Sometimes it takes a while to appreciate perfection. Don’t get me wrong; I thought “Titanic” was a great movie the first time I saw it, and it easily made my top 10 of 1997. I didn’t begrudge James Cameron for his success with the film, although my younger self wished he had made another “Terminator” or “Aliens” instead.
At my second theatrical viewing, probably in a 1998 or 1999 re-release in a not-so-great theater, I remember being super-aware of how long “Titanic” is (204 minutes in movie-speak; three hours and 24 minutes in real-person-speak). And that made me hesitant to see the 3D re-release that’s out now.
I’m so glad I decided to see it — and in a theater with very nice visual and audio presentation — because now, having given myself enough time to forget some of the details, I think it’s pretty much a perfect movie, packed with little moments of transcendent beauty. I have one qualm with “Titanic,” and that’s David Warner’s character, who is identified on IMDB as Spicer Lovejoy. When he drops the diamond into Jack’s pocket it’s a hoary boo-hiss moment followed by one of the hardest-to-watch, cliched “misunderstanding” sequences in film history between Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet).
Other than that, I adore this movie. Even the frame job pays off fairly nicely when Rose realizes by looking into her heart that she knows Jack is innocent; a lesser movie would’ve had Rose make a tangible discovery of his innocence.
I don’t even mind Billy Zane’s Cal. Oh yes, he’s despicable to the point where I don’t trust anyone named Cal anymore, but if you live long enough, you’ll encounter self-centered people like this in the real world, too. I like the moment where Cal assures Rose that he and Jack will catch a lifeboat on the other side of the ship; it gives me just a shred of hope that he’s a decent guy. I also like that that hope is unfounded. Cal is nasty to the end; there’s no Hollywood epiphany for him.
“Titanic” is a story of heroism and cowardice. And subtlety. No, it didn’t seem subtle 15 years ago, but for whatever reason — maybe because movies in general have gotten so much worse since then — I now find it somewhat understated. The feelings of Victor Garber’s ship designer (noble failure), Bernard Hill’s captain (numb shock) and Jonathan Hyde’s ship builder (failure and shame to the degree that he will probably never find absolution) are portrayed entirely without dialog. And all the historical information — number of passengers, details on the manner of the sinking, etc. — are seamlessly peppered into the script. Compare this to the clunky exposition at the start of other disaster movies, even great ones such as “Jurassic Park,” where the audience basically gets a Power Point presentation.
The love story feels true. I’m not a huge fan of DiCaprio or Winslet — indeed, I don’t understand their superstardom — but Jack and Rose’s love story is just so beautiful, both on the page and through the performances. They physically save each other, sure, but they also emotionally save each other.
And the next time someone says digital effects detract from movies rather than add to them, mention “Titanic,” where the images unquestionably add to the power of the disaster. Maybe it’s an exception to the rule, but wow, what an exception it is. Oh, and I don’t know if 3D makes it a better movie or not (it certainly doesn’t hurt anything), but I was struck by the beauty of the various shots of night sky on this viewing. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the star fields are the only thing that was changed for this re-release; Cameron gave into pressure from a scientist friend to use the accurate star field from that point on the globe on April 14, 1912.
OK, enough fawning; we all love — or at least like — “Titanic.” Now I want to ask a question: What is the moment where you lose it, where all the film’s little moments have built up and the waterworks start? You can have multiple answers, as perhaps it’s something different on each viewing, or perhaps you start balling at various times during a single viewing of the incredible final act.
An underrated moment stood out for me on this viewing. Bill Paxton’s character, the modern-day treasure hunter who is searching for the diamond amidst the wreckage, says “Three years, I’ve thought of nothing except Titanic, but I never got it.” For just a split second you might think he’s referring to the diamond, and then he finishes with: “I never let it in.” And you realize he’s referring to the human side of the story, as recounted by the elderly Rose (the late, great Gloria Stuart).
Some other powerful moments:
- A mother assures her daughter, who is reaching out to her father: “This boat is for the mommies and kids. There will be another boat for the daddies.”
- As Rose and Jack climb to the top of the sinking ship, Rose catches the eye of another pretty girl about her age, who is alone and terrified. She doesn’t have a Jack with her.
- An old man and woman embrace on their bed as their stateroom fills with water.
- A mother tells her young boy and girl the fairy tale of Tir na Nog in their bunk. Perhaps the kids don’t know what’s going on, but the mom certainly does, and she stays brave till the end.
- The musicians say their goodbyes and are about to go their separate ways, but then one violinist starts up again, and the others return to keep playing until the end.
- Rose lets go of Jack’s frozen, dead hand and he sinks into the North Atlantic.
- Old Rose climbs the railing as per her memories and drops the diamond in the ocean with a little gasp.
- We see the montage of things Rose did with her life, as inspired by Jack.
- Rose dies — an old woman in a warm bed — and goes to heaven, where all of the deceased are aboard a pristine Titanic, and a smiling Jack is waiting by the clock.
- Celine Dion starts singing “My Heart Will Go On” over the closing credits.
Share your favorite tearjerker moment from “Titanic” in the comment threads.
Comments
I have said this for years, but the one scene that gets me is the scene with the elderly couple you mentioned above. I have always had a thing for animals and old people and this one gets me.
I have been debating whether it is worth spending money to go see this movie again in 3D. It has been on TV recently so I have seen parts and ‘gotten my fill’ of the movie so I probably won’t.
One scene I would like to mention that you missed, is the Irish dancing below decks. I really enjoyed Rose loosening up, drinking beer, dancing, etc. It made her that much more likable for me..
Overall, I agree, a great classic movie.# Posted By Shaune | 4/10/12 10:07 AM
Shaune–
The funny thing about the old couple scene is that some film snobs will label it manipulative because Cameron is suddenly throwing in two random sweet old people, but I think it’s powerful because we don’t know anything about them. What’s their story? They’re old, they love each other, and they’re gonna die. What’s the teenage girl’s story? She’s alone and she’s gonna die. What’s the mother and baby’s story? They’re scared and they’re gonna die. It’s almost more sad because we don’t know their story. In a way, Jack’s death is less sad because we see he lived a lifetime of love in two days.
I agree totally on the Irish dancing scene. We like Jack immediately, but Rose is just a bratty rich girl until the dancing scene where we warm up to her.
I kind of undersold the 3D. Although it’s not “spectacular” in the sense of a movie that’s made for 3D, like “Avatar,” I think it does make the story more intimate. Like sometimes the railing of the ship is right in front of you. I sat in about the fourth row and didn’t feel much distance between me and the movie.
I had the perfect viewing situation because I saw “Titanic” twice 15 years ago and hadn’t watched it since. Although I admired it, it really felt like a movie that I didn’t need to rewatch. But, like I said, that made it fresh again. Also, I read an interesting essay online that said women who were teenage girls in 1997, and have since experienced first love and heartbreak, have been balling uncontrollably at the 3D screenings. It seems like more life experience makes “Titanic” more tragic and moving, which really goes to show that it was never a shallow, simplistic movie aimed at teenage girls like some people said it was.
After this viewing, I honestly have to say “Titanic” is one of the greatest movies ever made.# Posted By John Hansen | 4/10/12 3:12 PM