The Great Depression – Season Two!
Love Dove,
Mallika’s blog last week about saving money by going to the library really got me thinking. After I read it I dashed off to my bill box and added up my Amazon receipts. DANG! It’s gonna be hard to break my addiction, but I’ll give it a shot. I’ve never had a library card. Lame but true. This means I’ll have to be nice to the loaners – my books get battered! I write in them, take phone messages, doodle, dog-ear, use as coasters, etc. Like a little home, I make my books my own and I get real cozy. She’s also so right about spending more time in nature. Lola (the best rescue dog ever) makes her demands known on a daily basis: “Walk me or your shoes are burnt toast.” I go through withdrawals without my woods.
But cut back on movies? Now that’s where I draw the line, Sister!
These are definitely difficult times, and it’s begun to slip off of the headlines and into our own lives. I was a jackass last year – I had some nuts squirreled away in stocks, and of course that little nest went up in smoke. I look out my office window in Woodstock and watch as the stores in my town close. Foreclosure signs crop up on lawns like dandelions. Last week I drove past a long line of people waiting for a job fair to open. What a change from a few years ago when the only thing people lined up for was MTV casting calls and Black Friday sales!
I know the bean counters haven’t figured out what to call this recession-slash-depression, but I say it’s here…The Great Depression – Season Two! And I’m going to fight back like my grandparents did – with MOVIES! (this Depression is now available in blue ray box set with bonus features…)
I love movies. As a filmmaker, flicks are almost as important to me as green juice. I think films are especially valuable to help us get through and make sense of hard times. There’s no better mirror on life than a flickering hero forty feet tall on the wall. One of the reasons the Nineteen Thirties and Forties are known as Hollywood’s golden age is because peeps were so dang broke and bummed that they needed mental time-outs. In many ways, the Great Depression (Season One) was the birth of mass escapism. The pictures were cheap (around 10 cents) and they took you to magical lands with hot babes, grand homes, and epic landscapes. And woven through the spectacle were morality tales that kept us connected to core values. We need these stories today, too.
From Frank Capra’s social-political tales of the common man’s struggle for the American dream against corrupt powers (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life), to delicious romantic comedies (It Happened One Night, Philadelphia Story), Hollywood cranked out hope on a weekly basis and glum Americans ate it up. I can only imagine what it must have been like to see The Wizard of Oz when it premiered in Technicolor glory, or how about Gone with the Wind? WOWZA! Though I must say, Carol Burnett’s Went with the Wind skit was almost as good. How about the dancing? As an old showgirl, I still get a kick out of Fred and Ginger. They always seemed to have smiles on their faces as they swirled my blues away. And those Busby Berkeley synchronized numbers are mondo trippy even today. The list is too big… how about Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, Sunset Boulevard – have you seen these gems? Jaw-dropping black and white rapture.
The 50’s brought us two of my all time faves, Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean, please have sex with me in heaven) and On the Waterfront. The 60’s and 70’s – now that was a juicy time for anti-heroes! Easy Rider, Midnight Cowboy, Jeremiah Johnson, Coming Home (I LOVE THIS FILM), Five Easy Pieces (HUBBY LOVES THIS FILM), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Godfather, and the granddaddy of mythology: Star Wars!
I just adore guns, the mafia, and space. Don’t you?
The 80’s – one word: ALIEN. Now, that movie was full of spooky, wiz-in-your-pants nausea inducing F.U.N. If I could be anyone other than myself I’d be Ripley. Remember in Aliens (the sequel) when the gnarly monster was about to chow Newt? Ripley stormed over in a tractor suit and uttered my favorite movie line ever – “get away from her you BITCH”. Sing it Ripley!!! I wanted to be just like her. I dreamed of fighting predators in a white tank top and no bra.
…But don’t forget documentaries. Everyday heroes blow the big box office names away. Documentaries remind me of how I fell in love with my Brian. On our first official date we went to see Spellbound. We LOVED it, and spent the rest of the starry night chatting about film, our dreams, and the state of the world while sitting under the Gandhi statue in Union Square, NYC. I really liked him after that. Many movies later (including our own), we got hitched.
Film is soothing. Film opens our imagination and reminds us that even the underdog can – and should – win. For all its pomp and silliness, Hollywood does the Underdog so well.
People often ask me how I got through the early days of my medical shit-pickle. Simple. Creativity. Making my documentary got me through the fear. It was my outlet and I am so grateful to my angel camera. I lost myself in the shooting and writing. When I wasn’t working on my own project, Netflix brought other documentaries that would inspire my story.
Some recent fave docs: Born into Brothels, Jesus Camp, Planet Earth, Grizzly Man, Murderball, Mad Hot Ballroom, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Control Room, anything Michael Moore, War Photographer (I worship James Nachtwey). Don’t miss the first and still champion rock doc: The Last Waltz.
Here at chez Carr-Fassett, our must-see pick of the past few years is Into the Wild. Breathtaking! Perfect! Unbelievable! Sean Penn got screwed out of a gold statue on that one. Thank Goddess the Academy recognized him for Milk this year! This is also where I should mention the HBO Series The Wire. I know I’m a few years late to the party and it’s not cinema, per se, but dang is it good – and addictive. Hubs and I have been racking up the episodes like whiskey shots, one after another late into the night. Confession: I have the hots for Stringer Bell. Is it ok that I’ve considered putting a murderous thug on my vision board?!?
This weekend, turn off CNN, burn the newspaper in a bonfire, and step away from your internet cocaine dispenser. Rent a flick. Dim the lights, get cozy, and indulge in some good old-fashioned escapism.
What’s on your Crazy Sexy Cinema list? Do share.
Peace & Pelicula,
Kris
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39 Comments
And meanwhile…escape into some kick as documentaries, like DOUBLE DARE about two fabulous crazy sexy stunt women, Julie Epper and Zoe Bell. You can help but feel GOOD after watching these two daredevils kick ASS!
I loved this post well before you dropped The Philadelphia Story in but my did that just multiply the appreciation to the third power!
Have to agree,” Into the Wild”, is a great flick, but without the Vedder soundtrack it would be hollow. “Rise” has to be my new anthem! Music has been my savior throughout life. That’s a whole ‘nother subject…
As for film — my favs are Amelie, the Power of One, Rushmore, The Royal Tannebaums, Darjeeling Limited, Pursuit of Happyness, To Kill A Mockingbird, to name a few. And recently Slumdog Millionaire, and Milk.
Your list is great — thanks!
wow wow movies and documentaries excite me like nothing else. I have just finished watching the ‘UP SERIES’…soo very good. It’s a documentary started in England in the 60′s. It starts with fourteen 7 year olds and documents their lives every 7 years. The most recent is 49 UP.
It’s real life at it’s best. To be able to watch peoples lives evolve (or not) right before your very eyes..wow. It’s a pioneer of the documentary world…..enjoy xxxxx
YES! The UP Series! I love love love it. To Kill a Mockingbird too! My “dogter” is named after Scout. Im a sucker for Fried Green Tomatoes, Beaches, etc…and who didnt love Linda Hamilton in T2?
Movies have inspired me! Whenever I feel depressed or happy, I turn to movies.. They keep the passion for what I want and want to see in the world. I think that is why we love them so much, you can escape for an hour or so. My most loved film is Grizzly man. Talk about PASSION!
Richard Bach (who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Ilusions) wrote that we go to movies for two reasons: entertainment or escape. Obvious, but true. I dont know what Id go without fild…or music…
Yay! I just updated my Netflix queue ~ thanks! One of my favorite movies is “The Diving Bell & the Butterfly” ~ A beautiful movie directed by Julian Schnabel.
Kris,
AWESOME Post!!!! I don’t know where I would be without my Netflix account. I’m inot so many movies and old, past TV shows. I just finished Combat! – A weekly war series that I grew up with as a boy. It brought back some good childhood memories. The Library is also another one of my absolute favorite places.
It’s a Wonderful LIfe is probably my fave, but another good one is When Harry Met Sally.
I serve on our library’s Friends board and encourage everyone to check out your local library! The gov’t & locals give lots ($ and time) to give you and your family a FREE outlet for info and entertainmentl Take advantage! I live in a small town, but we have awesome programs at the library, from book clubs for all ages to story & craft time for little ones, movies, mags, etc!
Is it no surprise that Netflix stock is up? It is one of the few I kept. Love movies!!!
Okay, I’m inspired. I’m listing a few “goodies” that were not mentioned yet and that I can see over and over. Juno, any Kurosawa film, Amadeus, An American in Paris, Brokeback Mountain, Doctor Zhivago, Forrest Gump, Harold and Maude, Mystery Train, Night on Earth, North by Northwest, Once, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, The Visitor, Spirited Away, Whale Rider, and West Side Story. Happy viewing!!! I’m definitely taking a reality break this weekend.
I don’t know how things work where you are, but you can get just about every movie mentioned in this post and in the comments at the public library. At least at the public library here you can. Just thought I’d bring the conversation back full circle. Of course, the heroes aren’t 40 feet tall on the tv screen…
Sullivan’s Travels….one of the greatest, least recognized movies of all time. =)
Sort of a mix between Meet John Doe and It’s A Wonderful Life…a must see!
I’m into asian films, I LOVE the trilogy “Infernal Affairs” was shocked by “Old Boy”, I love the mood of “Millenium Mambo” and the Japanese film “Hana and Alice” is so sweet.I’ll watch anything with Shu Qi,Michelle Yeoh or Ziyi Zhang or male actors like Tony Leung and Andy Lau. The solitude of “Tony Takitani” is touchable. Not to mention the films of Akira Kurosawa, his film “Dreams” is mind blowing. I also like European films, probably being European myself. Asian and European films are often less predictable than American films I think :-) Oh and I forgot to mention the manga-films, a must-see film is by the hand of Haya Miyazaki. The films of Aki Kaurismäki (Finnish) are a visual treat. The French actressess Juliette Binoche and Sophie Marceau portray real women with flaws and all. They don’t look like they came from the stylist or hair dresser. There are just so many films, too many to mention. But when I want to treat myself with pop-corn and a glas of red wine and just get sucked in by a film I’ll watch Sophia Coppola’s film “Lost in Translation”. I’ve felt like that a many times in my life… Bill Murray is just adorable. Great topic Kris!!!!!! take care Kristina
Greetings from Nova Scotia!
What a great list. Looks like I’ll need a part 2 to this post at some point. And, yes, check out your libraries – I’m not dissing them. Mine however, doesn’t have a great selection. I bet the bigger ones do. Next time I write I’ll have my library card in hand. I will try to borrow, not hoard my books. Ouch.
PS. Love the UP series, Double Dare and Raising Arizona! I’ve been wanting to get into Kurosawa for a while. Whale Rider – gorgeous!
Other GREAT GREAT docs: The Devil’s Playground, My flesh & blood, King Corn, The future of food, The fog of war, When We Were Kings, Dark Days, Sister Helen.
Any Frontline doc – especially the one on the credit card industry edited by my Hubby! (The episode got an Emmy Nomination – I’m just saying… GO Brian!)
AND I can’t believe I forgot to mention The Ice Storm. What a flick!
hey Kris and Brian, if you want to see a great flick, check out Elegy…with Penelope Cruz and Ben Kinglsey. She is the younger student to his College Professor…need I say more?
I loved Into The Wild. The first time I saw it, I was on a mental health day and walked into my town. I felt like I had left the planet…the music, the scenery, the quest for truth and independence…just perfect. Sean Penn was definitely robbed of the award that year. But Milk was wonderful. I also love his wife as an actor: Robin Wright–she’s kind of taken a back seat in her career but she is wonderful.
Another film (which I haven’t seen yet) but is on my Netflix Queue, is Tell No One. It’s a French film, a thriller and supposed to be wonderful.
Another favorite: Girl With The Pearl Earring…highly recommended.
Later.
I just saw Sunshine Cleaners and it was AMAZING. Lately, I’ve been going to the movies a lot with the hubs, its a great way to get away from my computer and anything else I “need” to do. All you can really do in the theater is sit back and relax (and hold your hubby’s hand). Hopefully I’ll make it to the theater this weekend! We have great independent theaters in Baltimore:)
I share so many of your favorite documentaries (like Grizzlyman, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and Jesus Camp. Try Crazy Love, Plagues and Pleasures of the Salton Sea, and anything by Alexandra Pelosi.
I just watched all 5 seasons of the Wire in about 3 weeks. I couldn’t stop watching. Best Show Ever!
and I also have a HUGE crush on stringer bell. I even broke down and rented a tyler perry movie just so I could see him again. did you know he’s british? how hot is that?
Jess – I know, British! Why isn’t he in more movies? He is fantastic! xo
Off to airport… Kris
k LOVED this post as movies and entertainment are close to my heart. i have had a phobia that has gotten progressively worse in the past few years of committing to sitting down and watching a movie. vic says he thinks i fear not talking for 2 hours (haha…NOT) i think it has more to do with dealing with lots of human pain and suffering in real time in my life so therefore even if it’s great -i have an aversion to subjecting myself to how i know i will feel and the trauma that i may take with me for a really long time to come, from the suffering of others. but after this great discussion and post i am going to watch some flicks one title at a time starting with the happier ones…were there any happy ones???
thanks for making me think
xo
Hiya Kris, I’m always at my town’s library. I (obviously) don’t know about yours, but ours rents out free DVD’s and they have hundreds of them.
Dang, what a list! Foreign films are a whole other land of beauty, where to begin?? 400 Blows! Vince; amen on Sullivan’s Travels…
Recently? Gone Baby Gone. Best I’ve seen in years.
p.s. I heart It’s A Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart rocks(ed).
Arsenic and Old Lace! I can’t get enough of it! My Grams has a mass library of classic black & whites, and I
m unstoppable when it comes to raiding her collection!
Love this post! Very uplifting and inspiring. Great idea. My hubs and I love movies as well. I agree Gone Baby Gone was a great one (as someone above mentioned). We loved Slumdog Millionare. And I love all the good old mafia films-Goodfellas, Casino..anything with Deniro! I am also a cheesy girl girl movie fan- The Notebook, Sweet Home Alabama, How to lose a guy.., Legally Blonde. Girl power to the fullest!
An inspiring movie for me is, “Always” with Richard Dreyfus and Holly Hunter (& was Audrey Hepburn’s last movie). It’s a remake of a Spencer Tracy movie, but I think it’s better. It runs the gambit of emotions: excitement, joy, grief & comedy….and relays important lessons about how to love. On a whole other page, I like “Freeway” with Reese Witherspoon (her best performance ever & very out of character for her) & Keifer Sutherland. This is a somewhat twisted flick, with both mystery & comedy, but is truly about good vs. evil & perserverence in the face of adversity.
I love movies too. They wisk you away. One little documentary I really loved here lately was made by some cute chick with purple hair called Crazy Sexy Cancer.. a must see…
and then all Kathrine Hepburn and Cary Grant movies, and I love Japanese love stories with sub titles. I just love movies. Thanks for the truth about the Depression we are in. It is serious and getting more so by the day. I think being brave enough to state it is really a great example. I hope you are well and I have missed everyone.. Duncan still in hospital.. so I am just checking in. Much love. Callie
Just saw Advertureland. It rocked!
I am a movie lover, but have had a hard time focusing on them since “c” came into my life. I spend a great deal of time reading about my disease, treatments – traditional and alternative, making good healthy good, juicing, taking supplements and forcing myself to exercise no matter how tired I feel. My favorite films are Technicolor musicals of the 40s. I am a huge Betty Grable fan. Talk about escapism. So, this weekend I cracked out my DVDs and admittedly one VHS since most of her films have never been released to DVD (and some not even to VHS…they are movies I taped from TV.) I watched Welcomd to the Diamond Horseshoe, Meet Me After the Show and Wabash Avenue. I also watched a 1969 documentary on Johnny Cash. Swoon. Right now, Pirates of the Caribbean:At World’s End is on HBO, which I have “free” because I switched to DirecTv. I also started brewing my first batch of kombucha. It was a good weekend.
Hello Kris!
I am a kid at heart so most of my DVD collection is Disney and other kid movies like Harry Potter. Its funny, my Sex and the City DVD is right next to The Lion King. Don’t know how that happen; I just unloaded them on the bookself in my dorm ;) When I feel blue my animated movies help forget my sadness and allows to me to laugh. Have a fabulous week!
XO Sarah
Hey there Kris! My step mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer, and I came across your site while researching it. You have amazing information here, and because of your inspiration, i just ordered her a juicer! I also have a copy of crazy sexy cancer on hold at blockbuster waiting to be picked up today :) Thanks for everything!
Hi! This is my all time favorite subject…so I just have to weigh in. For total pick-me-up spirit lifter, I have to recommend You Can’t Take It With You with Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur. This is the first time I hever had the experience of watching a movie that completely changed my mood.
My other all time favorite movie is Joe Versus the Volcano, the world’s most misunderstood, underrated movie ever.
i lovet
i love the all so so so matsh
Great morning read! Thanks!
I cringe when ever people talk about how bad the economy is. Has my life and the lives of those around me been affected by the changes in the economy and the job market? Yes. But we’ve got to think positive and turn lemons into lemonaid. As a recent/former resident of the state of Michigan (which was the leader in the changing economy, job market, and housing market thanks to the automotive industy), I am grateful everyday for the experiences that I have had in the past 4 months alone. My finance was laid off in December, just weeks before Christmas, but instead of getting down in the dumps we took the opportunity it presented us with to relocate to Colorado. Him losing his job and us subsequently deciding to relocate is the BEST thing to ever happen to us during these “difficult times.” We love everything about our new lives, including the fact that we both like our jobs more, they pay better, and we have better benefits. Change doesn’t have to be scary. It can be an opportunity for growth and new possibilities if we let it.
April 3, 2009