fredericks

While half-heartedly attempting to be productive (productivity? what's that??) last night I watched The Crying Game. I remembered the buzz that surrounded that movie and that subsequently ruined the "surprise" in the middle for me. It was sort of what happened when the buzz that surrounded The Sixth Sense ended up spoiling the "kicker" ending of that movie for me too. The difference, I found, was that knowing the plot twist for The Crying Game didn't fuck up the film-watching experience as much as knowing the truth about the Bruce Willis character. Mayhaps because I didn't like the latter movie? Haley Joel ~~Osmond~~ [Osment, you fuckin' idiot - ed.] ...that kid is eerily mature in the way he carries himself. You want him to get roles where he gets to play a 22-year old stockbroker with a wife and a kid on the way, not some snot-nosed 14 year old.

Anyway, what was so moving about The Crying Game? That in the middle of all the controversy and buzz of the film is the idea that love can ultimately cross all boundaries. If it's in your nature to love, then you will love. No matter what arises, not matter if the other person is not everything you expected. It's a touching sentiment. It's also a super-idealized sentiment. The sort of thing a psychologist will tell you after you go to her in tears telling her your life sucks and you think you'll never find someone that will accept you for you as you try to catch your breath and wipe tears from your face with her soft double-ply Kleenex tissues conveniently located on the desk at the side of the couch, which is also adjacent to a trashcan filled with nothing but used tissue, making you realize you're not the only one who's done the same.

Hmm. Right. An idealized idea. But I suppose the character of Fergus is an idealized man. Fergus' whole take on his relationship with Dil isn't clarified at the end of the film, and I think that's best. It lends itself to discussion and discourse. In fact, the entire film does. It's really a heart-warming film sandwiched in-between assassination plots by IRA operatives. No, that's my attempt at humor. The IRA parts are wonderfully incorporated into the film. Not for the whole family, obviously. Just the jaded, sleep-deprived over-18 crowd. So says the ratings board.