Surpassed my Expectations

As an aspiring writer I like to read a wide variety of books, and think it is important to read many of the "classics".  So, when I had an opportunity to see the movie and spend my reading time on other books, I took it.  I was a bit disappointed as the credits began and I saw that Ethan Hawke and Gwenyth Paltrow were in it.  I'm not a huge fan of either and have been disappointed by other performances.  But my desire to experience the story overwrote my disdain for the particular cast.

Unfortunatley I was not able to watch this movie all the way through in one sitting and instead watched it in two or three parts within a matter of days.  Still, I found it very enjoyable.  I did, however, have a temporary memory lapse of one of the earliest scenes which comes in to play at the end of the film but it did not take me long to recall.

It starts with a young boy named Finn fishing and a man (expertly played by Robert DiNero) coming up out of the water and threatening him.  Fearing for his life, Finn does as told and escapes the threat.  We then learn that Finn lives with relatives as if he's some sort of orphan.  They are poor but somehow he lives next to an oold, run-down mansion that is still inhabited by a woman who goes about as if she is of great wealth.  She takes a liking to the boy and he goes over on at least a weekly basis for dancing lessons with her niece, Estella, who is quite attractive and about the same age.

As the movie progresses it becomes apparent that Estella is quite daring and flirtatious.  Finn is quite taken with her and the old lady warns him that she will break his heart.  Years go by and Estella goes away for bigger and richer adventures.  Finn stays with his father-figure and works on the fishing boat.  Suddenly a lawyer comes aboard and announces that Finn is to go to New York and become an artist.  He protests and says he hasn't drawn in years but the lawyer insists that he is there on behalf of a very wealthy client and eventually the guy agrees to go.  At some point he considers that it might be fate.  He assumes that it is the old neighbor lady who is his benefactor.

He's got a couple of managers in New York and virtually anything he asks for is given to him.  In no time, he runs into Estella, which, due to the aforementioned "fate" forshadowing is no great surprise.  THey reconnect and she invites him to drinks with some friends where she springs upon him that one of the "friends" is indeed her boyfriend.  Finn is somewhat disheartened but seems to find his resolve and make a personal, silent vow to work hard and impress her so she can be his.  Before he can accomplish that, Estella becomes engaged to the boyfriend.

To be honest, it's been a couple weeks since I watched the movie and now I can't remember whether Estella married the guy or wound up with Finn.  Such is the impression that this "love story" made on me.  I am quite the romantic sucker though and I did find a lot of intrigue in the Finn/Estella relationship.  Can a childhood love really grow into something?  Is one lover's strength and worldliness enough to bring the other along or, vice versa, can the simple man simplify the worldly woman?  I definitely still have hope after watching this movie.

Another piece of the movie I appreciated was seeing Finn grow, mature, and reach higher than he thought possible, thanks to a push from his benefactor.  It wasn't so much about the money the benefactor made available as Finn digging inside himself and finding the drive to work hard and elbow his way into a world that he wasn't born into but could rightfully thrive in.  And who was that mysterious benefactor?  Watch and See!