We all get old, but we’re not dead yet
We all get old, but were not dead yet
This afternoon I watched a movie at first I didnt think it would be particularly good, but as I got into it I began to think more about being old. How little things that may have bothered us in the past fade somewhat while we (try to) focus on what is important now. And as well, how some insignificant things that never bothered us before, do now.
Nowadays Im not at all interested in watching teenager movies, but rather my preference turns to those in which the actors may be older, the themes more attuned to later years, the inevitable tribulations, even that which is imminent. Movies that deal with people who have grown older would include ones like Gran Torino, The Bucket List, Grumpy OId Men, etc.
The one I watched today was particularly poignant. It was Quartet, a movie directed by Dustin Hoffman (his directorial debut) and included older actors such as Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay and a number of others of that generation. Its about elderly performers, in particular musicians and opera singers, who live in a retirement home that is dedicated to them.
During the credits at the end, photos of the performers when they were younger were combined with their appearances today, and what you learn is that the performers were actual professional musicians and opera singers who were now retired.
I identify when I watch movies, fantasizing that I am a character in it, perhaps one of the actors, or just a person existing at the time and place. I get so deeply involved sometimes I share their emotions, laugh out loud and even tear up at times and can even become emotionally drained. Quartet was a movie that ended well but it did induce me to write this article.
What movies have such an effect on you? Can you give an example and tell us how involved you become?
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I loved this movie. One of my faves for the year. Touching and funny. Def, worth watching.
Movies are for the most part crap . If you are going to be exposed to media lies at least let them be of short duration ... TV shows for example .
I'm really sorry you feel that way, Petey. You did say "for the most part" so please tell us about a movie that you do NOT consider crap and why.
There have been a few here & there :
"Ghost World" wasn't too bad .
"Limitless" was interesting ...
I've not seen those movies but checked them out.
Ghost World was not a financial success barely breaking even on a small budget but was highly acclaimed critically and is reputed to have become a cult favourite. Many of the world's best movies such as Casablanca, Citizen Kane and others have the same history.
Limitless has similarities to other movies, borrowing concepts from Charly (Flowers for Algernon) and perhaps Wall Street.
My comment here is that 'chacun a son gout'.
Not really either one . It was a different concept borrowing very little from anything else I have ever seen .
Since you have seen neither of these it is unlikely you will have anything substantive to add ...
Good golly, Petey. Don't be so cranky.
It wasn't the best movie I have ever seen, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching the actors use their skills and Hoffman got them to put their hearts into their roles.
I'm not old. I'm just nostalgic.
If I can't be cranky I'll take my ball & go home ... you've been warned !
Have you seen the movie Charly,or read the novelFlowers for Algernon, Petey?
Both actually Buzz . And there is very little in the way of similarities between those and "Limitless" .
What I guess I don't understand is this:
In the movie Charly, a simpleton of less than normal intelligence is given a treatment that expands his mind so that he becomes exceedingly brilliant, but it doesn't last. In the movie Limitless the protagonist is given a pill that enables him to use 100% of his brain, making him exceedingly brilliant, enabling him to do superior things likemaking fortunes on the stock market,but then it leads to disabling symptoms which (differing from Charly), he is able to bring under control.
I know the movies are DIFFERENT. I said SIMILARITIES. I didn't say they were the same.
Was I totally wrong about Ghost World in your opinion too, Petey, oh great omniscient one?
Are there any stories which are completely unique and never been done before ? I don't think so .
All I can say about "Ghost World" is that I enjoyed it . It's been quite a while since I've seen it .