I think guy-jilting-woman is actually much more interesting; it was understood that the woman could walk out any damned time she wanted to, for any reason, but that a man, having asked a woman to marry him, was not free to change his mind. That's part of why George Kittredge is a swine in The Philadelphia Story -- not only does he assume the worst of Katherine Hepburn, but he threatens to back out of the wedding.
Mal: Can I come in? Inara: No. Mal: See? That's why I usually don't ask.
'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
Buffista Movies 3: Panned and Scanned
A place to talk about movies--Old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Betsy HP - Aug 25, 2004 4:26:10 pm PDT #3045 of 10001
If I only had a brain...
beekaytee - Aug 25, 2004 4:27:59 pm PDT #3046 of 10001
Compassionately intolerant
I suppose The Graduate has to qualify as part of the jilting genre.
And, in an odd twist, Ben Affleck's character (cleverly named Ben), for the most part, jilts the woman he's just fallen in love with (Sandra Bullock, cleverly named Sarah) by actually going ahead and marrying his intended in Forces of Nature. Nobody saw that comin'.
I'm sincerely embarrassed that I must admit to sitting through that entire movie...and that I subsequently remember anything at all about it.
§ ita § - Aug 25, 2004 4:28:08 pm PDT #3047 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I think guy-jilting-woman is actually much more interesting
Me too, honestly. I do think that most of the jilting women are completely unsympathetic, and I can't imagine them doing that with a male romantic lead.
Not that I thought Kittredge was a swine -- she assumed the same thing, and that's no respectful way to spend the night before your wedding. At the very least, there was something to discuss.
Fred Pete - Aug 25, 2004 4:28:18 pm PDT #3048 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.
Sorry, Beej. Haven't seen Desk Set -- which was the main reason I left the possibility open.
beekaytee - Aug 25, 2004 4:28:49 pm PDT #3049 of 10001
Compassionately intolerant
I think guy-jilting-woman is actually much more interesting
Yep.
§ ita § - Aug 25, 2004 4:29:36 pm PDT #3050 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I was surprised by the end of Forces Of Nature, actually, because I thought that the carefree woman wasn't neurotic enough to not be the right one.
I do hate the carefree-woman-liberates-stuffy-man genre even more than the jilting one.
flea - Aug 25, 2004 4:30:10 pm PDT #3051 of 10001
information libertarian
Does John Cusack jilt the brunette who's not Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity, or does she get fed up with him and call it all off?
Also, how could ita forget a John Cusack-jilting?
§ ita § - Aug 25, 2004 4:31:45 pm PDT #3052 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Does John Cusack jilt the brunette who's not Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity, or does she get fed up with him and call it all off?
I was thinking about that! I just remember it not happening, but also recall that they came to the decision together.
Extra points are given for altar-jilting. It's the ur-jilt.
beekaytee - Aug 25, 2004 4:33:12 pm PDT #3053 of 10001
Compassionately intolerant
I do hate the carefree-woman-liberates-stuffy-man genre even more than the jilting one.
Jumpin' Jehosephat! Me too.
Drew Barrymore MUST sign a document in blood that she agrees never to play that role again. Ever.
I hate that genre with the same firey passion as the you've been abused so you have an excuse for being a serial killer, rapist, fill in the miscreant. Makes. My. Teeth. Itch.
beekaytee - Aug 25, 2004 4:35:32 pm PDT #3054 of 10001
Compassionately intolerant
Despite massive JohnC-love, Serendipity made me want to stick something sharp and hot in my eye.
Even the stellar "This one's climbin' the charts." line could not save it for me.
I have absolutely no recollection of the ending. I must have been banging my head on the seatback at the time.
eta: And I'm a maniac for Jeremy Piven. Cupid was my favorite tv show of all eternity. Even he could not save it for me.