Saturday 21 April 2012

S is for Sliding Doors

Internet Movie Database entry
The eagle-eyed among you will notice Sliding Doors is a film. Well yes, yes it is. But it's also a film that I wish I'd written, and therefore it counts as inspiration.

The story takes two very distinct paths after Helen tries to catch a Tube. In one reality she catches the Tube; in the other, she misses it.

From this relatively small incident, Helen's life completely changes in both realities - one in a postive way, the other less so. What makes this such a great story is the ending. It pretty much sums up my philosophy of life. But I'm not sure I want to spoil it. If you've seen the film, you'll know. If you haven't, it would be so cool if you check it out - especially as it has John Hannah at his sexiest!

This plot device would be difficult to manage in prose. In the film, Helen has her hair cut in one of the realities, so immediately the viewer knows where they are. Alternate realities are abound in fiction, but usually taking a significant event and imagining how the world would be if the opposite had happened. To do both in the one film/book would take a lot more planning than I think I could manage!

46 comments:

  1. I have not seen this film but it sounds like a very cool concept. Definitely one requiring lots and lots of planning.

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  2. This movie is amazing! And you're right, John Hannah is definitely hot in it!

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  3. Thanks for reminding me of this one! I loved it but havent seen it in years. I need to watch it again!!

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    1. I've only got a video copy (and no video player), so it's been a while since I watched it as well. It's bound to be cheap on Amazon these days!

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  4. I haven't seen this movie, but I like the premise. Glad it had a happy ending. I hate movies like this that don't end well.

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    1. You made me think I'd thrown in a spoiler by accident. I said 'great ending', not 'happy ending'. Now it may well be happy, but I ain't saying ;-)

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  5. Hi Annalisa .. I haven't seen this film .. though I do like John Hannah!

    I gather you're also Devon based .. my mother used to live in Penzance, before she had her strokes, but I've been up and down through Devon for decades! I'm now in Eastbourne where my mother sadly is resident - but she's fine and we cope. The blog was started for her- the sort of things we discussed - kept us both occupied .. and she'd send me home to Google things!!

    Cheers for now - Hilary

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    1. Thanks for the follow, Hilary. I was born in Plymouth, but I sneaked over the border to Cornwall when I was 11.

      Google is the centre of my family too - especially during arguements - I don't know how we coped without it!

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  6. This is one of the best movies of all time in my opinion. It's such a neat look at time and alternate realities. And just a great story.

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  7. It's one I've always meant to see. John Hannah looking hot? Not sure about that, but now I'll have to watch it and find out! ;-)

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    1. Sexy, not hot! There's a difference. Sexy is more intrinsic, more about the way he moves, the twinkle in his eye, the mannerisms, the voice. Hot is just the surface, the bit you don't even notice after you've been with someone for a while.

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  8. This is on my list now. How can GP be so perfect? In everything that she does, books, motherhood, cooking, acting.

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    1. Almost perfect. She did call her daughter Apple, after all... :-)

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  9. I kept trying to turn my Kindle around so I could see the poster from the other way, but the screen kept flipping right side up. LOL.

    This movie looks supa good. I've never heard of it.

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    1. I love the image of your Kindle just going around and around :-)

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  10. Great film - must watch again soon. John Hannah has a smouldering quality that is irresistible too...

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    1. Smouldering is a good word for him... aah, see... I'm off again...

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  11. What a great concept. There a new show that's similar, Awake, but the universe hopper guy has the same haircut in both, so sometimes it's confusing.

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    1. It sounds like he definitely needs to get a haircut! I've never heard of it, but apparently Hubby has, and now I'm compelled to say Hello to Jason Isaacs!

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  12. I've seen it a while back and loved it. You're right! It's a great movie that should have been a book first.

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    1. I don't think it should have been a book - I'd love to have written it, but I think it needs to be a film. I'd have loved to write the screenplay!

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    1. Couldn't write it, watch it, or kiss John Hannah?

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  14. Funny because I was just thinking of this film the other day. Great one! Nice to find you through A-Z! :)

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  15. Must be really alert to keep a tab on both the characters :-)

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  16. I always meant to see this movie!

    There's a TV show on here called "Awake" where the man is living two realities, and clues in one thread often help him solve problems and cases (he's a detective) in the other thread. (There's more to it but I don't want to gove to much away...) :)

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    1. Gwen mentioned Awake earlier, it sounds really interesting.

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  17. I have seen the movie and loved the concept. Would be quite difficult to pull it off in prose.

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    1. I think it would be hard, too. But I'm sure we're all wondering how we'd do it :-)

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  18. Great film. I'm wondering if it would be possible to write that sort of thing up as a book. Alternate chapters using two different fonts. I've read books like that where alternate chapters are written from the point of view of two people.

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    1. The thing with alternate chapters written by different POVs is that they are following the same story, whereas Sliding Doors follows completely different plotlines - that's asking a lot from your reader. Hmmm... wondering about the possibilities though.

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  19. I'm not familiar with this film, but it sounds like something that I might like. I'm a fan of serendipity and alternate realities. And I like Gwyneth as well.


    Lee
    A Few Words
    An A to Z Co-host blog
    My Main blog is Tossing It Out

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    1. If you like Gwyneth with an English accent, you'll REALLY like Sliding Doors :-)

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  20. Whoa! I just double-checked. I can't believe I wasn't following your blog. I've fixed that now.


    Lee
    A Few Words
    An A to Z Co-host blog
    My Main blog is Tossing It Out

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    1. Thanks Lee, though with all the other people you follow, I can totally understand!

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  21. I saw that movie a long time ago and I remember I really liked it, but I can't believe I don't remember the ending! I recently saw another movie very much like that, and in this one they distinguished between the two realities by the color the two main characters were wearing - I think it was green in one and maybe orange in the other. That was also very effective for knowing immediately which version you were in.

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    1. You never expect the Spanish Inquisition! (That might help jog your memory.)

      Different colours is another good trick - it needs to be a quick recognition or I assume viewers would lose the plot, literally!

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  22. I haven't seen the movie, but I've always wanted to. Now I'm adding it to my Netflix queue!

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    1. So I'm making your Netflix queue as big as your TBR pile? I like that! :-)

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  23. Aw, I've always been keen to watch Sliding Doors, but never got around to it. Nice to know it's a good movie :)

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  24. I tried to watch this years ago and it just didn't hold my interest. Your post makes me think I should give it another try.

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    1. There are some really cute details to look out for, like in one reality Gwyneth Paltrow is in a rowing boat with John Hannah, while in the next camera shot she's in the other reality walking next to the river that John Hannah's rowing along, with her spot empty. I really loved seeing that detail :-)

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