I watched this movie last night. I must admit that it kept me interested but when it was over I felt it was too ambiguous, too open to multiple interpretations. Even when you view the DVD extra, the cast and director came up with a list of questions, but the book's author died before they could ask him. So in a real sense the director and actors are not fully certain what the movie was about, except that much of it, if not all, was taking place in the main character's mind.
There are several good actors here but I will only mention Jake Gyllenhaal who plays two characters, Adam the history professor and Anthony the small-time actor. As the story unfolds Adam is watching a movie someone recommended and notices one actor looks exactly like him. This shakes him, but is compelled to look him up. From there we witness Adam has a girlfriend, in what amounts to just for sex, and Anthony has a wife 6 months pregnant.
When you think about the various encounters all the characters have, and the things that are said, it is clear that Adam and Anthony really are the same person, and it would make most sense if we consider most everything a dream. Adam is fighting with the 'enemy' inside himself, perhaps rebelling against commitment, of being married and faithful, of being a father.
The other theme throughout are the presence of various spiders, or webs that remind one of spider webs. I listened to one analysis that claimed those represented Adam's own psyche, while another claimed it represented Adam's view of women, of their being ready and able to devour you.
Regardless, while it interested me, it is too ambiguous for me to consider it an above-average movie. Just a bit too arcane in its delivery. In the end, when Anthony is off with the girlfriend, coming home he has a car wreck, we assume (but don't really know) that the Anthony manifestation was killed off, leaving open the possibility that Adam is coming to grips with his life and desires to be Adam the professor.
There are several good actors here but I will only mention Jake Gyllenhaal who plays two characters, Adam the history professor and Anthony the small-time actor. As the story unfolds Adam is watching a movie someone recommended and notices one actor looks exactly like him. This shakes him, but is compelled to look him up. From there we witness Adam has a girlfriend, in what amounts to just for sex, and Anthony has a wife 6 months pregnant.
When you think about the various encounters all the characters have, and the things that are said, it is clear that Adam and Anthony really are the same person, and it would make most sense if we consider most everything a dream. Adam is fighting with the 'enemy' inside himself, perhaps rebelling against commitment, of being married and faithful, of being a father.
The other theme throughout are the presence of various spiders, or webs that remind one of spider webs. I listened to one analysis that claimed those represented Adam's own psyche, while another claimed it represented Adam's view of women, of their being ready and able to devour you.
Regardless, while it interested me, it is too ambiguous for me to consider it an above-average movie. Just a bit too arcane in its delivery. In the end, when Anthony is off with the girlfriend, coming home he has a car wreck, we assume (but don't really know) that the Anthony manifestation was killed off, leaving open the possibility that Adam is coming to grips with his life and desires to be Adam the professor.