How does one talk about "The Gift?" This skillfully made thriller, which is truly thrilling, wonderfully atmospheric, and remarkably acted, manages to be a homage to all sorts of films--"Fatal Attraction," "Single White Female," "Gaslight," and "Dial M For Murder." One sage had the temerity to reference "The Night Of The Hunter," which I don't see the connection to, making me wonder if said sage has seen it at all, or was just trying to show off.
These young, so-called critics, darlings.
I am happy to say no one--especially of the animal kingdom--is grilled, broiled or fried.
But it is more difficult to discuss this film than I thought. I was sure I would root for Gordon all the way--anyone who was bullied in high school has MY sympathy, especially something as traumatic as Gordon. But, when the film was all over, I felt my personal philosophy about revenge works better than a Machiavellian scheme one might cook up. I will save my philosophy for the end.
And this is where those who intend to see the film, and want to be surprised, should stop reading, for this is where I will speak about things specifically, for those of us in the know!
What "Fatal Attraction" did for extramarital trysts, "The Gift" will do for high school reunions. After seeing this, anyone who goes to one is bound to wonder who these people they are spending the evening with really are. OR are not.
"The Gift" is constructed almost like a three act play, which makes me wonder if it could be adapted to the stage. Act One consists of Gordon and his campaign, ending when he just vanishes. Act Two is Robyn (Rebecca Hall) trying to figure out the truth about her husband, ending with the apprehension of Danny McDonald, (P.J. Byrne) and Robyn going into labor. Act Three is the denouement, as Simon (Jason Bateman) tries to hang on to what he has. Or is about to lose.
The first question I asked myself--and still do--is whether the initial meeting in the store between Robyn, Simon and Gordon was unintentional or planned. I feel the latter; my guess is, if Simon had been keeping a file on Gordon, (which proved he instantly knew who he was, and that there was an agenda) then Gordon, in light of all the clever things he does, is doing exactly the
same thing.
He is easy to sympathize with at first, and one can see how Robyn likes him. Not in a romantic, but friendly way. As Gordon steps more and more into their lives, Simon becomes increasingly unhinged, at one point confessing to Robyn he feels Gordon is obsessed with her, wants her and HIS (Simon's) life. Cue in "Fatal Attraction" and "Single White Female." But Simon, it turns out is merely delusional, or at least acting like he is. Because, when Gordon vanishes--which he does after Simon orders him not to visit anymore--what is left? Nothing. Nothing, that is, except a letter, referring to Gordon having hoped he and Simon could let "bygones be bygones."
This segment allows the dog playing "Jangles" (for "Mr. Bojangles") to have a great, Meryl Streep moment. He goes missing, and when he finally returns, as if having been off on a vacation trip, Robyn asks where he has been. The look the dog gives is unbelievably chilling. Clearly, he does not want to talk about it--though he is OK.
Now the movie shifts gears to Robyn. This is where she turns amateur sleuth, determined to find out what happened between her husband and Gordon. Simon was apparently a popular kid, the kind who was Class President, but, according to his friend Greg, now a corporate honcho--this movie rightly has it in for those men who are just that!!!!!!!!--she learns he and Gordon spread the dreadful rumor that Simon had sex in some car, with an older kid. Of course, the bullying was merciless, forcing him to be removed from school, and his abusive, homophobic father tried to kill him, by beating him and then setting him on fire! His own son! Having failed at that, Gordon was carted off to military school.
Pay close attention, girls, because those who might say Simon had no idea what kind of father Gordon had are missing an important section of dialogue, where Simon explains he knew Gordon's father knocked him around, saying his own father did the same, and you just "suck it up," because the world is made up of winners and losers, and he--Simon--is a winner. This is the point I screamed "Fuck you!" out loud, in the theater. No one countered me!!!!!!!!
Added to which, Robyn is pregnant. When she learns of the whole Danny McDonald thing, with the broken glass, she realizes an axiom of Simon's is true--some people never change after high school. If that is the case with Gordon, it is even more with Simon, who, apparently would screw anyone in his way to get the prize he covets.. So, more or less, he has been abusing people--albeit differently from Gordon--all along. By now, I wanted Simon roasted alive; I wanted him burned at the stake.
Gordon has one little trick up his sleeve. A bevy of gifts await Simon, when he arrives home from the hospital, while Robyn recovers from the birth of their son. As he unwraps and spools each item, he learns the full extent of Gordon's revenge--a duplicate key so he can come and go as he pleased, without them knowing, recordings of private conversations between Robyn and Simon, many derogatory of Gordon, which meant he bugged the house, and finally, the famous video scene, of Robyn fainting, and a monkey masked Gordon waving at the camera. At which point the screen goes black.
Which is where I thought the film should have ended, and is my only criticism of the film, But Gordon gets the final moment, as he leaves Simon living with the question of whether or not the child is his. When Jason Bateman, as Simon, finally crumbles into a heap, at the end--no job, no wife, no house, and probably no child, (as Robyn will keep him from Simon) I thought it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.
To be sure, Jason Bateman's concealing Simon's trajectory from the start is brilliant, even though the sleaze is there underneath. This is a thrilling psychological drama, played out by a superb trio of players, which called to mind, to me, at least, Shakespeare's "Othello."
"The Gift" turns out to be one of the greatest "mind fucks" on film. How long since we have had one, darlings?????????
Revenge is said to be a dish best served cold, and I cannot condemn Gordon for his deeds. My approach is less tactile than his. Darlings, if you wish to get back at someone, simply settle back, with a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever relaxes you, and simply let Time do its work. It gets everyone, in the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for gifts, I prefer mine under multi-colored decorated birthday cakes, and Christmas trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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