"cyrus" - there's more there
Hill, Tomei and Reilly gamely participate in a study of dubious relationships in the Duplass's "Cyrus.
I've an elusive thought: Am I the only one to notice that John C. Reilly's relationship with his ex-wife in Jay and Mark Duplass's "Cyrus" is every bit as unhealthy as Jonah Hill's with his mother? That parallel seems to be the point of an otherwise pointless, albeit engaging, film but it's been addressed by no critics to the best of my knowledge. It's also interesting that Reilly's so-called hero consistently, and rather selfishly, intrudes upon and interrupts two relationships here - Catherine Keener's with her fiancé and Marisa Tomei's with her son. He's an interloper and a third wheel in both cases - a narcissist deceptively disguised in sheep's clothing.
Joe, what you wrote struck home. I had the same observation/question.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right. There is a huge parallel at work in this film that has gone unexamined by movie writers. Without it, "Cyrus" would be a merely amusing film. The parallel, however, lends its a little bit of substance.
ReplyDeleteI think one reason the film has received only a lukewarm reception from critics is that they failed to pick up on the parallel you mention. It's the only point of interest in the movie.
ReplyDeleteFor me, "Cyrus" goes from impossible to dislike to impossible to like, largely because of Reilly's character (and maybe his performance). He's a really dark character but Duplasses themselves seem oblivious to this. I think the film has to be a lot darker to work and the ending has to be downbeat.
ReplyDeletei'm afraid to say it because I admire you're insight: nobody else has mentioned it because there is no substance to that view. 1st: his relationship beyond breakup only extended to its current state as the result of a mutual bond: keeners and o'reilly, while only a real and heartfelt identity with tomei's character is the only thing that keeps o'reilly's man onboard, a sentiment which would have been non-existent with a truly narcissistic man, devoid of empathy or real love. I see Keener's character as the interloper, unable to really lift her anchor due to a real connection she maintains with our protagonist while unable to reach out and pull him from the social precipice he hangs upon, and obviously overjoyed to see Tomei's character reach forward and rescue him from.
ReplyDeletei'm afraid to say it because I admire your insight: nobody else has mentioned it because there is no substance to that view. 1st: his relationship beyond breakup only extended to its current state as the result of a mutual bond: keeners and o'reilly, while only a real and heartfelt identity with tomei's character is the only thing that keeps o'reilly's man onboard, a sentiment which would have been non-existent with a truly narcissistic man, devoid of empathy or real love. I see Keener's character as the interloper, unable to really lift her anchor due to a real connection she maintains with our protagonist while unable to reach out and pull him from the social precipice he hangs upon, and obviously overjoyed to see Tomei's character reach forward and rescue him from.
ReplyDelete