was just indecisive and picky.
Also, David's rejection of his wife's sexual adventure was a refreshing addition, but his reaction to Melody's arrival seemed way too hostile. I expected him to be relieved to see her as opposed to him barely letting her in out of the rain. This whole scene seemed rather explosively confusing with so much stuff going and not enough wholeness in the end. The last scene where David and Melody finally get together seemed really abrupt much like the kissing scene in Garden State. I really appreciated it in Garden State because the whole movie is spontaneous and random, but in this film, it just seemed rather confusing.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this movie because it made me think about all the things it takes to pull together an intricate plot. Much like Wicker Park, but not so twisted, Keep Your Distance maintains a more realistic portrayal of the uncertainties of love, life, and money. Pollard combines his ability to make a truly romantic comedy with his ability to display the hardships of everyday life. Scenes like when Melody and her secretary are discussing how she needs a vacation really lightened the mood, but also, the scenes where the "perfect" couple the Daileys are really revealed as equally dysfunctional as the rest of the world are just examples of this fusion.
Pollard explained how his message of happiness comes hand in hand with trust, and I would have to completely agree with him. That revelation opened my eyes to all the artistic value that I had overlooked previously.
To end this much too late, my overall opinion of this film is of great respect and appreciation for the emphasis of human error.
For me at least, the scenes didn't seem to flow together as much as I would have liked them to. Some of the discontinuity was easily justified by imperfect scenes that Pollard wanted to cut out for his own sake, but the back and forth between romantic comedy to mysterious thriller left me with a slight feeling of lack of decision on Pollard's part.
Later, Pollard explained that this sharp contrast was intentional, and it was in an effort to display how life is not always a romance or always a suspense. A simple event like talking to someone you have feelings for could turn your day around. After hearing that, it made me appreciate the effects much more, but I still felt a little built up in multiple areas with a completely different climax. The mysterious notes David Dailey continually received seemed unimportant in the beginning, nothing more than a distraction, but the ending was based on the solving of the puzzle behind it and the identity of the sender. I felt like David and Melody were more amused with the puzzle than anxious to solve it.
Being as anal retentive as I am, I noticed a lot of little things like how the ice cream they were eating was half eaten in some scenes and then completely untouched later. Or, how the traffic lights didn't match the flow of traffic. And, personally, the generic music in random scenes made it less attractive to me because I tend to look for original, underplayed music.
What I did enjoy about the film was the incorporation of Christian Kane's musical talents. I, being the estrogen filled female that I am, loved all the sappy things he does for Melody, but I don't like how Melody immediately doesn't trust him without cluing in the audience as to why. I understand his obsession and deception later on fills us in, but the secretary lady also stalking Melody seemed as though Sean's father was being nosy, not Sean. Personally, I was just left with an impression that Melody was just indecisive and picky.
Also, David's rejection of his wife's sexual adventure was a refreshing addition, but his reaction to Melody's arrival seemed way too hostile. I expected him to be relieved to see her as opposed to him barely letting her in out of the rain. This whole scene seemed rather explosively confusing with so much stuff going and not enough wholeness in the end. The last scene where David and Melody finally get together seemed really abrupt much like the kissing scene in Garden State. I really appreciated it in Garden State because the whole movie is spontaneous and random, but in this film, it just seemed rather confusing.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this movie because it made me think about all the things it takes to pull together an intricate plot. Much like Wicker Park, but not so twisted, Keep Your Distance maintains a more realistic portrayal of the uncertainties of love, life, and money. Pollard combines his ability to make a truly romantic comedy with his ability to display the hardships of everyday life. Scenes like when Melody and her secretary are discussing how she needs a vacation really lightened the mood, but also, the scenes where the "perfect" couple the Daileys are really revealed as equally dysfunctional as the rest of the world are just examples of this fusion.
Pollard explained how his message of happiness comes hand in hand with trust, and I would have to completely agree with him. That revelation opened my eyes to all the artistic value that I had overlooked previously.
To end this much too late, my overall opinion of this film is of great respect and appreciation for the emphasis of human error.