There is a huge hump to get over in this movie, suspending disbelief at the relationship between Max and Nora. It is just too ridiculous. Max is so pretty, rich, stable, tactful, considerate, laid back and clean and Nora is so filthy, a smoker, a drunk, tactless, inconsiderate, crude, rude, selfish and lightning quick to take offense. What on earth does he see in her? The problem is not just them coming from such different social backgrounds; it is she is such an unlikeable character.
The prolonged soft-porn scenes early in the movie made me squirm. I found them revolting. They went on and on and on, as if they were supposed to be some sort of eye candy for us to ogle. The movie degenerated into one of those late night soft porn flicks where the simulated sex goes on and on as if to give the viewer time to get off himself. I felt unclean spying for so long. I was screaming to myself "Enough already! I get the point. Please get on with the movie." I turned away until these scenes were over.
When you meet Max's mother, his shallow old girlfriends and friends you begin to see why Nora's shoot-from-the-lip directness could have some appeal (but certainly not enough for his obsessive sexual attraction.) Perhaps pity has some part of the appeal but again nothing to explain the obsession.
Spader is always a treat to watch and that applies to this film as well, even though he grossed me out with the sex scenes.
The prolonged soft-porn scenes early in the movie made me squirm. I found them revolting. They went on and on and on, as if they were supposed to be some sort of eye candy for us to ogle. The movie degenerated into one of those late night soft porn flicks where the simulated sex goes on and on as if to give the viewer time to get off himself. I felt unclean spying for so long. I was screaming to myself "Enough already! I get the point. Please get on with the movie." I turned away until these scenes were over.
When you meet Max's mother, his shallow old girlfriends and friends you begin to see why Nora's shoot-from-the-lip directness could have some appeal (but certainly not enough for his obsessive sexual attraction.) Perhaps pity has some part of the appeal but again nothing to explain the obsession.
Spader is always a treat to watch and that applies to this film as well, even though he grossed me out with the sex scenes.