WHAT DO YOUR MOVIES SAY ABOUT YOU?
I just got done watching ‘Angels in America.’ A TV mini-series/movie starring Al Pacino, Emma Thompson, Myril Steep and a few others. I rented the two DVD set the other day which in effect are two very long films. Very long and very intense films.
The review on Amazon says; “God has abandoned Heaven. It’s 1985: the Reagans are in the White House and Death swings the scythe of AIDS. In Manhattan, Prior Walton tells Lou, his lover of four years, he’s ill; Lou bolts. As disease and loneliness ravage Prior, guilt invades Lou. Joe Pitt, an attorney who is Mormon and Republican, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn toward a job at the Justice Department. Both Pitt and Cohn are in the closet: Pitt out of shame and religious turmoil, Cohn to preserve his power and access. Pitt’s wife Harper is strung out on Valium, aching to escape a sexless marriage. An angel invites Prior to be a prophet in death. Pitt’s mother and Belize, a close friend, help Prior choose.”
My friend Karen would claim this as yet more evidence that I love depressing movies (and TV). She says that because I am usually so ‘happy-go-lucky’ I watch films and TV with overly depressing or deep under currents in order to inject some kind of sadness into my life to get emotional balance. She pointed out to me once that all of my favorite films have similar hallmarks. Those are (in no particular order) music by Thomas Newman, death/loss, and a narration. She even pointed out that my favorite TV series (Six Feet Under) has two of those traits.
Angels in America was an odd movie/series. It was edgy and quite thought provoking. It won’t rate as one of my favorites, but I certainly enjoyed it. Of all my DVD’s there are few ‘brain in nuteral’ movies, and those that do fit into that catagory are most likely gifts bought on various birthdays and Christmas’s. Just glancing at the collection I wonder what picture someone might get of me. They are:
American Beauty
The Shawshank Redemption
Cast Away
Road to Perdition
Sleepers
The Life of David Gale
The Italian Job (original from the 60’s)
Finding Forrester
Palookaville
High Fidelity
Meet Joe Black
Indecent Proposal
Basic Instinct
Training Day
Lost in Translation
Bounce
Donnie Darko
Titanic
Alfie
Last Orders
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
Good Will Hunting
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Blow
American History X
Waking Life
The Thomas Crown Affair
21 Grams
Mystic River
When Harry Met Sally
Vanilla Sky
Oceans Eleven
Enemy of the State
The Sixth Sense
Twelve Monkeys
Midnight Cowboy
On Golden Pond
The Matrix
Contact Eyes Wide Shut
A Perfect Murder
Momento
Magnolia
Wild Things
Baraka
The Beach
The Legend of Bagger Vance
The Village
Awakenings
Forest Gump
Catch me if you can
Okay, there are some wild cards in there of course. Like ‘Wild Things’ for one. But a few of those were dirt cheap ex rental copies. I watched Wild Things the other day and wondered why did I buy this? In fact, looking at the list there I think I need to box a few of them up and either take them to the charity shop down the road or try to flog them on eBay. But actually the eBay idea is a waste of time. Like I’m going to go to that effort just for a few quid (slang word for Pounds, as in UK currency).
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 5:10 am
Nice Hat. Now you’ll never go thirsty in a rainstorm.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 3:56 am
I love Locke (the dude with the knives) and Sawyer too. I think I like all the guys much better than I like any of the chicks except for the preggo girl (she hasn’t had her baby yet from where I am but she and Charlie just got kidnapped and they found charlie and got him alive again–whew! That was close.)
lol. I’m such an addict. I need to go over to my mom’s tonight and watch like 5 more episodes. I didn’t get to watch any last night and I’m in withdrawl, man.
I hear you on the movies deal. I like weird, psychological thrillers and depressing movies and no one would ever guess it because I’m like Miss Bubbling Personality Contest Winner. I like goofy movies too but stuff like Focus Films (Eternal Sunshine, 21 Grams) and weird stuff is more of my interest. Mmmmm.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 3:59 am
>>It’s nice that despite being cast away on the island, they were all able to stand for that group shot. Why do American TV’s shows and news have to have that kind of shot?
PUBLICITY, my friend. It’s the American way.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 4:56 am
I found Angels in America really odd. And Emma Thompson was one scary angel…
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:12 am
Ha!Ha! on the Wild Things comment. I’m wondering why you bought it too. Kidding… I saw it too, at the theatre (I probably should not have admitted that). As for your movie list, all I’ve got to say is “very interesting”.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:17 am
I giggled when I saw Titanic on the list, but was impressed you had some great films as well.My picture of you remained the same after reading this list. You seem squishy on the inside (tis good) and a bit squishy on the outside as well. But, what do I know, my favorite movie of all time is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Yet, I loved “Team America”. Ha, puppet sex….who knew?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:18 am
I have a pretty good idea why he might have Wild Things in there :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 7:05 am
What do your movies say about you?
I have 16 of those movies. So 31% of me agrees with you.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 7:39 am
There are only 5 on your list that I have not seen. When it comes to buying, I tend to lean towards romantic comedies because life is just too serious and sometimes I like to just get away from it all in someone elses fantasy.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 10:13 am
(you could always sell the ones you want to get rid of to that weird teenager from south dakota… it’d save you from ebaying…)great movie list. i personally have 30 of those. What are some other slang words ya’ll use?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 2:30 pm
Alfie – Save yourself the trouble and don’t watch it. I sat through it thinking, ‘when is this going to end?’ But what would I know, you might enjoy it. Tell me what you think.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 29, 2005 at 6:25 pm
I hated Alfie. Stupid movie. Never saw the Michael Caine version – I’m talking about the Jude Law one.
Wrote the following comment on Sep 30, 2005 at 2:48 am
It’s good to know that me and Jude at least agree 31%. :-)
I’ll let you know what I think of Alfie. Do brits think movies like ‘Lock Stock’ are funny. Well of course we do. And to answer Edith’s question, no they’re not all American movies. But yes, on the whole they are. Two reasons, 1. Movies are often about escapism for me and I can’t feel like I’m escaping if the setting and accents are familiar to me. And 2. I can’t read subtitles of foreign films quick enough :-)
Wrote the following comment on Sep 30, 2005 at 12:13 am
largely a fine group of movies. many of which i own or have owned. also, quid was made familiar to me by a pair of similar movies in my own collection: lock, stock, and two smoking barrels and snatch. do brits find those movies funny?
Wrote the following comment on Sep 30, 2005 at 1:24 am
they’re all american movies, right? i’ve always wanted to know what “quid” meant.