I watched a couple of coming of age movies the other day. First was the 80s version of life after college graduation found in St. Elmo's Fire. This movie is cheesy as hell with some less than stellar acting, entertaining fashion choices and some cheesy dialogue, but I adore it. I first watched it when I was 21. In it, between all the cheese, I found a movie about things I was going through. I related too much to Demi Moore's character Jules. I knew what it was like to have all this self-created drama, to be unbelievably tired at a young age, to not live up to the image I presented. She and Ally Sheedy's Leslie are the only characters I can relate to in the film. Kevin is too depressing, Alec is a hypocritical ass, Billy is a wreck, Wendy is too nice, and Kirby is kind of a stalker. But in Leslie and Jules, I saw pieces of myself. I saw a reflection of my own feelings. And even though it is cheesy and no longer so relevant to my circumstances, I remember how I felt at that time. Growing up and really starting to act like an adult is not easy. It was nice to see that other people feel the same way.
In the same day, I watched the movie that provided the title quote, Garden State. This was the coming of age film for my generation a few years back. I remember so clearly watching this movie in 2004 thinking: Finally. Finally someone makes a movie for people around my age that feels like my life. It was the first indie type movie I saw and a first for movies that really hit the core of where I was at that time. And it is still very relevant to how I feel. Also it has a fantastic soundtrack. It made sense to me when I watched it at 18 and it makes even more sense to me now. I feel like someone else has been where I am. I relate to the character of Andrew Largeman. I get how hard life can be when it hurts. I get how a few days can change everything. I get the numbness and the fear that can creep in. It all makes sense to me.
A lot of people seem to enjoy hating this movie now. Like suddenly the people who loved this movie when it came out now like to be too cool to like it. They complain about the indie music being overused, the character type that Natalie Portman plays, the once iconic scenes that now feel cliched, and the growing pains people hit in their mid-20s. But it is still true to life. The music wasn't overdone in 2004. It was refreshing. Natalie Portman's character wasn't an overused shell, she was a unique, imperfect woman. The growing pains of being in your mid-20s may be pathetic and self-absorbed, but it is part of life. And movies like St Elmo's Fire, Reality Bites and Garden State each being released in the 80s, 90s and 2000s indicate that this is a common phase of life for people of this age. Post-college, pre-successful career, it is easy to feel completely lost, sad, let down by the promises of what lay ahead, afraid and alone. And this might seem silly to some people but when you are in it, you are in it. Movies that help you feel understood matter. It helps to know you are not alone and that this is a part of life.
I love coming-of-age movies, particularly post-college movies. Probably because I am not far removed from my own university graduation. I am in the early stages of a career that I hope to succeed in. I worry a lot about failing everyone. I spend a lot of time listening to music and watching movies and thinking about my life. I am in that "annoying" 20-something phase of life. It is nice to feel like it is normal, to feel understood.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Just call me Bossypants
I have a confession for everyone: I am a little bossy. Now to a lot of you, this is no surprise. I am a bossypants and have been for as long as anyone can remember. It is just part of who I am. Now I have worked hard to learn to get along with others and control it, but it is still there. And I also love Tina Fey and pretty much everything she does. She manages to make television I want to watch and is one hell of a funny lady. So imagine how happy I was to pick up a copy of her new book Bossypants.
This book is hilarious. Tina Fey humourosly details aspects of her life ranging from childhood up to the present in a way that feels like talking to a close friend. She is one funny lady. Her worldview is very similar to mine, which makes me love this book. It isn't a celebrity memoir, it is just funny. She laughs at herself and at everyone else, including internet haters. Her self-deprecating kind of humour made for a fantastic read. You have to be able to take the joke and go with it, laugh at yourself. And she delivers on that point.
Bossypants reminded me in some ways of Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking which I may have to pull off the shelf for another read. Again, less of a memoir and more of a hilarious worldview which references some events of her life. And always willing to laugh at herself and make some jokes at her own expense. Sort of like when Carrie Fisher guest starred on 30 Rock for what was a favourite episode of mine.
As a bossy lady in a position of power, people will sometimes be cruel, like the random person online who said this about Tina Fey: “Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, bitchy, overrated troll.” Her response in one section of the book is one of the funniest parts. She addresses the random cruel comments in a much funnier way than most of us would. Carrie Fisher has also used her Twitter account to post some very funny responses to haters. These women inspire me. They take an insult and make it a joke.
Anyway I just thought I would mention a couple of my favourite books in case anyone was looking for some funny reads. Bossypants and Wishful Drinking are books that I highly recommend written by two very funny ladies.
This book is hilarious. Tina Fey humourosly details aspects of her life ranging from childhood up to the present in a way that feels like talking to a close friend. She is one funny lady. Her worldview is very similar to mine, which makes me love this book. It isn't a celebrity memoir, it is just funny. She laughs at herself and at everyone else, including internet haters. Her self-deprecating kind of humour made for a fantastic read. You have to be able to take the joke and go with it, laugh at yourself. And she delivers on that point.
Bossypants reminded me in some ways of Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking which I may have to pull off the shelf for another read. Again, less of a memoir and more of a hilarious worldview which references some events of her life. And always willing to laugh at herself and make some jokes at her own expense. Sort of like when Carrie Fisher guest starred on 30 Rock for what was a favourite episode of mine.
As a bossy lady in a position of power, people will sometimes be cruel, like the random person online who said this about Tina Fey: “Tina Fey is an ugly, pear-shaped, bitchy, overrated troll.” Her response in one section of the book is one of the funniest parts. She addresses the random cruel comments in a much funnier way than most of us would. Carrie Fisher has also used her Twitter account to post some very funny responses to haters. These women inspire me. They take an insult and make it a joke.
Anyway I just thought I would mention a couple of my favourite books in case anyone was looking for some funny reads. Bossypants and Wishful Drinking are books that I highly recommend written by two very funny ladies.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Teenage girls kicking serious ass
This week I happened to watch 2 movies that feature young women kicking some serious ass. Both are trained to kill from a young age. The 2 movies are incredibly different and are both films I found quite enjoyable and a little different from the standard mold. They are Kick-Ass and Hanna.
First up, Kick-Ass mostly because it was released first. The character of Hit Girl is undeniably the most awesome part of the movie. She has been analyzed to death on the internet over the past year for everything from her violence (and enjoyment of said violence) to her crude language to the implications of being raised to kill and exact someone else's revenge. However, in a superhero movie, it is great to see a girl kick ass.
The movie asks the question of why no regular person has tried to be a superhero. It goes from there and ranges from hilariously comic moments to the darker side of humanity, and of trying to be something that only exists in comics. It is actually a rather interesting take on the question and quite funny in some parts. It is also very violent. What I liked best was that a superhero movie finally featured a strong, ass-kicking young women. The downside, this movie is ultimately about a young man who is rewarded by getting the hot girl. Hit Girl is a secondary character. She just happens to be considerably more interesting than the main character.
Now to 2011's upgrade on the teenage girl kicking ass: Hanna.
I first saw a trailer for this movie at the end of last year and have been eagerly anticipating it since then. It stars Saorise Ronan as Hanna, a young woman who was raised in isolation by her father, trained to kill. The difference is that Hanna fights and kills for survival. People are out to kill her. She is on her own to protect herself. And this film delivers on all of my expectations. Hanna kicks serious ass. She defends herself. And while her father is also looking for some revenge, Hanna's violence is pretty much all in the context of her survival. She is not accustomed to being in the world and around people. She displays a very human level of curiosity and very little judgement. She is unprepared for life out in the world, but very prepared to live through any and all attempts by the CIA at her capture. This contrast provides an interesting story throughout the film.
This film is genius. It is unlike any other mainstream movie that I can think of. Hanna is the main character. This is a story about her. And this girl is not some lame-ass female lead like we often find in terrible romantic comedies. She is not looking for love. The one scene where a guy does try to kiss her shows in a highly entertaining way that Hanna is not after love. She is out to survive. And Cate Blanchett, one of the best actresses out there, shines in her role as the CIA agent after Hanna and her father. She is pure brilliance as usual.
This film is exceptionally well acted, has an incredibly well written script, and has a very interesting directing style. I have not seen any of director Joe Wright's other films, but I found Hanna to be strikingly different visually than a lot of other films. Maybe it was because the film was not shot to view Hanna as a sex object. Maybe it was the beautifully used scenery. Maybe it was the action and violence without being gratuitous. I am not sure what it was, but it all came together and worked to make what is one of the best films that I have seen in recent years. I suggest that any of you out there go see this film as soon as possible.
So, these 2 films I have mentioned are quite different and I feel quite differently about them. Kick-Ass was fun and was a baby step in the right direction for action/superhero films, but will probably never become a favourite film of mine. It was good, but not spectacular. I only bought the DVD because it was on 4 for $20. I like it, not love it. Hanna I do love. I will definitely own the DVD regardless of price. It will have a lasting impression, and currently has an excellent chance of being one of my top films of 2011. So far this year it is right up there with the best I have seen. I hope it signals a trend that Hollywood is ready to tell interesting stories about complex and fascinating female characters. I hope to see more films like this one again. And I hope Hanna gets the recognition that I feel it deserves from people other than myself, from people with greater influence.
First up, Kick-Ass mostly because it was released first. The character of Hit Girl is undeniably the most awesome part of the movie. She has been analyzed to death on the internet over the past year for everything from her violence (and enjoyment of said violence) to her crude language to the implications of being raised to kill and exact someone else's revenge. However, in a superhero movie, it is great to see a girl kick ass.
The movie asks the question of why no regular person has tried to be a superhero. It goes from there and ranges from hilariously comic moments to the darker side of humanity, and of trying to be something that only exists in comics. It is actually a rather interesting take on the question and quite funny in some parts. It is also very violent. What I liked best was that a superhero movie finally featured a strong, ass-kicking young women. The downside, this movie is ultimately about a young man who is rewarded by getting the hot girl. Hit Girl is a secondary character. She just happens to be considerably more interesting than the main character.
Now to 2011's upgrade on the teenage girl kicking ass: Hanna.
I first saw a trailer for this movie at the end of last year and have been eagerly anticipating it since then. It stars Saorise Ronan as Hanna, a young woman who was raised in isolation by her father, trained to kill. The difference is that Hanna fights and kills for survival. People are out to kill her. She is on her own to protect herself. And this film delivers on all of my expectations. Hanna kicks serious ass. She defends herself. And while her father is also looking for some revenge, Hanna's violence is pretty much all in the context of her survival. She is not accustomed to being in the world and around people. She displays a very human level of curiosity and very little judgement. She is unprepared for life out in the world, but very prepared to live through any and all attempts by the CIA at her capture. This contrast provides an interesting story throughout the film.
This film is genius. It is unlike any other mainstream movie that I can think of. Hanna is the main character. This is a story about her. And this girl is not some lame-ass female lead like we often find in terrible romantic comedies. She is not looking for love. The one scene where a guy does try to kiss her shows in a highly entertaining way that Hanna is not after love. She is out to survive. And Cate Blanchett, one of the best actresses out there, shines in her role as the CIA agent after Hanna and her father. She is pure brilliance as usual.
This film is exceptionally well acted, has an incredibly well written script, and has a very interesting directing style. I have not seen any of director Joe Wright's other films, but I found Hanna to be strikingly different visually than a lot of other films. Maybe it was because the film was not shot to view Hanna as a sex object. Maybe it was the beautifully used scenery. Maybe it was the action and violence without being gratuitous. I am not sure what it was, but it all came together and worked to make what is one of the best films that I have seen in recent years. I suggest that any of you out there go see this film as soon as possible.
So, these 2 films I have mentioned are quite different and I feel quite differently about them. Kick-Ass was fun and was a baby step in the right direction for action/superhero films, but will probably never become a favourite film of mine. It was good, but not spectacular. I only bought the DVD because it was on 4 for $20. I like it, not love it. Hanna I do love. I will definitely own the DVD regardless of price. It will have a lasting impression, and currently has an excellent chance of being one of my top films of 2011. So far this year it is right up there with the best I have seen. I hope it signals a trend that Hollywood is ready to tell interesting stories about complex and fascinating female characters. I hope to see more films like this one again. And I hope Hanna gets the recognition that I feel it deserves from people other than myself, from people with greater influence.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we're uncool.
It's all happening! This is a recurring line in Almost Famous. As is the concept of rock music being your home. This is the definitive movie for any fan of classic rock. It captures the feeling of loving rock. This is how I feel when I listen to classic rock. I can barely even express how this movie makes me feel. It is like nothing else in popular cinema. And the soundtrack. The sheer amazingness of the music of Almost Famous is almost unspeakable. The Who, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, all used brilliantly. The music all feels perfect for the scenes in which it is used. And the scene on the bus. The Tiny Dancer scene, one of the greatest scenes in a movie of the past 15 years. I well up every single time. There is something more than I can explain in that scene. The music can bring people together and transcend the fights and the mistakes. Music can help people.
And my second favourite scene: on the plane when they think they are going to crash. The things people will say, the truth comes out. It is another moment of brilliance that can ring some bells about the things we keep to ourselves and the things we want to say. It is about people. About life. There are real emotions in this movie.
The character of Penny Lane is also a breath of fresh air in otherwise stale cinematic women. She is different. She is both independent and vulnerable. She loves the music and she lives her life. She might not make the best decisions, but she feels real. Unfortunately Kate Hudson has not had another role this good since this film. I saw something in her that I don't often see in big deal, mainstream movies. She gets it. The absolute all-consuming love for rock and roll. A time before I was even alive this I miss like crazy. I wish I could have been there.
I wish I could have lived William's life. Touring with the band, writing for Rolling Stone magazine. Learning about life. He was so young and naive and dealt with situations far beyond what he was ready for. And he was living his life. They all were. It was a special time in music. Patrick Fugit has the perfect face for this role. I honestly don't understand why he doesn't have more of a career. And Frances McDormand as his mother is pure genius, as expected. She is overprotective, but William is her 15 year old son. She is fantastic.
Of course, the feeling of truth of the movie is likely there because this is loosely based on a time in writer/director Cameron Crowe's life, but that doesn't make it any less amazing. Also, I love Cameron Crowe. Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire, Elizabethtown and of course Almost Famous all occupy places on my DVD shelf and I love them all. They all represent a slice of life that feels real to me, something I can relate to.
I generally hate when people ask me what my favourite movie is. It is too impossibly difficult to pick just one. But I think Almost Famous would make my top 5.
And my second favourite scene: on the plane when they think they are going to crash. The things people will say, the truth comes out. It is another moment of brilliance that can ring some bells about the things we keep to ourselves and the things we want to say. It is about people. About life. There are real emotions in this movie.
The character of Penny Lane is also a breath of fresh air in otherwise stale cinematic women. She is different. She is both independent and vulnerable. She loves the music and she lives her life. She might not make the best decisions, but she feels real. Unfortunately Kate Hudson has not had another role this good since this film. I saw something in her that I don't often see in big deal, mainstream movies. She gets it. The absolute all-consuming love for rock and roll. A time before I was even alive this I miss like crazy. I wish I could have been there.
I wish I could have lived William's life. Touring with the band, writing for Rolling Stone magazine. Learning about life. He was so young and naive and dealt with situations far beyond what he was ready for. And he was living his life. They all were. It was a special time in music. Patrick Fugit has the perfect face for this role. I honestly don't understand why he doesn't have more of a career. And Frances McDormand as his mother is pure genius, as expected. She is overprotective, but William is her 15 year old son. She is fantastic.
Of course, the feeling of truth of the movie is likely there because this is loosely based on a time in writer/director Cameron Crowe's life, but that doesn't make it any less amazing. Also, I love Cameron Crowe. Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire, Elizabethtown and of course Almost Famous all occupy places on my DVD shelf and I love them all. They all represent a slice of life that feels real to me, something I can relate to.
I generally hate when people ask me what my favourite movie is. It is too impossibly difficult to pick just one. But I think Almost Famous would make my top 5.
Don't let anyone, ever, make you feel like you don't deserve what you want
10 Things I Hate About You is smarter and better then the average teen movie. I remember when it came out in 1999, right around the time I saw a lot of other teen movies. I was 13 and these movies meant the world to me. They were relevant to my life. And I got to go see them alone at the toonie theatre. This was the epitome of middle school coolness for me. However, this movie stood out from the general sea of crap that is/was teen movies. I mean, yes it is horribly predictable and kind of cheesy, but it made an impression on my young self.
It introduced me (and most of North America) to Heath Ledger. He rose above the material and showed of some really genuine acting. From the obvious fun and joy on his face as he runs away from the security guards while singing to Julia Stiles' character to the visible guilt on his face in the second to last scene as the weight of his actions hits home, he showed us the beginnings of his skill in a silly teen comedy. It is a poignant reminder of how brilliant Heath Ledger truly was.
10 Things I Hate About You also demonstrates more intelligent humour than most other teen movies. It seems to be aware of its genre's ridiculousness and while it employs many of the stereotypes, there is a sense of self-awareness here. And this movie is actually funny. I still laugh when I watch it.
And I can't talk about this movie without mentioning the character of Kat Stratford. She was the one I wanted to be after I watched this. I modeled some of my clothing choices after her throughout my teenage years. She was sarcastic, angry, a feminist, and a bit of a rebel, and I loved her. She introduced my young self to feminism. This movie was where I first heard of Bikini Kill, Sylvia Plath, Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan. And I felt understood and justified in my anger at the high school boys' idiocy and misogyny. I was also angry at the Joey Donner types that I knew. I wanted to run my car into theirs, I wanted to watch someone punch them out at prom (or do it myself) and I wanted to know that it was ok to feel that way. Teenage girls in movies aren't always allowed to express these feelings, but Kat did. And someone still loved her, without her having to change her entire worldview.
So yes, this is a somewhat silly teen comedy from my youth. But to me, it rises above most of the other teen comedies of that era and remains something I enjoy watching. It meant something to me at a time when everything was hard and I didn't see myself reflected anywhere in pop culture. I felt a little bit more understood and that mattered to me.
It introduced me (and most of North America) to Heath Ledger. He rose above the material and showed of some really genuine acting. From the obvious fun and joy on his face as he runs away from the security guards while singing to Julia Stiles' character to the visible guilt on his face in the second to last scene as the weight of his actions hits home, he showed us the beginnings of his skill in a silly teen comedy. It is a poignant reminder of how brilliant Heath Ledger truly was.
10 Things I Hate About You also demonstrates more intelligent humour than most other teen movies. It seems to be aware of its genre's ridiculousness and while it employs many of the stereotypes, there is a sense of self-awareness here. And this movie is actually funny. I still laugh when I watch it.
And I can't talk about this movie without mentioning the character of Kat Stratford. She was the one I wanted to be after I watched this. I modeled some of my clothing choices after her throughout my teenage years. She was sarcastic, angry, a feminist, and a bit of a rebel, and I loved her. She introduced my young self to feminism. This movie was where I first heard of Bikini Kill, Sylvia Plath, Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan. And I felt understood and justified in my anger at the high school boys' idiocy and misogyny. I was also angry at the Joey Donner types that I knew. I wanted to run my car into theirs, I wanted to watch someone punch them out at prom (or do it myself) and I wanted to know that it was ok to feel that way. Teenage girls in movies aren't always allowed to express these feelings, but Kat did. And someone still loved her, without her having to change her entire worldview.
So yes, this is a somewhat silly teen comedy from my youth. But to me, it rises above most of the other teen comedies of that era and remains something I enjoy watching. It meant something to me at a time when everything was hard and I didn't see myself reflected anywhere in pop culture. I felt a little bit more understood and that mattered to me.
Friday, April 1, 2011
United Nations’ Human Rights Council issues joint statement on LGBT human rights
So this has absolutely nothing to do with movies, but I think it is worth sharing. Also, this is bascially what my degree is in, so even though I am not working in the field, I do still have a huge interest in human rights and the international community's actions. For all its flaws, I still have a little faith in the UN.
1. We recall the previous joint statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, presented at the Human Rights Council in 2006;
2. We express concern at continued evidence in every region of acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity brought to the Council’s attention by Special Procedures since that time, including killings, rape, torture and criminal sanctions;
3. We affirm the General Assembly joint statement of December 18, 2008 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, supported by States from all five regional groups, and encourage States to join the statement;
4. We commend the attention paid to these issues by international human rights mechanisms including relevant Special Procedures and treaty bodies and welcome continued attention to human rights issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity within the context of the Universal Periodic Review. As the United Nations Secretary General reminded us in his address to this Council at its Special Sitting of 25 January 2011, the Universal Declaration guarantees all human beings their basic rights without exception, and when individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the international community has an obligation to respond;
5. We welcome the positive developments on these issues in every region in recent years, such as the resolutions on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity adopted by consensus in each of the past three years by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, the initiative of the Asia‐Pacific Forum on National Human Rights Institutions to integrate these issues within the work of national human rights institutions in the region, the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the increasing attention being paid to these issues by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, and the many positive legislative and policy initiatives adopted by States at the national level in diverse regions;
6. We note that the Human Rights Council must also play its part in accordance with its mandate to “promote universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination of any kind, and in a fair and equal manner”(GA 60/251, OP 2);
7. We acknowledge that these are sensitive issues for many, including in our own societies. We affirm the importance of respectful dialogue, and trust that there is common ground in our shared recognition that no‐one should face stigmatisation, violence or abuse on any ground. In dealing with sensitive issues, the Council must be guided by the principles of universality and non‐discrimination;
8. We encourage the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to address human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to explore opportunities for outreach and constructive dialogue to enhance understanding and awareness of these issues within a human rights framework;
9. We recognise our broader responsibility to end human rights violations against all those who are marginalised and take this opportunity to renew our commitment to addressing discrimination in all its forms;
10. We call on States to take steps to end acts of violence, criminal sanctions and related human rights violations committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, encourage Special Procedures, treaty bodies and other stakeholders to continue to integrate these issues within their relevant mandates, and urge the Council to address these important human rights issues.
This statement was signed by the following states:
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the former-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Venezuela
It is a small win, but a win nonetheless on the road to equality internationally.
For more information, check out these sites:
Joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation & gender identity
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