It is a cranky day. The universe is very anti-Fatima. First, I was all proud that I seem to have mostly gotten over the cold, except for a touch of the Sultry Frog voice, when this morning I was seized with a coughing fit that was like something a pack-a-day Kentucky coal miner might have near the end of his life. I'm starting to wonder if I haven't actually acquired some sort of super germ because I'm ALWAYS sick. The only positive upside to this sneezy wheezy hell is the parental doting that comes along. Whats the point of falling sick when you don't have the luxury of a beloved someone making a fuss about wearing warm clothes while going out and stuffing you with Vicks VapoRub. Another positive upside to my sneezy wheezy hell is staying in bed and reliving my all-time favorite classic old films. Films have always been a somewhat passionate domain for me. Suffice to say, I was practically married to TMC for a week and a half. And yes, I won't lie .. I occasionally sought refuge in the not-so-profound romantic comedies of the 80's and the 90's.
"Fasten your seat belts. Its going to be a bumpy night." Uttered by the hugely talented Bette Davis from the classic "All About Eve". Its not the line itself, but more so in the way she delivers it - sassy and unflinching, making it immortal even after decades forth. I don't know what it is about these oldies but every time I see them, a feeling of unexplained nostalgia for an era that I never belonged to, takes over me. Ah, because I will probably never get to stand in the pale moonlight wearing a gown designed by Adrian Head. Avant-garde like Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra continue to mesmerize movie buffs till today. A lot of people I know don't like them and I don't understand why. See many of the films on my ' favorite list' took a while to get there. I believe that for a film to be truly great, one has to be able to watch it at least five times. For instance, 'Vertigo' is most people's favorite Alfred Hitchcock film because one can watch it over and over again. Top spots on my list are exclusively taken by the likes of 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', ' Breakfast At Tiffanys', ' An Affair To Remember', ' Some Came Running' , 'Holiday' , ' The Philadelphia Story' and finally 'Casablanca'.
In my rather 'sick' days, which now I come to think of it was more of a perpetual vacation, my days would start with a dose of NyQuil and a movie marathon. Usually a friend or two, sometimes my mom too would accompany me in my film experiments. I think there's nothing better than sharing films with the people you love. There is a comfort in the long-ago familiar gestures of watching an undamaged film with friends and family. It somehow brings you closer in a bittersweet way, makes you cry and smile at the idiosyncrasies of characters on the big screen. In short, they celebrate life and define moments that we choose not to acknowledge. We lived vicariously through 80's movies like The Lonely Guy, The Breakfast Club, Rocky, Working Girl, La Maman et la Putain, Sleepless In Seattle, Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Ferris Beullers Day Off, The Shining, Scarface, Rain Man, Revenge Of The Nerds and a long list to follow. Mainstream and arty, foolish and mature, and at core, probably a little too whimsical, I nevertheless felt proud of my mismatched combo.
Movies also have the advantage of being exceptionally good friends in lonesome days when human contact seems like a royal drag. We find solace in the little things of our stupid little lives. And good films are just the outlet. During my bed-bound days, I also decided to momentarily flirt with the not-so-mainstream artsy genre of movies. One film maker on my top list was : Bernardo Bertolucci. Amongst gems like The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, The Dreamers and Stealing Beauty .. the coveted topmost Bertolucci film on my list was reserved for " Last Tango In Paris ". Made in 1973; controversial, beautiful, erotic and heart-breaking .. it is an unforgettable tale of love and lust riddled by sexual politics between an older man and a younger woman. It is interesting to watch a film of this genre for younger viewers like myself as it takes us back to a time ( of which we didn't belong to ) when sex was mysterious, daring and still considered a taboo by international standards. Unlike the sexual portrayal these days ; tacky, easy and plastic.
Monday Morning : My love affair with the world of glittery cinema came to a sad end, for the time being that is. See what happened was, the NyQuil finally decided to kick in. Besides, I had school. So for now, I'm crossing my fingers for a spontaneous remission!
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4 comments:
yo. You write well, you know that and I know that. :)BUT this article was very LONG!and for a person with a short attention span...a bit difficult to get to the end. Although i managed to.
Well said, I must say "confusion in her eyes says it all" it was pleasing to see someone write about movies, and not about trashy flicks that roam the theatres these days, but movies that were, are and always will be classic. Ah i do remember Cary's stylings, Bogart's accent, .....YOU know me....And i know you.......It was of decent length, the article...And honey movies are meant to be seen with your loved ones, not with a stupid moronic crowd in the theatres, the ones that are ....STINK!!!!!!.hehehhehe......
In the end , you know you can write, i know it too......I can only say this."Here's to looking at you kid..." . :)
i must say it ws well written :P i guess it ws flawless atleast fr me . it had all the details, mellow and clear to sum it up just the way it should be.heheh:P it wsnt boring at all......
I'm glad you have mentioned Sinatra instead of Elvis :P
You have surely lost a bit of taste for sugar-coated pop.
seen any David Lynch?
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