It’s hard to see her in this movie, say, enjoying a private dance to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It’’ while Pine and Hardy secretly watch her from inside her house, and not feel vengeful.

URGH. That sounds fucking creepy. I'm sad for all three principles involved, who all deserve better projects than what this sounds like -- a pile of crap.

Yeah, if they hadn't included the "Gloria Steinem went to prison so you could date two guys" line, it would be much easier to interpret the whole movie as Brokeback Denial at the CIA.

I'm getting the feeling that this movie would be much improved by Meg Ryan's Addicted to Love character crashing the picture, destroying the lives of the two male leads, and riding off into the sunset with Reese Witherspoon on the back of her motorcycle.

I'd watch that. Even if that is too much bouncy hair for one couple.

I like Matt's movie, too.

I have to admit, my most fervent hope for this movie was that the Reese Witherspoon character would be a cipher for their displaced obsession. I'll turn my feminist card in for the duration of the movie, but once I saw they'd cast an actress with little magic for me, the less I wanted it to be about her.

I don't even really like Chris Pine. Frankly, I just want to go watch Tom Hardy be obsessive about something, and have fights.

Meg Ryan's hair wasn't all that bouncy in the movie I'm referring to. She had it it cut short for her crazy tomboy character: [link]

Oh, right. I actually liked that one, but I forgot that part.

I don't even really like Chris Pine. Frankly, I just want to go watch Tom Hardy be obsessive about something, and have fights.

At that point, why not just watch some other movie with Tom Hardy in it? Or just stare at a picture of him for two hours? I mean the way you talk about it, it sounds like you'd prefer Hardy to be as much or more of a cypher as anyone else in the movie. If I didn't know otherwise, I'd have no idea you were talking about a movie or an actor right now.

At that point, why not just watch some other movie with Tom Hardy in it?

That's a brilliant idea, but one I've already thought of, which is why I'm watching other movies with him in it too...I'm not sure precisely where you're going with that suggestion, or why you thought it was a suggestion with impact.

Or just stare at a picture of him for two hours?

Now I just gotta figure you're snarking at me, right? Or do you want an answer to this too? I'm not sure how to address it without snarking back, and I don't want to be rude.

it sounds like you'd prefer Hardy to be as much or more of a cypher as anyone else in the movie

No, not in the least. I enjoy Hardy in roles where he's obsessive about something and has fights, so I will go to movies where he's acting obsessive about something and has fights very eagerly, above and beyond movies where he's less obsessive or more pacifistic.

Luckily there's not really a shortage of him doing that, but why in the world would I decide to skip one? I have no idea what your angle is here.

I'd have no idea you were talking about a movie or an actor right now.

Is it clearer now? This thread, and movie discussion in general is full of sloppy language that would make it seem like characters and actors are being conflated, and it seems I haven't earnt the benefit of the doubt from you as to being able to tell them apart. I'm kind of disappointed at that, but it's my job to earn it, so I'll get right back on that.