There is what we think of ourselves, there is what others think of us, and then there is what we think others think of us. Frost/Nixon reveals a man obsessed about what others think of him. In the interview with David Frost Richard Nixon describes the two of them as “scrambling our way up in undignified fashion.”
Nixon seems to suffer both from feelings of inferiority and from resentment toward those who may think of him as inferior. Even after serving a term as president of the United States Nixon feels that “the well born” look down on him. He feels the needs to prove himself and “make ‘em choke on our continued success. Our continued headlines! Our continued awards! And power! And glory!”Continue reading
Had Angels and Demons been about a couple of likable characters running all over Rome trying to prevent the murder of some Cardinals it would have been enjoyable. It was a good mystery with some great action and nice plot twists. Two other elements fascinated me as well: the tension between science and religion and the “God Particle.”
The hubris of both religion and science were touched upon. In this corner we have the Catholic church with a history including the (fictional) public murder of the Illuminati for “a warning to others to stop questioning church ruling on scientific matters.” And in this corner we have the 21st century scientific community who push the envelope by creating a large amount of dangerous anti-matter in hopes of solving the energy crisis and, oh by the way, simulating the moment of creation. While much of the movie dwelt on the moral compromises of the church bent to suppressing science, the Carmerlengo delivers a compelling soliloquy on the hubris of science and the motive of the church to protect faith. His insanity does not negate some of his points. Continue reading
Produced in 1995 the movie Outbreak is a timely diversion as the Swine Flu epidemic sweeps the nation (not). It’s sort of a conspiracy meets disaster flick in which the greatest fears of movie’s epidemiologists are realized when a deadly virus mutates and goes airborne. There is a squirmy scene in which someone sneezes in a movie theatre and we watch the infection float through the air into the mouth of another person. Soon an entire town is infected. The CDC and the military descend upon a town to assess the situation and try to eradicate the virus.
This movie shows how an event like a possible pandemic can become a political football. Decisions about how to handle the outbreak, what to tell the public, how to handle the media, and what the political repercussions might be all reveal the hubris of leadership. Before the virus spreads the Centers for Disease Control weighs the cost of a special alert. It comes down to whether it’s worth the money and the embarrassment of being wrong. Continue reading
Gran Torino follows an older man’s journey out of isolation. Walt Kowalski is angry and emotionally disconnected. He carries prejudices. He is the sort of person we might call culturally irrelevant.
He has become a stranger in his own home. The demographics of his neighborhood have changed. He’s retired from Ford. Manufacturing is a dying industry in this country and he’s part of a dying breed. He stands stiffly in his suit utterly confused by his grandchildren’s attire at his wife’s funeral. The kids have no idea in which war he fought or why he served. His snarliness, ethnic slurs and his stoic demeanor make him an embarrassment to his sons. His cultural values are holdovers from the 1950’s.
His children are stereotypes of white, upper middle class culture. Sons Steve and Mitch find their father an embarrassment. Daughter-in law Karen seems more interested in relegating him to a retirement community and getting her hands on the house. Granddaughter Ashley is interested in his Gran Torino but not in him. Grandsons Daniel, David and Josh find him sort of amusing and are interested in his war service but he’s not willing to discuss that with them. He seems content to be left alone with his dog and his bitterness. Continue reading
Commedian Louis CK did some comedic commentary on Conan O’Brein’s show recently about amazement and what he calls a generation of spoiled idiots. He contends that people who fly, instead of complaining about delays and inconveniences, should recognize the amazing fact that “You’re sitting in a chair, in the sky…” and can arrive at a destination in six hours on a journey that once took months. Instead stories of flying usually include complaints about the wait and the inconvenience. Continue reading
Last week while everyone else was watching Academy Award nominated movies I went to see Paul Blaurt: Mall Cop. It’s basically a formulaic comedy featuring an overweight mall security officer. While many critics proclaimed the jokes tired and recycled, they made me laugh, again. Sometimes it’s nice to go to a movie and just laugh without having to be smart or in on the joke. It also struck me that a very large (excuse the pun) part of this movie hinged on Paul’s weight problem. Continue reading
1. “You… complete me.”-Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise), Jerry Maguire (1996)
2. “As you wish” – Westley (Carey Elwes) in The Princess Bride (1987)
3. “Loretta, I love you. Not like they told you love is, and I didn’t know this either, love don’t make things nice–it ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren’t here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die…” – Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage), Moonstruck (1987)
4. “I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – Arwen (Liv Tyler) in The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
5. ”I used to live like Robinson Crusoe — I mean, shipwrecked among eight million people. And then one day I saw a footprint in the sand and there you were. It’s a wonderful thing, dinner for two.” – C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) The Apartment’ (1960)
6. ”You make me want to be a better man.” Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) in ‘As Good as It Gets’ (1997)
7. ”You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey, that’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon.” – George Bailey (James Stewart) It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)
8. “It’s my favorite time of day, driving you.”
“It is the saddest part of my day, leaving you.” – Jamie and Aurelia (Colin Firth and Lucia Moniz) in Love Actually (2003)
9. “I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. – Harry (Billy Crystal) When Harry Met Sally(1989)
10. “I am no one special. Just a common man with common thoughts. I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but in one respect I’ve succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul and for me that has always been enough.” – Duke (James Garner) in The Notebook (2004)
Warning : Spoilers. Don’t read this if you haven’t seen the movie and are one of those people who don’t want to know what happens.
Slumdog Millionaire follows two brothers who make very different choices as they grapple with escaping from the hopelessness and poverty of Mumbai’s slum. For Salim money means hope. For Jamal it is his love for childhood friend Latika that drives him forward.
At the beginning of the movie Jamal and Salim flee an angry mob. Jamal’s concern extends to Latika who is also running. Salim fears that Latika will be a drain on them and resists helping her. Throughout the movie Jamal’s consistent love and concern for Latika contrasts with Salim’s willingness to treat her like a resource, using her when she adds value and rejecting her when she causes complications. Eventually Latika becomes a symbol of hope for Jamal. Finding her and loving her becomes his life’s cause. Continue reading
Stupid happy people can be really annoying. It’s a time of year when some of us let down our guard. We open our wallets and donate money to causes we may have never heard of or buy our friends unnecessary (and sometimes ridiculous) gifts. We listen to music we’d never listen to any other time of year. We abandon taste and decorate with of huge pieces of yard art and gaudy lights. We embrace hope and joy, perhaps only for a season, but we embrace it all the same. For whatever reason this sort of seasonal behavior makes some people angry.
These grinchy people refuse to abandon all hopelessness and enjoy the festivities. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas it’s not enough for the Grinch to ignore Christmas, he wants to spoil it for everyone else. The Grinch is an angry guy and his malice extends to the smallest Who down in Whoville. He finds the Whos’ joy offensive. He is convinced that it is a shallow joy that is centered around the “stuff” of Christmas.Continue reading
Everywhere we turn at Christmas there is food. It’s possible to graze all day every day between Thanksgiving and New Years’. We turn to Paula “a stick of butter” Deen and Rachel “Yum-O” Ray to help us whip up something delicious. It’s fun to sit around and watch TV cooks whip up something delicious then go into the kitchen and pull out all the stops, imagining ourselves as The Next Food Network Star.
At Christmas people bring food to work. Every get-together involves eating and drinking along with the merriment. If we don’t try every dish someone is likely to have hurt feelings. If we can’t think of anything else to give at Christmas we offer a tin of sweets or basket of meat, cheese or chocolate. There is candy in our stockings and candy hanging from our Christmas trees.
It’s a Wonderful Life is perhaps the quintessential Christmas movie. Every year we watch George Bailey’s search for meaning and purpose while we hiss and boo at the evil Mr. Potter. So what exactly does It’s a Wonderful Life have to say about our current mortgage scandals?
Just a minute – just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You’re right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was – why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn’t that right, Uncle Billy? He didn’t save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what’s wrong with that? Why – here, you’re all businessmen here. Doesn’t it make them better citizens? Doesn’t it make them better customers? You – you said – what’d you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they’re so old and broken down that they… Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about… they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be. – George Bailey
Emotionally needy meets emotionally distant when Del attaches himself to Neal. In Planes, Trains, and Automobiles two men battle travel delays, winter weather, and each other as they travel from New York trying to reach Chicago by Thanksgiving. While their misadventures on the road are hilarious, the emotional growth of both characters is the heart of the movie.
Neal is one a somewhat rigid guy with very definite social boundaries. Neal makes no effort at all to connect with other people who he considers outside his comfort zone. Del is uncomfortably familiar and involves himself uninvited in Neal’s predicaments. He has no room in his life for Del who invades his personal space in every way. Del annoys and embarrasses him but Neal can’t seem to lose the guy. Continue reading
I find awkward moments really humorous and dysfunctional family movies provide plenty of awkward moments. Dinner with the extended family usually involves lots of emotional undercurrents: veiled resentment, snide comments, whispered asides, and sometimes an awkward revelation. Here are defining lines from some of my favorite dysfunctional family movies.
The Ref “I’ve seen loan sharks who are more forgiving.”
Burn After Reading is more of the Coen Brothers’ ruminations on greed. Though No Country for Old Men and certainly Fargo provide humorous moments, Burn after Reading is more like Raising Arizona in its sensibility and humor. Brad Pitt is hysterical as Chad, the impulsive fitness instructor who helps his co-worker Linda who tries to cash in on a disk of classified C.I.A. information accidentally left at a gym in the D.C. area. Linda wants the money to pay for cosmetic surgery which, she believes, will lead to love.
As in No Country for Old Men and Fargo, greed induces characters to abandon their moral parameters. None of these characters are professional criminals. Each becomes the bumbling crook in order to obtain or keep something that is not theirs. In each case one of the main characters fails to value the opportunities for happiness already present in his or her life. In each case there is something at represents happiness that he or she is willing to break the law to get. Continue reading
For a generation who grew up banging heads to Master of Puppets, Death Magnetic is a musical reprise. After St. Anger angered fans with what James Hetfield admits was “one dimension…This is anger and here it is,” Metallica seems to go for something more enigmatic and layered in Death Magnetic.
The theme of their new effort is death. Primarily inspired by the overdose death of Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, this album explores the motivations that might drive someone to self-destruct. Metal has been blamed for angry, anti-social, sometimes suicidal behavior. But, perhaps, metal can merely reflect back the anger and frustration people are already feeling.Continue reading
(Other Sinema7 blog posts about Lost are available at http://sinema7.net/tag/lost/)As all of us Lost fans wait for the new season to begin in 2009, here’s a piece that appeared in the Oregon Emerald last February. Amelie Rosseau explores how the characters in Lost embody the Seven Deadly Sins. Not only did she match characters to sins but she found correlations between the animals which appear on the show and those associated with the sins: Get Lost in the Seven Deadly Sins
Jack = Pride
Jin = Envy
Locke = Anger
Shannon = Sloth
Sawyer = Greed
Hurley = Gluttony
Kate = Lust
“Why do men cheat?” is a subplot in Moonstruck. Rose poses the question to several men throughout the movie and the answer at which she arrives is that it is “Because they fear death.” Many of us enter middle age and are struck by the idea that life might end and we’ve missed out of something by choosing to enter into a life-long relationship with someone.
Rose’s husband Cosmo is cheating on her. Rose’s brother Raymond remembers being awakened by a big full moon and looking out the window to see Cosmo looking longingly up Rose’s window. He calls that kind of moon, “Cosmo’s moon.” In the movie the moon is back but Cosmo’s sense of romance with Rose is gone and he is trying to find it elsewhere. Rose knows he’s having an affair and tries to understand why.Continue reading
Gluttony is one sin that can be rather difficult to hide. While I suppose there may be some thin people who overeat the results of this particular sin are largely, sometimes very largely, evident. Thomas Aquinas defined it as “inordinate desire not regulated by reason.”
In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape the title character feels trapped. Gilbert lives in a small town with few opportunities but can not leave because he is needed at home to help take care of his mentally challenged younger brother Arnie. His mother Bonnie is extremely obese and cannot take care of the family or the house. Most of the time she sits on the sofa eating and watching TV.Continue reading
We can pay off all our debts. We can take a vacation. We can improve the lives of our families and friends. We can fill the gas tank. We can start a trust for our children. We can stay home and pursue something we love to do. We can weather an economic downturn. We can now afford to be charitable. We are certain we would be responsible and worthy stewards should a bag of money land in our laps.
Millions presents yet another story of finding a large sum of ill-gotten cash. Money literally falls from the sky into the hands of young Anthony and Damian. Britain is in the process of adopting the Euro so the fortune, which is in British Pounds, must be spent quickly before the country converts to Euros.Continue reading
Dante categorized sloth as “insufficient love” while he grouped lust, gluttony and greed as “excessive love” and wrath, envy and pride as “misdirected love.” Sometimes this “insufficient love” reflects an unwillingness to place anyone or anything above our own comfort. In other cases it may reflect an insufficient love of self reflected in low self-worth and insecurity.
In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off three friends skip school to have a day of fun in Chicago. Ferris is optimistic and completely secure in his parent’s love and in his own abilities to engage the world. His neurotic friend Cameron worries about everything. He believes that he is not a priority to his father. Cameron feels insecure, inadequate, and powerless and it makes it seem pointless to get out there and live life.
What we have looks pretty good until we see someone else with something better. Aristotle defined envy in his Rhetoric “as the pain caused by the good fortune of others.” In The Big Kahuna Larry is in excruciating pain when Bob gets a lucky break but fails to capitalize on it. Often envy involves more than just wanting to possess something; it extends to having negative feelings towards the person who has what we want.
Three salesmen are at a convention to sell lubricants. They prepare a party in their hospitality suite in hopes that Mr. Fuller, a possible client, will come to their party. Larry and Phil are experienced salesmen who have been in the business for some time while Bob is at his first convention. Making contact with Mr. Fuller is critical to their mission at the convention.Continue reading
Vanity is one of the most recognizable forms of pride. We want everyone to notice our possessions, our accomplishments, or our appearance. We may also believe that we are better than other people, at least in certain areas. We may become so arrogant that we actually believe that we are as knowledgeable, capable, beautiful and important as we want people to think that we are.
People who receive lots of admiration or hold lots of power can develop an inflated sense of their own importance. Miranda Priestly, the boss in The Devil Wears Prada determines what clothing and which models will appear in her very influential Runway magazine. She believes that she, and she alone, decides what people will buy and wear. She treats those around her with disdain, dismissing major designers with a purse of her lips, calling models “fat,” and treating her staff disrespectfully. Protagonist Andrea comes into the job because Miranda decides to take a chance and “hire the smart, fat girl.” She is called “fat” a number of times throughout the movie. Everyone in the movie has a fixation about weight, and dropping a dress size is the ultimate affirmation of self-worth. Andrea’s co-worker Emily declares that she’s “one stomach flu away from reaching my goal weight,” while size six Andrea is told by Nigel, the office designer, that size six is “the new fourteen.” Continue reading
I’m enjoying writing the book. I love movies and am fascinated by the idea that the seven deadly sins are universal. While social taboos may vary the underlying motivations that lead people to make selfish choices are pretty much the same. I believe we are all sinners and we all need grace. I believe we see in others what we fail to see in ourselves. I believe that movies and music have become the vehicles in which we tell our stories as a people and in them, reveal the qualities we believe to be admirable and those we know to be sin.
