GayPatriot

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Why I love movies (and still have hope for Hollywood)

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In the days leading up to my trip to the Bay Area, I haven’t been able to blog as much as I would like and write as many “essayistic” posts as is my wont because I’ve had a lot on my mind unrelated to politics.  With some many ideas rambling through my head, I thought it would best to take it easy this weekend and watch a silly, “escapist” type movie at home tonight.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be), I picked a flick which reminded me why I love Hollywood so much and why I moved here, eager to become part of the biz.  Having just purchased *batteries not included for under $5 while at the Target in Livermore on my way back to LA, I popped my new acquisition into my DVD player.

Sometime in the 1990s, I used to catch pieces of the film on cable. It always moved me, so I finally bought the VHS so I could watch the whole thing.

Well, last night, at first, I wondered why I had loved it so. Neighbors didn’t communicate with one another, an old building, standing alone amidst the wreckage of its former neighbors seemed a symbol of what happens to all of us when we age, isolated, alone, with younger folks waiting for us to collapse, even to accelerate the process.

No one in the building knew how to reach out to one another.  And then the miracle happens, something which brings everyone together, neighbors start talking, one silent man finds his voice, connections are made. The “miracle”, in this case, is extraterrestrial.  We don’t need to know its origins, the topography of its planet, even the location of its star system.  We just need to know what it does. “The quickest way to end a miracle,” quips Hume Cronyn‘s Frank Riley, “is to ask it what it is, what it wants.”

What it does is remind the inhabitants of this old building that their companionship can help them weather the challenges they face and share the joys this miracle brings.  In short, we see the transformation it effects on these people, on one in particular, a street tough who, at the beginning of the film had been roughhousing and mocking the residents, at the end of the film, rediscovers their humanity.  The miracle, that is, makes him a better person.

And so it was with the movie that made me, as an adult, realize the full power of the medium of motion pictures.

The best of them remind me that human connections matter.  The stories nearly always explore this fundamental aspect of our humanity.  And instead of serving as a diversion, this sweet film reminded me (yet again) why I so love classic Hollywood cinema — and cause me to articulate that affection.

Comments

  2. and write as many “essayistic” posts as is my wont

    God stay you from that. One can only pay attention for so long. It’s rare that I read anything beyond the jump.

  5. Due to the high taxes, less movies are actually made in Hollywood; with Governor Jerry Brown, I see more movies leaving Hollywood to be filmed elsewhere.

    Is there hope for Hollywood? Yes, but it won’t come from within; it will come from without. The more Hollywood bashes Middle America, it will rot as former A-listers will wonder why they have fallen so far & moved next door to Kathy Griffin. Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts is an excellent example of trying to glamorize middle age in their stilted, stagnated careers since Middle America has left them thanks to their political statements & arrogance.

    I have only seen 2 movies this year, Thor & Green Lantern. I doubt I will spend my money on anymore films this year. I’ll go back to films from the 1950’s-1980’s on DVD like you have done, Dan.

  7. The Tom Hanks & Julia Roberts film came in at #4; it’s a flop. Hanks should reconsider a Bosom Buddies film remake as an aging Buffy at the women only hotel.

  9. Actually, the biggest loser in the Larry Crowne box-office-belly-flop isn’t Hanks or Roberts. It’s GEORGE TAKEI. 40 years after he had a couple of seasons on Star Trek, Takei comes out of the closet and engages in enough high-profile homo-goguery to get back “in” with the powerful Hollywood left. He manages to land a juicy part in a big studio film starring two huge A-listers, Hanks and Roberts…and then……….

    …the movie barely earns enough dough in its opening weekend to cover its craft services budget!

    Man, it SUCKS to be George Takei. It really does.

  10. Just watched “Gran Torino” for the first time last night — a good, if classic, story, very well told and acted. And, yes, the message there was also that human connections matter, even — especially — to someone who had worked very hard to cut off all human connections, in a variety of ways. ..bruce..

  12. Due to the high taxes, less movies are actually made in Hollywood; with Governor Jerry Brown, I see more movies leaving Hollywood to be filmed elsewhere.

    The movie industry used to be based in Jacksonville, FL. It’d be interesting if it split CA.

  13. TGC: Maybe the autobots use Damage Control.

    Sebastian: I highly recommend First Class (even if your namesake gets a bad rap). I still have my hopes high for Captain America.

    ILC: Yeah, if you like the big blond musclebound types 😛 I was surprised how much the guy playing Fandral looked like he stepped right out of the comic.