(This coming from a guy who hasn’t been in one since high school.)
I think my/our generation is confused when it comes understanding what love really is. While music and movies paint a rosy picture of “finding the one” and living happily ever after, the reality is that nearly half of our families have been split apart by divorce… and the way we look at relationships and love has been tainted as a result.
They say that you can see questions our culture is asking through the art it creates… movies, music, literature… and over the past few years I feel like there have been a few movies that are clearly articulating some profound questions we’re asking when it comes to love and relationships.
(500) Days of Summer is one of them.
Being a hopeless romantic (and a dude) it was interesting that this movie which would appear to have all of the trappings of a classic “chick flick,” is actually more about the story from the guy’s perspective. It focuses more on his emotions, feelings, highs and lows, and his experience of battling with the questions he’s asking of himself, his purpose and relationships.
I loved this movie for many reasons but here’s a few…
It’s real. Plain and simple. I felt awkward in the awkward moments. I felt the emotions of the characters. It wasn’t a pretty package, it was painfully real.
Actors were fantastic. I’ll be honest, I’ve had a crush on Zooey Deschanel since I saw her in Elf. And Joseph Gordon-Levitt? I don’t think I’ve seen him since 3rd Rock From the Sun, oh yeah… I went there. (French Stewart, anyone?) Anyway… I digress. They were a winning combo had a great thing going on screen.
The soundtrack is phenomenal. Regina Spektor, Feist, Simon & Garfunkle. How can you go wrong?
It was creative storytelling. The way they told the story was sooooooo creative. It wasn’t start to finish, it was non-linear and all over the place. They so creatively unfolded the story and characters. Pay attention to details if you go to see it.
There’s a few surprises. (SPOILER ALERT, SPOILER ALERT… like a breakout scene from a musical. Hilarious!)
Cinematography, although I’m not an expert, was great. They did some creative stuff, like a split screen between “expectations” and “reality” that I think is painfully real for a lot of us.
Bottom line… this movie, more than others I’ve seen, really does articulate the confusing mess that is love and relationships in our modern context. Full of
I was having dinner with some friends recently and one of them said sometimes you have to “give up your right to the bow”… meaning you can’t always package things nicely. Sometimes things have to be left undone… messy, incomplete… and too often I think movies present a pretty package… but (500) Days of Summer really tells it how it is… and I’ll let you see it for yourself to see how it wraps up!
The movie The Break-Up starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston was filmed in Chicago.
I actually used to live down the street from the Fireside Bowling Alley where the infamous bowling team scene takes place.
It’s actually a common sight to see. Being a town full of the young and the restless, it’s inevitable you’ll find a couple breaking up somewhere.
My good friend Lyndsay Rush is an aspiring writer, blogger and one of my favorite Twitterers… and on page four of today’s RedEye shares the Breakup spots to avoid in Chicago.
Timely advice for all of us…
I saw someone get dumped the other night.
It was a tragic scene. She was in tears; he was all “I just don’t think I can do it anymore,” and the waiter was awkwardly hovering, unsure whether to bring Kleenex, refills or the check.
As I gawked at the train wreck before me, I thought to myself, “Man, getting dumped sucks.”
Then I thought, “Wow, there’s an original statement.”
Then I thought, “Is this considered talking to myself?”
But I digress.
While a breakup is a horrible experience regardless of the locale, there are certain spots that would make being dumped exponentially worse.
I began a quest to determine the worst possible places in Chicago to break up with someone or to be broken up with. I know, I know. It’s a bit of a downer. But it’s for your own good.
I began to ask around. I started with my roommates, who are both in relationships. They both laughed and thanked me for such an upbeat question to start their mornings. They clearly were not going to be of any help.
I then asked one of my guy friends whom I used to briefly date. His response? “Flat Top Grill.” Which was where I dumped him last summer. Whoops!
I then turned to Twitter.
Through some golden suggestions as well as some research of my own, here’s my version of the 10 worst places to get dumped in Chicago–along with a little commentary from me. No need to thank me.
Anywhere at Navy Pier: I went to Navy Pier and all I got was this broken heart.
While on the Untouchables Tour: One minute you’re learning about John Dillinger and the next minute, BOOM, you’re dumped.
On a pedicab: Now featuring reduced fares for singles.
At the Wiener’s Circle: Nothing says dumped like a chocolate milkshake.
In line at the Hangge Uppe: Frankly a bad place for anything to happen.
At a poetry slam: Not unless you could channel your heartbreak into a kick-ass poetic masterpiece.
Right before the Purple Line goes express to Linden: $2.25 buys you 20 minutes of awkward silence.
On the kiss cam at a Bulls game: Almost worse than when they accidentally frame a brother and sister on camera.
After a tandem bike ride to Evanston for ice cream: You better believe I’d make him peddle the whole way back.
During seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley: Take me out to the ball game, take me out of your life.
My sister drug me to see Julie & Julia with her a couple of days ago. Yeah, I know.
But for real… it was a great movie. And you can quote me on that.
I remember watching Julia Child on PBS as a kid growing up, don’t ask me why. And, I also remember the infamous Saturday Night Live skits.
She’s an icon.
But, I guess I never thought about how she got her start and became so good at French cooking. Sometimes we don’t think about that kind of stuff… people’s backstories. Oftentimes we just see the success and not the journey and obstacles people had to face that got them there, which is in most cases more significant.
So, the movie is partly her story and the story of Julie Powell, a girl who was living in NYC in 2002 who decided to blog her way through all of Julia Child’s recipes in the span of a year and blogged the entire journey as a creative outlet.
The movie parallels both of their stories… two women who were essentially bored who found a passion for cooking that was life-giving to them. They found life in their creativity. Their passion gave them joy when life around them was boring and at times incredibly difficult.
Being the geek that I am, one of the parts that I found most fascinating about the movie, other than learning the story of Julia Child’s rise to fame, was to see how much blogging has developed and shaped our culture in recent years.
In 2002, it was still a rather novel thing and it’s interesting to see and hear about Julie’s journey of understanding the blogging world.
But back to the movie… the thing that stuck out the most to me was the importance of finding something you are passionate about and pursuing it. There will definitely be some letdowns along the way, but if you go for it and count the cost, you can do some really significant things as you pursue your passions.
I heard someone once say whatever you are passionate about is often key to your calling.
Julie and Julia were passionate about cooking (and eating!)… one changed the way people cooked and the other changed her life and got a great book (and movie) out of it.
So anyway, if you want to be inspired you should see it. I think there were some really redeeming lessons to learn about life, passion, and even marriage in this story.
And, I think Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar for her performance in this movie. She was brilliant.
What are you passionate about? What are you willing to overcome obstacles for?
