That roughly sums up the characters. What makes it quite interesting is the narrative, which employs numerous tarot chapter divisions and imagery as metaphors. For instance, the film's title, Knight of Cups, is drawn from tarot.
The upright position symbolizes romance and pursuit, while the reversed position portends deception and indulgence. Just like Rick's life, forever oscillating and wandering back and forth in the void between two extremes, unable to find release no matter how he struggles.
Chen Ming did manage to understand the film. It discusses nothing more than the spiritual poverty and desolation of people's inner worlds amidst increasingly affluent and splendid material lives.
Chapter 223