Reversal of Fortune: Did Sunny Want Out?
Okay, guys, I just rewatched Reversal of Fortune and I'm still reeling. I know it's 'just' a movie, but the whole Sunny von Bülow case just... ugh, it gets to me. Like, even though it's told mostly from Claus's perspective (and Jeremy Irons is SO creepy-good, right?), I keep thinking about Sunny. Like, Diane Wiest is incredible playing her just lying there, but her narration… It's all SAD. And here's my theory: what if, subconsciously, Sunny wanted to be in that coma? Hear me out! Her life seemed so suffocating. Rich, sure, but desperately unhappy. Her marriage was clearly a disaster, affairs all over the place, and she just seemed so… lost. Remember that scene where she's just wandering around the HUGE house, practically a prisoner in her own wealth? It felt like she craved an escape, even if she didn't realize that's what she was doing. It's not that I think Claus is innocent, necessarily. He's DEFINITELY shady. But maybe Sunny's mental state made her more vulnerable, more susceptible to whatever happened. Like, did she accidentally overdose due to being so unwell or was it Claus? The movie wants you to believe one thing, but something feels like it could be in between there! I think the film gives the viewer the impression that maybe her body was weak, and because she was in such a bad state to start with, and was already a vulnerable person, that that could have contributed to what happened, regardless of what Claus did or didn't do. It's not that I necessarily believe that Sunny tried to commit suicide or was an addict. I don't know! I just feel that that could have contributed to the situation somehow, despite whatever Claus did or didn't do! Anyway, I'm probably overthinking it, but that's what good movies do, right? Make you feel something and then spin theories for days! What do you guys think? Am I totally off base, or does anyone else get that vibe from Sunny's character? And those eyes! I love that the film also lets you look at the situation from Alan Dershowitz's perspective since he wasn't in the marriage and an outsider. It's a great way to see both sides. Plus, Ron Silver as Dershowitz is awesome!
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