As a result, classification becomes an element. This film is a film of suspense, humor, fantasy and sex.
For suspense films, the most important thing is the process of setting and unwinding. In this film, the clues left before are basically used, but many clues are in a state of ambiguity. In fact, in the film The lines also show this, that all clues can only exist as reasoning, and must not become strong evidence. If the last rich boy Peter couldn't hold his breath, the case could hardly be solved. So although the story took place in the UK, the suspense itself is a kind of neglect. I am afraid it is only a packaging method of Woody, so we see clues to the mentally handicapped that the key to the door of the prostitute's house has not been thrown away.
Humor naturally means comedy. Woody Allen’s light comedy can be said to be world-renowned, and this film is no exception. Whether it is the old guy’s babble, the relationship between the characters and the setting of some weird plots, it belongs to Wu. Di's style, of course, the most important thing is to look at the quasi-aware and persistent words in the lines, which seem humorous, but they always show a sense of wisdom and proverbs.
Fantasy is almost a magical touch in this film, especially when it comes to the origin of the story. A dead reporter found a murder case on the way to heaven (or hell, which is not explained in the film), so he did it for this final report. It always hints at the characters in the play. In fact, this story is quite a Hong Kong-style movie of revenge by ghost trustees, but this film is funny in that it is just the nature of a journalist that became the motivation. Of course, maybe he is avenging the maid who died unjustly. This is also understandable. But in fact, this kind of fantasy motive is the key to the film, that is, the main line of news reporting, which requires a kind of authenticity. Without authenticity, there is no great report.
Sex has always been a subject that Woody is passionate about. This film seems to be a very casual sexual relationship, but it is the only way for female college students to succeed. This is a kind of irony, and sex actually affects the film. The judgment of female college students also influences the development of the story. On the one hand, the sexual element becomes the basis of a kind of personal conception, especially the emotional intervention. This is mentioned many times in the lines of female college students. So sex is endowed with an element of human emotion in the film. On the other hand, sex is blind, not just a transaction, but more importantly, whether it is the motive of the crime or the process of swaying the case, sex is the main motivation, so sex is sex here. The main body is very simple, but it is easy to lead people astray.
It can be seen that the suspense in the film itself is only a coat imposed by Woody, and then we see the chattering sense of humor, which is Woody's consistent style. Putting aside the expressions of these two films, the theme is revealed, that is, the relationship between the authenticity of news reports and emotional intervention.
The female college student failed in the first interview. She only remembered that she drank too much, and then she forgot whether she had a relationship with the movie star, but the main reason for this failure was obviously that the female college student put herself in the interview. So this small plot not only brought out the theme, but also showed the female college student's blindness in front of everyone, so that later her mistakes in investigating this tarot card case became real and credible.
The dead reporter left clues to female college students, but the requirement is that it must be true and that there is evidence to report. In order to become famous, the female college student thinks that she can do whatever it takes, so she forces the old magician to help herself approach the so-called murderer Peter. In fact, this is a foreshadowing in itself. The strategy of a female college student is destined to involve herself in dangerous situations and introduce herself into the case. Therefore, the possibility of drawing unobjective conclusions arises.
Women and men are always attracted to each other, especially for young people. As the case progresses, female college students have replaced investigation with love. This is an extremely dangerous game. The magician's phrase "the body that may be pregnant" precisely warned the female college students. At this time, it is difficult for female college students to say whether to continue this kind of physical relationship or to use the investigation as an excuse for the purpose of investigating the physical relationship.
When one is in the vortex of the case, no one can be objective, so emotion slowly replaces reason, especially when the real tarot murderer is caught, everything seems to be credible. In fact, the more important thing is that female college students believe in their own emotions rather than objectively analyze the case itself. The appearance of the dead reporter has become extremely absurd, but this is also an irony. The absurd is on the right path, while the real is lost because of sex and affection.
The magician who was originally unwilling to intervene in this matter has been able to maintain his objectivity. He is undoubtedly a substitute for the dead reporter. Although he is unable to save the lost young female college student, he seeks the case alone. The truth is that this contrast does not have any malicious intent, but it is the news element that the director is trying to point out, that is, the objective itself and the attitude of staying out of the matter. Only in this way can the truth of the event be found.
The ending of the film maintains Woody’s consistent surprise. Although the magician got the truth, she accidentally died in a car accident. As a female college student, she was able to save herself because of the difference when she first met Peter. The trick of knowing water is very important, because when the female college student confessed her identity to the magician, she did not say this, and this secret was kept by the female college student from an objective perspective. Therefore, what saved the female college students was still a distance from the surveyed person. Perhaps this is something that a journalist must keep, and it is also a point of view that the director wants to express most through this story.
At the end of the film, the magician after his death continues his magic career. Even when facing the dead, the case seems to be far away from him. In fact, this is an irony in itself. The magician has maintained his usual style. He is A person who maintains his own principles and his preferences. Only such a person, who is not tempted by greed or dominated by emotions, can become a true journalist and can be the closest to the truth of the incident.
The female college student in the film is very beautiful and has many hints of lust, but the subject is this old magician.
Of course, as Woody's work, this film is only a small taste, and some places are not rigorous enough, but it does not hinder the audience's understanding of Woody's work.
Han Xi
2007-3-16 in Tongzhou
View more about Scoop reviews
