So I've been watching movies. Brilliant movies that were nominated/won at the Oscars, and some older ones from Sharan's collection.
-The Reader
-Revolutionary Road
-Milk
-Wall-E
-Dead Poet's Society
-The Great Debaters
Among these samples of utter brilliance, I HAD to catch up with happier chick-flicks that I'd already seen, as you see, most of the above do not, let me repeat, DO NOT make a-frustrated-girl-who-desperately-wants-to-go-home-and-not-EXAP feel any better. They make you sad, and feel ashamed with your uselessness. They also instill you with a tremendous amount of fodder for thought. Yeah I know that's supposed to be good, but these movies strip you off your existing beliefs and make you doubt what-you-think-you-know. Hence, not recommended if one wants to rejuvenate.
I still haven't figured Revolutionary Road out, its that brilliant, and here I don't mean it in the Peter Keating way. Its rare that I don't have an opinion. Its the way the characters are moulded-so utterly grey. Kate Winslet's character, i thought, was a half-way between a Rand heroine and a non-Rand person, a very vulnerable area to exist in. Please leave your comments on the movie, might help me.
Anyway, so my question is why brilliance is synonymous with sadness. Wall-E was the only completely happy one, but not considered right now since it was animated, also about robots-in-love(which, by the way, I thought was adorable). The Great Debaters was a great and happy movie, hence will not be included in the discussion. Also Milk, since its a true story. The Sound of Music is a beautiful exception, too.
So why do all 'good' movies have to be sad? I know about the reality theory, that sadness is real. Isn't happiness? Or is it not worth to be portrayed? One might think its easy to be happy. Trust me on this one, its not, but its important. I'm also aware of the you-learn-more-from-sadness theory. Might be true, but that doesn't mean one stops making happy and good movies. Chick-flicks are hardly considered to be 'good' movies, though I personally believe some of them are. They don't get the awards, anyway. But the awards issue is yet another one.
So please remind me of some happy and brilliant movies and make me happy. :)
P.S.- I seriously think Kate Winslet is a goddess in disguise of an actress. Anyone to second me?
Ha!
ReplyDeleteJust as I posted, I remembered The Terminal, Cast Away and Catch Me If You Can. See? That's why I think Spielberg is a God(in disguise of a director).Also, I'm glad the Hindi film industry exists.They keep making me happy. :)
you blogged!! :D
ReplyDeleteand i will think of a more profound comment tomorrow when my head is not aching from watching two hours of American Idol (my goodness, it's great and all, but seriously, TWO HOURS?!?!)
love you!
oh and before this thought vanishes... In Good Company... I think that's a good movie with a happy ending which is also realistic. :)
ReplyDeleteKate Winslet IS IS IS IS IS a Goddess. Some of her earlier movies man..I mean, she existed even before Titanic, which is something rather unheard of, for most people.
ReplyDeleteAlso, happy/brilliant movies, um..The Holiday, Princess Diaries II (which I'm not sure I would classify as a chick flick, since some guys I know enjoyed it as well), Little Manhattan, Pride and Prejudice (2005) and Finding Neverland.
I don't know what I mean when I say that Revolutionary Roads scared me to death, because of the profundity of unhappiness in it, and how awfully people can thwart their own happiness, but that's what the film meant to me. It's difficult when I can not understand, but understand a character. That's Kate Winslet's character for me. That way Leonardo Di Caprio's entire role as a self-frustrating, very 'normal' husband in the film was understandable, if not relatable. You're right about the Rand-unRand area. Their marriage,to me was like a different reflection of Dominique's marriage to mediocrity - her intense positivity versus his linear idea of security equalling happiness. I guess it's normal to feel that way, but it does teach you a lot about living life.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I completely second you. She's beyond words. Happy/brilliant movies - Garden State, Dil Chahta Hai, Little Manhattan (bang on, Sharan!). I know what to get you, now :) And yes - Wall-E is brilliant too!
ReplyDeleteWatch a few good men, as good as it gets, to mention sometheothers have leftout. MY spacebarisgiving me problems, damn. :|
ReplyDeleteAnd Kate Winslet, no thanks. :)
DPS anyday. YAWP!
Finding Neeeeeeeeeemo! :D And it's set in Sydney! Bonus! =) She's the Man! Totally cheerful. The Notebook? Yeah, ok, a little sad in the middle but it's beautiful at the end, right? It was on tv tonight here, so we watched it in college. And SDM was, like, SUPER HAPPINESS in the end tooo! yayyyy. :) And OMG Mulan! (we watched that tonight too.) le sigh. I could go on, I'm a very happy movies/chick flicky girl.
ReplyDeleteSTAR DUST. ♥ that film!
Oh right...you said brilliant...well, I stand by Disney/Pixar in that department, they always deliver...and musicals! As you said, Sound of Music...Hello, Dolly! OH Little Miss Sunshine, that was an absolute CRACKER, have you seen it??
x
JAG
PS: sorry for gushing ;-)