Don't juxtapose Schlussel into a true conservative think tank, otherwise I'd have to jump ship to my own private island. I compare her to the likes of Garofalo.
"....sympathetic White character in the entire movie?"
Idris Elba's Derek character never let anyone into his predicament but for one office buddy in an overview as he became worried that if brought to light it could turn on him and become a much publicized sexual harassment suit. How sympathetic are the majority to males being the ones sexually harassed?
Should he have even had a drink with her at a bar while on his way to a "no spouses allowed" office Christmas party? Probably not. A little harmless shared flirtation to Derek became an obsession to Lisa (Ali Larter), a temp worker which in a two week stint had her eyes on set on him for a conquest.
Typical story line, handsome characters. The only difference I saw in this film -stereotypical white female vs black female role- comparison was that Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles)played a "strong black" woman who took on this psycho and was not afraid to "take care of business" & beat the crap out of her when she found her in their bed, when coming back to reset the alarm system. The wife, Sharon, did not play the victim,stated she did not believe in divorce (parents married for 30 years)& kicked her husband out of the house for 3 months in a "get it together-prove if you are worthy of return" scenario allowing only visitation with their young son.
Should he have told his wife early on even when the nutcase jumped into his car in her trench-coat covering only underwear? Probably so. When she followed him to a retreat. Probably so.
Christine Lahti played the detective who just played it cool in her interrogation of Lisa. She just gathered the facts, kept surveillance on the house and suggested an alarm system. Not really much one could do in a domestic, "he said she said" stalking situation.
The teenage babysitter was taken advantage of by a the skillful psycho by showing up announced and claiming Sharon had forgotten she was coming by. Pretended to call the alleged friend and offer the phone over after saying there was no need to punish the sitter. Typical teenager who was scammed by this manipulative obsessive woman.
The stroking of the male ego, lack of common sense and definitely cowardly reaction to the situation only played into the plot carefully planned out by this psycho predator.
If anything this would be considered a more feminist film, where the power was in the female characters and not the males.
The film had some resemblance to Fatal Attraction thriller so you knew where it was going. Anne Archer who played Beth Gallagher (wife) was not as powerful a role. Obsession Rated PG-13 not R as "FA".
Good thriller. Beyonce' can pack a punch!
Falls in with who is really on top (M/F) often seen in films.