Maybe we’re not supposed to think that the verbal combatants standing at those lecterns are as profound as they think they are? That’s a more charitable reading. Another is that the main event onstage is a pretext to externalize what happens internally when accomplished, ego-driven people get stuck under a spotlight while coping with intensely demanding personal matters and start to crack. (Sarah’s got her own issues, somewhat related to what Simon’s going through.)
This is where the film most impresses. Ebright is ruthless, in the best way, when it comes to showing how people can be selfish and thoughtless in personal and romantic relationships, even when they think they’re behaving in an exemplary or at least decent manner.
Simon is already right on the edge of assholery when we first meet him. Fabian’s demeanor and vocal style in the part are reminiscent of Michael Douglas in some of his classic ‘80s and ‘90s charismatic heel roles. But he digs deeper into self-sabotaging unpleasantness and weakness than Douglas ever did, and as the film goes along, the character becomes increasingly hard to defend because he’s losing control and has no sense of the damage he’s inflicting on himself and those around him (including the hosts of the conference).
Sarah doesn’t emerge from the story pristine either, but one can at least make the case that extended exposure to Simon brought out bad elements in her personality (or perhaps suppressed anxiety/misery related to her own marriage) that might not have manifested until she showed up at the conference.
The most sympathetic character is Claire, who’s married to a mass of resentment in the form of a man. Simon, we learn, has been in her shadow for a long time (supporting her, at least in his mind; emotionally but not financially). He has resentments that he should know better than to admit, mainly about his wife’s cancer getting in the way of his long-deferred dream of being a famous writer. The movie is most compelling and observant when it’s deflating Simon. When he gets drunk at dinner, Claire leaves early and drafts a waiter to watch over him until he’s ready to leave. Simon asks his minder, “Are you familiar with futurism? Because I’m kinda famous for it.” “Oh,” the waiter says politely. “Right on!”
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