THE HACK: cheap views on pop culture

Why I Love Movies

Quint did it. And, Film Crit Hulk before him.

Now, I'm doing it. Because it's fun.

Why Do I Love Movies?

Because my mother went and saw A Christmas Story and Eddie Murphy: Delirious while she was pregnant with me.

Because my sister would make me soup and a sandwich, while we watched Planes, Trains & Automobiles, during those times she’d watch me.

Because E.T. was the first video my parents bought previously viewed, and I remember standing in line for it (!) at Video Central.

Because my parents used to record the best movies from the copies they’d rent.

Because my brother got pissed at the box office clerk when she wouldn’t let him take me to see Demolition Man because it was rated R.

Because my brother took me to see Aladdin far too many times, even though, I’m sure, he hated having to do it.

Because my brother introduced the notion of the screenplay to me.

Because on William Wallace’s death.

Because of that POV shot going into the trench of the Death Star.

Because my dad constantly watch Top Gun and La Bamba.

Because my mom got me a subscription to Entertainment Weekly back in ’97.

Because my sister won 52 passes to AMC that same year and gave a bunch to me.

Because Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet first see each other through an aquarium.

Because ABC premiered Mallrats one Saturday night in ’98.

Because in middle school a pal of mine gave me a copy of Pulp Fiction to watch.

Because Nora Ephron wrote When Harry Met Sally….

Because of Max Fischer.

Because Jurassic Park allowed my dreams to come true, followed by my nightmares.

Because Bill Murray whispered in Scarlett Johansson’s ear.

Because of Duckie fights Steff.

Because Ferris tells us to go home.

Because of that last shot in The Thin Red Line.

Because Z is every bit as good as Alvy Singer.

Because, through animation, Richard Linklater made me question whether this life is a dream.

Because of the conversations between Jesse and Celine.

Because of that moment where Neo wakes up for the first time.

Because of that giant boulder in that cave.

Because it was Reese’s Pieces and not M&Ms.

Because Paulie becomes the raptor.

Because Chuck Noland stands in the middle of a four-way road and knows where he’s going.

Because David Aames has a nightmare.

Because of William Thacker and Anna Scott.

Because of every moment in Casablanca.

Because of Anakin’s fall to the Dark Side.

Because of John Williams.

Because of Preston Myers, Curt Henderson, and Randall "Pink" Floyd.

Because the Breakfast Club cursed.

Because Marty McFly finishes playing “Earth Angel.”

Because Alfonso Cuaron took over the world of and surrounding Hogwarts.

Because of James Bond and Jason Bourne.

Because of Austin Powers and Dr. Evil.

Because of two best friends from Aurora, Illinois.

Because two shade wearing brothers were on a mission from God.

Because of Los Angeles in November 2019.

Because of Sleeping Beauty.

Because my only animated crush is Belle.

Because of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice.

Because Travolta can dance.

Because of last half hour of A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

Because Peter Jackson took us to Middle Earth.

Because Wyatt and Billy ride cross-country on choppers.

Because of this:

 

Because of Fritz Lang’s M and Metropolis.

Because of the alternate-reality-dream sequence at the end of 25^th Hour.

Because of Earl Partridge’s monologue in the middle of Magnolia.

Because of that moment Ben Sanderson tells Sera she can’t save him.

Because Rocky loses.

Because of the opening heist at the beginning of The Dark Knight.

Because Phoebe Cates walks out of the pool in slow motion.

Because of Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr.

Because of Paul Verhoeven’s use of squibs.

Because of the ending of Gone Baby Gone.

Because of X’s meeting with Jim Garrison in JFK.

Because of Seven Samurai.

Because David Bowman enters the monolith.

Because of the steadicam shot in Goodfellas.

Because of Natalie Wood.

Because of the films of Cameron Crowe.

Because of Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue.

Because Brad Bird got me to care about a rat.

Because of this moment:

Because of the life of George Bailey.

Because of Psycho.

Because Francis Ford Coppola had the insanity to make Apocalypse Now.

Because of Bill the Butcher.

Because of the trailer to Kill Bill:

And, many other reasons from the past, as well as those yet to come.

My Valentine's Day Tradition

Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

I have traditions whenever "holidays" or Hallmark card days come around, and they all involve movies. For Christmas, I watch Love Actually. On Halloween, I watch...John Carpenter's Halloween. On Groundhog Day, it's Groundhog Day. On July 4th, it's Independence Day (actually, I have watched this in the last few years).

On my birthday, I watch two new movies. I've done this for ten years. This year is the anniversary of that first time.

And so, on V-Day, I watch Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

Years before the second film, I saw the first one on cable (more than likely HBO, but I cannot for the life of me remember), and I immediately loved it. This love, I came to discover, was two-fold: I love dialogue-filled movies, and I'm a sucker for romantic flicks. Hell, I'll even put up with the avergae Hollywood-modern-romantic-comedy.

Thankfully, these movies are actually great. I love them, from beginning to end. From the opening shots of Vienna to Celine doing her Nina Simone impression, I love these films so damn much.

The first film is made up of many conversations between the two. It's romantic as hell, and it ends in a cliffhanger made so that cynics and optimists get something out of the movie. I loved it. Even as a tween (long before the word existed), I loved the film. And, I did believe they met six months later.

Within the second film's ten minutes, we learn that SPOILER ALERT they did not meet up. And, here we are, nine years later, and they are meeting for the first time since then.

Before Sunset is made up of one conversation. Jesse has a flight to catch, so the two talk for about seventy minutes. It feels like what it is: a mature sequel to a young, romantic story about young, romantic people. As we grow old, and we live, we change. And, yet, we don't. That's what the movie gets right. Clearly, these two have grown as individuals, but together once again, they fall right into the rhythm of talking. And, talking is what makes them what they are.

Jesse and Celine love one another. We know this because they talk. More than that, we know this because how they talk, and how no matter what (he really needs to catch that flight), they will keep talking. They want to be around each other.

And, that's beautiful to me. And, that's why I watch these movies every February 14th.

Just In Time

"Going outside is highly overrated."

Ernest Cline's Ready Player One is one astounding debut novel. I mean, sure, it might not be "literary fiction," but I still dig the hell out of it. In fact, I'd rather re-read this than the average novel The New York Times Book Review tells me is great. If you have an appreciation for pop culture - and certainly video games - this is the novel for you.

Oh, and Art3mis Forever!