This semester can been described in one word; draining. The epic snow week, followed by lots of tests and papers crammed into less time have left all of us stressed. As I try to figure out my schedule for next semester, the outlook is bleak. I look forward to being a senior, because then I’ll have an excuse not to care. Studying is a drag. You know what’s better? “The Good Wife” and Netflix becoming my number one website on Google Chrome! Excellent, my obsession can’t be denied. The Good Wife is one damn fine show. Seriously good acting, and a subtlety rare on similar law shows. The politics of human interaction are real and tangible in this show. The wonderful Josh Charles again displays his general awesomeness in this show as a successful, fairly cut-throat and clean-cut partner at a law firm. Its a testament to his skills that his lawyer on “The Good Wife”, and his rugged, uneducated, and angry husband on “In Treatment” are equally believable.
In my various attempts to avoid productivity, I finally watched “An Education”. Yes, it is as great as they say. Carey Mulligan somehow manages to be empathetic as a mildly self-absorbed (who isn’t at our age?) , passionate, confused, blooming young woman. Her character is truly a young woman; young in her passion and intelligence, and unsuspecting curiosity. She, by the end of the movie, has started towards to path of womanhood. This movie is about how we are blinded by the brilliance of the world, and when we venture out, inexperienced and unwise, we can get shattered. If we learn to put ourselves back together again, we are adults. Interestingly enough, I thought this movie was not depressing, but really empathized with being a young woman.
For all the times I have used Netflix for the powers of good (to watch the likes of Happy-Go-Lucky, a joyful movie), I have used in for the powers of guilty pleasure (Legend of the Seeker, an entertaining show, ESPECIALLY when Richard is shirtless…drools). But all the limitless movies!!! Finally, I was watching Princess Diaries the other day (powers of guilty pleasure), and I realized the love interest is the lead singer of Rooney. I listened to the band’s music, its fun and charming. I plan on listening to them more!
We Don’t Live Here Anymore fit that bill exactly. I watched this movie a second time and it was just as great. I love that movie because it, for the most part, it is subtle. It explores married life without any grand moments, yet it’s captivating. Mark Ruffalo and Laura Dern nearly explode with pain and hurt and love. Where has subtlety like this gone in movies? I also watched Brokeback Mountain again, which is one of my top five movies of all time. That movie leaves me with a profound sense of loss. I am very rarely affected by movies the way Brokeback Mountain affected me, even the second time I watched it. I tend to watch movies twice, because at least you know the movie is good. Nothing is worse than a movie you expect to be good failing. I have developed a taste for short films recently as well. Its harder to mess up when you have 12 minutes. You can express core human experiences in one perfected scene. The short film Dare on Logoonline really blew me away. It dealt with the confusing feelings of longing and the sexual experience of two young adults, without being graphic at all. It takes talent to deal with issues like that tastefully. Anyway, time to do some real work….biochem calls.
