Posted by Jan den Breejen on June 12, 1999 at 17:23:32:
Black comedy about the violent lives of London's fringe dwellers. Johnny (played by David Thewlis), a ferociously E7 personality with a quick mind seems to look very clever and cruelly funny, plus charmingly attractive. He steals a car in Manchester after a semi-rape to escape beating up, he goes to his former E5 girl friend Louise (played by Lesley Sharp.) Kick addicted Johnny seduces the drugged E1-4 room mate Sophie (played by Katrin Cartlidge) and jokingly wrecks havoc on the lives of everyone he meets. Meanwhile sleek, disdainful and apparently wealthy E3 landlord Jeremy (played by Greg Crutwell) rapes and terrorizes various women including Sophie and Louise. The paths of these egoistical men eventually cross during a very dark night of the soul.
THE MOVIE CHARACTERS ANALYSED:
LOUISE - E5
Verbally 'clumsy' when confronted with E7 verbal skills in confrontation, lonely quiet thinker (absorbed) and observer, logic thinking mode, looks unemotional, keeps calm in stressy times.
JOHNNY - E7 MANIC DEPRESSIVE/BI-POLAR CHARACTER
Charlatanic 'genious'; knows a bit of many things but his turbo mind makes him look very clever and witty. Monkey/multi mind; lots of speedy philosophical talk about Nostradamus, Chaos theory (the butterfly story) etc. Sex and drug addicted; he doesn't care that his needs cause trouble and suffering to others; including his narcissistic verbal humiliations of others' boring/tedious live styles; 'I've seen more life in an open grave'. Hedonistic; smoeks 2 cigarettes at the same time, polygamic, devoures books, non commital/freedom loving rambler: 'give me room'; escapist: 'I am too old for this'... Stimulus addicted/experiental: 'do you feel these vibrations?' Charlatan: 'I could have been a doctor… I have a degree in psychology'
JEREMY/SEBASTAN HAWKS -E3
- image oriented: 'He wears only one sock', he asks his date if her tits are of equal size (I know of an E3 who left the restaurant because his pregnant wife had a bleeding nose!)
- talks a lot
- active; training his muscles, sports, atlethic body
- shameless asker of direct personal questions; when he WANTS (to know) something thats all that counts; others feelings are not relevant at that moment (zero empathy)
- golden ringed real estate broker; driving in expensive SAAB and PORSCHE cars
- impatient
Could he be an E8? He wants to commit suicide when he's 40 (denial of weakness)… but: an E8 would just do this and not use it as verbal bluff. Also the women are not really afraid of him; more irritated. He leaves when threated with a knife by Louisa; an E8 would hit back immediately! So: I'll stay with E3; what do you think??
GISELLE - E4
Reality blindness or unconscious reality blindness; she puts herself into problematic situations that cause her pain (dating with Hawks), verbally hateful remarks when hurt, excessive special jewelry, elitist aura. The waitress in the restaurant looks also E4-ish 'special'.
SOPHIE - INTROVERTED AND DEPRESSIVE E1 (E1-4; little more E1 above E4)
Cynical, philosophizing, opinionated teachy statements, rationally cool/detached bolster around her sensitive personality, assessing attitude: this is an IQ test. Judgemental/critical; 'are you finished? (irritated by Johnny's endless talking), 'lots of bullocks!', 'I am serious.. I understand you (rational; an E4 would have FELT his suffering)'. Critical on the space program in a feministic way. Assertive.
ARCHIE AND MAGGIE - E6 Scots
Two rambing drug addicts; Archie is counterfobic, violence based on fear, he almost killed his father in a impulsive rage, fearful nervous tics, his eyes rolling like the AWACS radar system, on the lookout for ally or foe. Dependent; feels helpless when his girl friend Maggie has gone (group thinking/'loyalty'.) Typical soccor hooliganesk violent mind. Funny is the dynamics between E7 visionary Johnny and E6 practical mind Archie.
Archie's girl friend Maggie is superstitious (wears good luck puppet) and fearful; 'have you ever seen a dead person?' She looks childish dependent towards Johnny; like if he was her father; E6's persons often feel attracted to the imagined protection they think elder persons (authority) can give to them.
BRIAN - introverted E1 security guard
Hypocritical and moralistic religious preacher; conscientious: helps Johnny but also hypocritical voyeur. Detached rational; 'I read and I think…technically I am married' He feels easily attacked personally and defends verbally; 'It's not a boring job!' Perfectionistic/compulsive; Brian knows all the books of the bible. Correcting; 'You now contradict yourself!' 'Don't waste your life!' 'Did you need to beat her up?'
SANDRA - extroverted E1 (who is played in an E6 way with expressive hand movements)
Obsessed with order and cleanliness; 'It's disgusting!…how could you have your boots on…it's a pigs sty…I am gonna get the bath clean…'. Preachy/teachy; 'How could you…' Disciplined; ;' There is a time and place for love…' (control of emotions)
CAFE GIRL WHO INVITES JOHNNY - E5
Shy, doesn't seem to get much joy out of physical contact and sex. Absorbed in thoughts. She sends Johnny away. Perhaps; just like E5 Louisa she is an example that with relations we feel attracted to our polar type (i.e. introvert woman fall in love with extravert Johnny.) Could she be a catatonic E9? She seems to socially reserved to be an E9 to me. What do you think??
ISADORA DUNCAN (WOMAN IN WINDOW) - E2
Depressed because she's lost her seductive beauty; dances seductively in fron of the window (exhibitionistic seduction), wears jewelry like Miss Piggy. 'Do you wanne come in?….do you wanna drink…baby… (actually I have an E2 'helper' collegue at the office who periodically calls me this way too…). Her favorite book is Jane Austen's EMMA (E2 protagonist). Isadora has some unknown powerful (E8?) lover Bhapu?. Johnny understands this in time (he sees the tattoo on her arm), perceives the danger and he breaks off his sex /violence act. She invited him to harm her because her pride was hurt and visible biting wounds could trigger her friend Bhapu to avenge her???? Could she also have E6 traits?? What do you think?
CHAUFFEUR WITH HAT - E1
'Get out the car!'
POSTER MAN - E3?
No nonsense goal focussed hard worker.
That's all.
Jan