About movies and books! There are few things I like more than a good book or a good movie, but sadly they are few and far between. What I considered a good movie is one that either makes me think, or stops me from thinking because I am too wrapped up in the story line. I do like a good comedy too, usually more edgy humor, but I can laugh at slapstick too (think Jim Carey in Liar Liar). A good book exposes me to new ideas- stretches the boundaries of my experiences, or shows the true complicated lives we live with all the messiness inside of us and around us. Life is not perfect, but to me there is beautifulness within the imperfections, and I love it when books can show that in an eloquent way.
The most recent book I have read that I thought was excellent was Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. His characters were messed up but also beautiful in their own way. Because I enjoyed the book so much I picked up his earlier book, the Corrections, and have only got part of the way through it because I am just not connecting with the characters. I will finish it in the hopes it does get better for me. The Red Tent opened my mind about female issues and bonding. And the Story of Edgar Sawtelle was an amazing story of the power of animals in our lives (and it was set in the northwoods of Wisconsin!). The Davinci Code was fun given that I went to catholic school and enjoyed all the connections he made (accurate or inaccurate)- the movie was not so good.
For movies, one of my all time favorites was Terms of Endearment—so funny and also so sad at the same time. Life is Beautiful almost can’t be topped. I do like good comedies (usually where the comedy is a little off color and surprising): Little Miss Sunshine and There’s Something about Mary were so much fun to watch. I still chuckle at Ghostbusters line “Who brought the dog?” I have an annoying habit of quoting lines from movies that no one gets.
For “mental health” movies: Lars and the Real Girl, As Good as it Gets, A Beautiful Mind and Dirty Filthy Love - they made me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time! The portrayal of people with disorders was so powerful and real in these movies- funny but also sad. I tend to be an anxious person myself, so I could understand some of these characters, a little too well!
When I see a really good movie or read a good book I feel so satisfied, but when I watch or read a lot of “pop culture” I get very disappointed. I probably should spend more time watching independent or foreign films, but I have a spouse who greatly opposes those films. He likes science fiction or horror films- I like a few of science fiction movies (Avatar was great), but I am too anxious a person to watch horror films; my eyes are closed for almost half of the movie.
This week I will finish reading the Corrections and hopefully go and see Black Swan, and I hope neither will let me down.
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