Time to Review

Karina Longworth has a review for Thumbsucker (opening tonight) on cinematical.com. She describes it has a thoroughly humorous, revealing, and an all around satisfying experience. I haven't seen the film, but just the first two paragraphs of her review got my thinking. She compares two recent independent films dealing with the frequently explored subject matter of suburban teenagers coming of age:

"[Mysterious Skin] was the story of suburban teenagers trying to figure out how to be sexual beings whilst hiding dark, terrible secrets; [Thumbsucker] is the story of suburban teenagers trying to figure out how to be sexual beings, when their desires alone feel like dark, terrible, secrets. It's not hard to turn tragedy into comedy; a stroke of the mundane is all it takes."

Isn't it great to see a few words bring such clarity to something so true? When was the last time you talked about junior high? Were you laughing or crying? Were you laughing so hard you were crying? Maybe you were crying so hard you had to laugh? Tragedy and comedy make love in strange positions.

In contrast, a giant color photograph covering Tuesday's Life Section of USA Today depicted Gwyneth Paltrow and Hope Davis striking a "sister, sister" pose. The article revolves around the film Proof, which also opens tonight. But what is the article about? Hope Davis and Gwyneth having a girl moment in the make-up room. Yesterday, my friend Dave showed me an article about how Hollywood movies premier in New York because the Press in NY turns out for the red carpet showcase and then, basically, they go home. The showing of the film is irrelevant.

Apparently, the thing to do now is show up in the make-up room before the celebs step onto the red carpet. That's where the scoop is. And what's the scoop? Two gorgeous women who seem to really like each other. They swap mom advice and how to feed babies a macrobiotic diet. In fact, they like each other so much it's as if they're really sisters, like they are in this film called Proof which is about something or other that is basically really deep.

I'm paraphrasing, obviously, but that actually is the gist of this article. Hope Davis is the seasoned, talented (truly talented: About Schmidt, The Secret Lives of Dentists) and Paltrow is the check-out aisle tabloid fixture who can put a baby product company into the black by pushing around their stroller. And these two are now friends. Top story.

Both articles are about a high profile art house film. They are just film reviews. But one took me somewhere genuine and one left me with the mental after-taste of a piece of Bubbilicious. I think they reveal to me the power of an individual voice and, in the case of Cinematical, the potential of blogging to set those voices free.

Some days it feels like even a film review is in desperate need of freedom.

Comments

[studiobeerhorst]

Gwyneth was in my dream the other night. She was just looking pretty pushing a baby stroller with infant versions of Brenda and I in it. She was also in the movie we tried to watch last night called "slidding doors" but we got interupted so many times I finally quite watching besides it was not a movie that was taking me anywhere I haven't already been many times before in the movies.

It is interesting how fixated on movie stars we are in this country. God help us get an appitite for something more satisfying then bubblegum. Have mercy on our sorry asses.

[Captainwow]

Amen. Once in a while, I must admit I like bubblicious. Even worse, I like the chicklet gum you can get for a quarter in restaraunt foyers.
But still.... Amen.