Manipulative

Rating: 6/10 (5 April 1999)

The first time I saw this movie, I was struck by its poetic quality, and the emotions it drew from me were surprising. The more I think about it, however, the more I realize how emotionally manipulative it is. The plot- especially in the last third of the film- seems contrived just to pull the maximum amount of irony, pathos, and tears from the viewer, when in fact it is really just artificial. The entire ending is meant to make the audience as mad as possible. It works every time I see it, even though I see through the trick.