Choose Connor (a.k.a. The Politician)

larry-411 · 13 Feb 09 :: 23:35

TheCentralScrutinizer wrote:

I would also disagree that knowing what the movie is "about" going in ruins it. It might take a bit of the element of surprise out of it, but it doesn't ruin it.

I have to agree since I actually enjoyed the film (or should I say appreciated?) even more when I saw it the second time, even after I knew the "secrets." So it certainly didn't "ruin" the film for me, obviously. Still, I know that the initial impact when seeing it for the first time would have been taken away if I'd known.

To compare it to The Sixth Sense again, I've seen that movie a dozen times and I always see more each time. The same can be said for many other movies with surprises or twists. But, still, there's nothing like that element of discovery when something is revealed in a film the first time you see it. You can never get that feeling back.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 13 Feb 09 :: 23:47

You don't wanna know how many times I've seen The Sixth Sense. I was obsessed with that movie. I can't say I've ever gotten tired of it. And it's about the performances and the sheer visual beauty of the film much more than the twist for me.

domesticelefant · 13 Feb 09 :: 23:47

It didn't ruin the film for me either, but I do agree on The Sixth Sense. When I watched it the first time it was a great experience, but watching it a second time wasn't a good idea. (Though it was still a great movie, of course.)

TeeJay · 14 Feb 09 :: 12:04

TheCentralScrutinizer wrote:

I would also disagree that knowing what the movie is "about" going in ruins it.

Just for the record, I never said it "ruined" it, that's maybe phrasing it a little too strongly. I said I think I would have enjoyed the movie more the first time around if I hadn't known. I see some of all your points. Proves once again that tastes are so different.

I, too, have watched The Sixth Sense several times. I saw it in the theater twice, and I knew I had to immediately after I had seen it for the first time. I was like, "Wait a minute, he talked to his wife! He talked to the mother! That cannot be!" I also agree that it's a movie where you see new nuances every time. A great piece of work.

-TeeJay

larry-411 · 14 Feb 09 :: 21:43

The great thing about films with a big twist, like The Sixth Sense (and Choose Connor) is that they beg seeing it again. Because you have to go back and answer the question, "how did they do that???"

If it's well made enough, you can watch it over and over and still see more each time (Donnie Darko, Jacob's Ladder, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, The Girl Next Door...).

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Feb 09 :: 22:42

The other night, I watched just Chris's scene in CC out of context and it made me tear up and I even felt my heart rate elevate a bit just imagining the reality of what that character had been through and was going through in that interrogation. My read on his breakdown is that when the cop asks him if he could've said no, he realizes maybe for the first time that he was complicit in a way because he didn't even try to say no. And maybe that's what ultimately does him in. So sad.

TeeJay · 24 Feb 09 :: 20:54

I tried my luck with some screencaps after all, I figured we should have as comprehensive a gallery as we can. Caps can be found here: http://www.chris-marquette.com/gallery/ … ?album=168 (Try those labeled "From the DVD")

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 24 Feb 09 :: 20:56

Oh cool, thanks!

larry-411 · 24 Feb 09 :: 20:57

Nice!

Maybe you can catch the one frame Michael is in it lol (it is, almost literally, one frame).

TeeJay · 24 Feb 09 :: 21:41

What scene is it?

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 24 Feb 09 :: 21:44

So Mike did make it in the movie, at least for, like, one second? Oh, wow. I totally missed that. Oh well, one more reason to watch it again soon.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 24 Feb 09 :: 21:45

Cool.

larry-411 · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:21

I just pulled out the DVD to give you the exact time and guess what? They cut it out of the DVD. I'm just floored. I saw the film twice at festivals and it was there.

I can tell you exactly where it was, though. It was at 42:37. It wasn't even one second. But it was a pivotal moment.

Okay, here's the deal. Obviously this is all a spoiler...

Caleb goes to hug Owen as he is leaving the party. But the hug is just a bit more than friendly. Although Owen has had doubts in the back of his mind about Caleb's intentions, this is the very first moment where Owen starts to grasp what Caleb wants. You can see that in the look in Owen's eyes.

Now...at that very same moment when Owen realizes Caleb may want something sexual, at that EXACT same moment, as he is looking over Caleb's shoulder, off in the distance he sees Michael sitting on the lap of one of the old men like a baby in his daddy's arms. So at that same exact moment when he starts to realize something sexual might be going on with Caleb he also realizes there may be something sexual going on at these parties. It's like a double whammy.

Originally that was the first defining moment in the film when Owen figures out what is going on. Michael's clip at that moment was originally longer but they cut it to just a few frames. Blink and you miss it. But it looks like they cut it out of the DVD altogether, which just prolongs that moment when Owen figures out what the parties are all about.

There was originally another scene where Michael is in a dress playing the piano. Owen walks in and is like, WTF? He's a total queen. It just drives home to Owen that these are not normal parties.

Luke cut those scenes out because it was like hitting the audience over the head with a hammer. He wanted Owen's discovery about the parties (and the audience's) to come later and be more subtle. Taking Michael out prolongs the suspense both for us and Owen.

I had actually seen Michael's scenes before seeing the film, so once I'd seen the film I realized how much the scenes would have changed it and as much as I care about Michael I completely agreed with the decision to make the cuts. Luke, his producers, and I talked about it at length afterwards and we were all on the same page. They were very happy I'd seen the scenes first, then the film, and saw what they saw. As soon as I got back to Michael's we talked about it and he was totally in agreement too.

BUT there was a frame or two left in of Michael on the guy's lap, and I see that was totally cut out of the DVD now.

Last edited by larry-411 (24 Feb 09 :: 22:41)

domesticelefant · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:28

I guess I can see the point why they decided to cut the scenes, but it still would be interesting to watch them. Thanks for sharing this, Larry.

larry-411 · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:35

Luke, his producers, Michael, and I all talked about the scenes being on the DVD extras. I guess the deal with Strand didn't give them any say. Sound familiar?

I know we all wanted them on there.

The piano scene was hilarious. Michael is a total transvestite, all done up in a dress, wig, and makeup, prancing around like a complete flamer. He plays piano and sings. It's especially funny because the dress is all open in front and his chest is pretty hairy. It's a very disturbing image lol. He just has that evil look in his eyes like in Beautiful Ordinary in the van scene, especially.

The scene where he's on the guy's lap is scary, too. Owen looks over Caleb's shoulder and Michael is staring right at him, burning a hole into him with his eyes. He's just this evil, perverted character.

But we all agreed that it gave away too much too soon. Luke wanted to really drag it out until Chris' tape. That becomes the moment instead when Owen and the audience discover what is going on (if they haven't already).

So, ironically, it was cutting Michael out that made Chris' scene so much more powerful, because that is the big reveal instead of Michael's scenes.

Last edited by larry-411 (24 Feb 09 :: 22:38)

TeeJay · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:37

All right, I understand that too, and I also see why it was necessary to cut those scenes. Thanks for posting about it at length, Larry. And, man, I wish I could see the Michael stuff, sounds great.

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:37

See? I knew I wasn't blind when I said I didn't see Michael at all. Which producer, Larry? Chris Lux? I've had a couple of conversations with him online. Cool guy.

larry-411 · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:40

I added a bit to my post above.

It was actually two different producers. At the first screening was Luke and one of the producers and at the second screening was another one. I also talked about it with Aaron (who is another producer).

Probably best to keep all this amongst ourselves, by the way.

Last edited by larry-411 (24 Feb 09 :: 22:44)

TeeJay · 24 Feb 09 :: 22:41

Okay, no worries. Thanks, Larry.

-TeeJay

TeeJay · 16 Nov 09 :: 22:20

Apparently they're renaming the movie from "Choose Connor" to "The Politician". So far the info is only up on IMDb Pro, so I can't verify this with a public source, but it seems that this has to do with an international release of the movie. Kinda stupid to rename it now, the US DVD is already out with the title "Choose Connor".

-TeeJay

Editsound · 16 Nov 09 :: 22:52

I guess the good news about this is that they are releasing it some where, and that the production company still has interest in finding an audience for it.

TeeJay · 16 Nov 09 :: 23:04

Absolutely right, of course. But I still think it wouldn't have been necessary to rename the movie. But, hey, what do I know?

-TeeJay

larry-411 · 17 Nov 09 :: 00:49

I can verify this based on a discussion I had this morning with writer/director Luke Eberl after I discovered the change on IMDb PRO.

The powers-that-be decided to rename the film in preparation for international release. Technically this means that IMDb PRO is correct and that the film is now titled The Politician. Films don't generally have two different names, one for domestic release and one for international release except in the case of non-English-titled films renamed for English-speaking countries (translated into English) or English-titled films translated into another language for distribution in those countries. Even then the translation is generally the same or as close as possible, not a completely different title.

Of course the DVD is already out with the name Choose Connor on it and nobody will receive labels to put over it. It wouldn't be the first time a film's name was changed even after DVD release although it certainly is rare.

But all the actors in the film have had their filmographies changed to reflect the new name on IMDb PRO.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 17 Nov 09 :: 02:54

There's a Jodie Foster movie that goes by a few different names... Mesmerized, Shocked, Disturbed, etc... It's like someone opened up a Thesaurus and tried it under a few different versions of the same basic idea. Unfortunately, no matter what you call it, it's a piece of crap.

I've seen that happen with a few other "B" movies too. Lori Petty's in a movie that I've seen called both "Countdown" & "Serial Bomber".

larry-411 · 17 Nov 09 :: 23:52

Luke and I talked it over and he decided that to satisfy all the parties concerned and lessen the confusion that may be generated, it should be referred to as:

"Choose Connor" (aka "The Politician")

or

Choose Connor (aka The Politician) when italics are substituted for quotes.

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