Nostalgia

In the past couple of days (that can mean two days or two weeks or more, however you want to see it) I've had way too much free time (meaning I have hardly any lectures but SHOULD be doing IMMENSE amounts of independent study), so I've found myself making some dips in the nostalgic pool of my past passions and addictions. There's been the usual, more recent stuff like The Hunger Games and Klaine, but I also enjoyed some Chaplin comedy again the other day, and really feel like I need a fix of River Phoenix, too. And all this Episode VII talk makes me want to put on another 6-movie marathon, because it's been way too long.

Today I made the fateful mistake and was silly enough to read one of my posts from the early summer of 2010. That time was important in my fangirling life in the sense that Lost ended in May, and I was left nursing a hole bigger and more aching than no other fictional work has ever left in me (except for the Harry Potter books, maybe). This means that I wrote a lot about Lost. And now I read one of those post. And you know, if I give Lost my little finger, it'll soon have my whole hand. Both hands. And feet, and all my other limbs, too. I'm lucky I don't have the DVD's at my flat right now. Still, another Complete Lost Marahtron is an inevitability waiting to happen.

"Dear diary. Still on the bloody island. Today I swallowed a bug."

Good times!

In other news, I am currently occupying myself in catching up on my New Year Resolutions (I'm trying to tackle August at the moment, so there's still some way to go), being addicted to Breaking Bad (pun kind of intended) and feeling sorry for myself for being so broke that I'm not free to go to movies anytime I feel like it. Then again, I'm silly and easily persuaded, so the other day I agreed to go to see Paranormal Activity 4 with some friends. I've only seen the first one (and I'm pretty sure I was drunk at the time), and I haven't seen a horror movie in cinema since The Ring 2, which is for a reason. So, at the theatre I noticed that the new Bond was playing at the same time, and I started a passionate persuading process to convince my friends to go see that instead. We couldn't make up our minds, so at the ticket booth one round of rock-paper-scissors made the decision. I lost, and slept with the lights on the following night. And it wasn't even a particularly scary movie! I don't know how I slept after The Ring 2. Maybe I didn't.

Now I'm just waiting for The Hobbit, while hoping no one will say a word to me about Breaking Dawn Part 2, because I know I'd just say what the hell and throw that money to the wind.

I mentioned Breaking Bad; I should really write a post about it, it's a pretty cool show. Apparently I'm also writing my Bachelor's Thesis on it. Humanities, you know...

Also, I have a massive, Disney-related post on the way, which I've been working on for a year or something. It's the bomb! Although it has nothing to do with Breaking Bad. That Jesse Pinkman slang is just contagious.

EDIT// It's soon 1am and I've been sitting here for hours watching and listening to Disney videos on YouTube. This is going to be a long night...

Gone but not forgotten

It's Movie Monday again! This week's challenge is to name a person who thrilled and inpired you in life, and died way before their time. My choice wasn't difficult at all.

River Phoenix, during his ridiculously short life, made so many great and inspiring things, and not only movies, of which he was and is most famous for. He had great, respectable values, and a wonderfully humble and down-to-earth outlook on life. He was a beautiful, special, talented person. Or so I'd like and choose to believe.

River Phoenix died in 1993, at the age of 23, due to the insanity that Hollywood was for a young, beautiful, desired, succesful, talented person like he was. What a freaking terrible waste...

(My theory is he never took a bad picture in his life. Here's something to prove my point...)

I've previously written about River a lot. (Too much, even, if only it was possible to write too much about someone like River Phoenix. (It's not.))

2010: A Summary of a Year

2010 is almost over. Can you believe it, because I can't! The year has been pretty good, I've seen many awesome films (and quite a bunch of less awesome films as well, but that's unavoidable, I guess). I hugely regret that I didn't make a list of all the films I watched during 2010 (it did cross my mind, damn it), because I'm pretty sure I've broken a personal record. 2010 was also the year when I started blogging, so I guess we can say my year hasn't been a total waste!

To wrap the year up, I look back to the various phases I went through this year. (A phase: A period of time during which I am hugely enthusiastic about something or someone, and can't fully concentrate on anything else.) There's been unusually many of them! Also, I'll very reluctantly make an unofficial top five of my favourite movies of 2010. Don't take it too seriously. There are too many potentially awesome films I haven't yet seen! It's mostly there just for show.

**

My SIX PHASES of 2010

The Robert Downey Jr. phase (January - March)

Not often I go see a film in the cinema twice. Even less often three times. But I did see Sherlock Holmes three times, and I can only blame the unbeatable charm and overflowing hotness of RDJ. During the phase I also watched a lot of lousy films from his early career (and one damn good one that led to another phase later on) and the fourth season of Ally McBeal. That's when the phase probably reached its peak and I was more fanfirl-y that I've been in years and it was highly disturbing and I'm glad it's over now. (And I'm only half-kidding.) I'm still very much RDJ's girl, and I regret I managed to miss Due Date in cinemas.

The River Phoenix phase (March - April)

The short-ish but passionate River Phoenix phase was triggered by the end credits of Stand by Me, as my even-slower-than-usual brain realised that the charming young fellow in the film was actually River Phoenix. Many of his film are almost impossible to come by, but judging by every film I have got my hands on, River was spectacularly talented and an amazing person and all the praise he's ever got is most definitely deserved. Also, when it comes to talking about River Phoenix, one can't get away without mentioning that he has one of the most photogenic faces EVER.

The Lost phase (~April - June)

My Lost phase has been going strong since 2006, but this year it culminated around the series finale in May. All year long I had been regularly freaking out once a week, as the final season teased and shocked and thrilled me to pieces. Lost is the most popular label on my blog, which shows that the Lost phase still isn't over. Just this week I completed a project I had been fantasizing about for years, as my Complete Lost Marathon finally ended. Lost truly has been one of the highlights of the year, but it was also a significant highlight of the whole decade. Dude, it's been awesome.

The Charlie Chaplin phase (June - July)

This is one of the few times ever I've become this excited about something that could easily be considered 'intellectual' (not that Lost, for instance, isn't, ahem). Thanks to RDJ (yep, I still think I owe him this), I read Chaplin's autobiography, loved it, and watched all of his films I could find. Oh and loved them, too, to say the least. I found it quite amazing that I so thoroughly enjoyed something that had been done before the 90s, or even before the invention of talking pictures! So uncharacteristic of me. Chaplin's films are wonderful, oh so wonderful and I'll be eternally grateful to RDJ. Haha.

The Disney phase (August - September)

Before and especially after our spectacular trip to Paris - which included that fateful visit to Disneyland - I couldn't make myself watch anything that wasn't animated and or didn't have a happy ending and a few cute animal friends. I watched more Disney films in a month than I did during the whole year when I was five. And oh did I have a blast! By the time I got annoyed at The Little Mermaid and actually began to look the films critically (first time for everyhing), I figured the time had come to finally shake the phase and move on. Luckily, an old favourite was coming back from a summer hiatus.

The Glee phase (October - December, and beyond)

 Glee, oh Glee! Just when I thought Lost had left a hole in me that nothing could ever fill, along came season two of Glee, and reminded me that there is one show out there that has that potential. Not that the hole is completely filled (won't ever be), but it doesn't ache anymore. Glee has been quite a dominant factor in my life recently: I created a blog dedicated to it, I'm listening to the songs on repeat, I ordered a ticket to their live concert and I want to marry Chris Colfer (oh, if I were a boy!). Glee has quite a steady position in my life, and this phase will continue to live on... Side by side with whatever I next get crazy about.

**

My (unofficial) TOP FIVE of 2010

Rare Exports

Okay, so. Rare Exports is here, because 1) it was a good film and 2) because it's not every year Finns make a film that one might even consider when thinking about the best films of the year. I might have liked The Deathly Hallows a bit more, but hey, the patriot in me wanted to give this film some more credit. (And I make sure DH pt. 2 will be on my top five of 2011. Promise.) And it's not only that it is a rare export when it comes to domestic cinema. Rare Exports is an imaginative and bold piece of work, it creeped me out, it made me laugh and gave me chills and, quite unexpectedly, a touch of Christmas spirit as well.

Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass kicked off my summer of various action adventures, such as Robin Hood, Iron Man 2 and Prince of Persia, and ended up kicking the crap out of all the rest. It is an entertainment bomb. It introduced two bright stars of tomorrow, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz, and also features the brilliant Christopher Mintz-Plasse. One of my favourite moments (in addition to everything that includes Hit-Girl) still is when the main character is worried that if he dies, he won't find out how Lost ends. What a relief I don't have to worry about anymore! Because, on some of my less proud moments, I did. Anyway, Kick-Ass kicks ass.

Inception

Er, what? What is Inception doing this far from number one? Wasn't it pretty much the most mind-blowing thing I'd seen in ages, a complicated and intriguing masterpiece by the genious also known as Chris Nolan, and simply just the grandest cinema experience ever? Well, yes. As you can see, I haven't numbered the top five, even though they are supposingly in the order of superiority. It just felt wrong. When my friend asked me what my five favourite movies of 2010 were, he also asked me to mark put a star after each film that was so damn incredible you forgot it was a film you were watching. (continues below)

The Social Network

(cont.) (He asked me for the list in Facebook. By the way.) Inception was the only was that I starred. So why oh why are The Social Network and another film topping Inception? Well, quite frankly, I don't know. I'm just listening to my gut. I can't say which one I liked more, because they are so very different. Both left me in awe, but in different kinds of awe and for different reasons. I actually at one point promoted Inception to number two, but finally dropped it back down again, because this was the original order on the list in Facebook. And as we know, Facebook is the bible of today's world. And yes, The Social Network is freaking genious.

Toy Story 3

So here we are, then. 2010 is just about in the bag and my most favourite film ended up being... not a sci-fi epic nor an origin story of a web page... but a third instalment of an animated film series. Um... okay? I guess what happened here is that number three and number two were too busy wrestling with each other that they forgot one little Toy Story 3. Whoever saw that coming? ... I did, actually. (Just remembered that I did!) Here's a direct quote (with spelling errors and all, sigh... 'askes'... I should probably fix that) from my Inception post from July:

" So - if someone askes me in the end of this year what was the BEST film of 2010, I will probably say Inception. If they ask what was MY FAVOURITE film, I will say something else. Something silly like Toy Story 3 or Kick-Ass or Harry Potter. "

And yes, I don't think this is such a scandalous or unexpected choice after all. I mean, whoever has seen the film knows it's brilliant in so many wonderful ways. I'm definitely campaigning for Toy Story 3 to win the best picture Oscar, and not only because I like underdogs and tend to fly the flag of those who REALLY don't stand much chance of winning, but also because I think it has a tremendous amount of potential. I mean, don't you want an animated picture to win the Oscar some day? So why not now? (Yeah, yeah, okay. In my dreams. Anyway.)

**

Okay. So. A wrap-up of a wrap-up... 2010. What a year! And I have a sneaky feeling that 2011 might be even better! There sure are a big bunch of films worth expecting on the way. 2010 took us beyond infinity, but who knows, we might go even further next year.

Happy two thousand and eleven, everyone! Enjoy the fireworks tonight!

My TOP 5 favourite male bonds in movies

Well, the title says it all, doesn't it? Here's a list of my favourite male twosomes (platonic bonds only)! Please, feel free to protest.

5. Gay Perry & Harry (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 2005)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is quite a hilarious movie. And most of the comedy emerges from the interaction between the characters of Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. RDJ's small-time crook Harry babbles away in a pace that is quite a challenge to keep up with and Kilmer's bad ass gay detective Gay Perry rolls his eyes and tells Harry to shut the fuck up, you fucking idiot. For a little taste of that excellent team work, see the 'eight percent chance' scene, and the film's gag reel, too, because those two just crack me up.

"Look up "idiot" in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?"
"A picture of me?"
"No! The definition of the word idiot, which you fucking are!"

4. Gordie & Chris (Stand by Me, 1986)

These two might no crack me up much, but they certainly do melt my heart and make me wish I was a 12-year-old boy. (And just to be clear, that doesn't happen too often. (I mean the latter.)) Gordie and Chris, played by Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix, are so good buddies in such a profound and mature way that all you can do is envy them... and then melt away. So, whether it's about messing around with big boys' toys or opening up about your sorrows, they can always count on each other. As long as they are twelve, at least... Growing up sucks.

"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"

3. Holmes & Watson (Sherlock Holmes, 2009)

(Another RDJ, sorry.) Once I heard someone say that if RDJ had as good a chemistry with Rachel McAdams as he has with Jude Law, the film would've worked so much better. Haha, can't argue that. Holmes and Watson know each other very well, too well, even, and they constantly piss each other off, but still can fully rely on the other in a tough spot. And yeah, there's that slightly homoerotic vibe. That old-married-couple-ness is so much fun, really.

"You've never complained about my methods before."
"I'm not complaining. How am I complaining? When have do I ever complain about you practicing the violin at three in the morning, or your mess, your general lack of hygiene, or the fact that you steal my clothes?"

2. Merry & Pippin (The Lord of the Rings, 2001, 2002, 2003)

Of all the amazing friendships The Lord of the Rings has to offer, I chose this twosome without hesitation. Why? Because they have been friends like forever. Because they will be friends forever. Because if you separate them, they are just two lonely and lost and miserable halves. Because they are goofy and cute and adorable. Because Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd just click, and it shows. Because they appreciate the value of second breakfast. Okay?
 

"Are we lost?"

"No."

"I think we are."

"Shh. Gandalf's thinking."
"Merry?"

"What?"
"I'm hungry."

1. Anakin & Obi-Wan (Star Wars, 1999, 2002, 2005)

They shouldn't be number one. I mean, the way they potray this friendship in the films, and the way Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen act it, isn't always winner material. However, behind the occasional new-generation Star Wars horridness, there is a great and powerful story about a long, deep, strong bond that breaks apart under world-shattering circumstances. So that makes Anakin and Obi-Wan worth this ranking. (PS. Don't get me wrong, I like the prequels. Even I and II, kind of.)

"You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you."

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Consolation prizes go to Woody & Buzz from Toy Story (1995, 1999, 2010) and Gerry/Daphne & Joe/Josephine from Some Like It Hot (1959). Sorry guys, you didn't quite make it. It was close, alright. I finalized the list before Toy Story 3, and afterwards I thought about cheating and making it a TOP 6, but I didn't. Maybe I should've. Still, Woody and Buzz are great (Woody and Andy, too!). And none of these guys would look so good on a dress as Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis did! Ewan McGregor, maybe? Anyway.

So... Who did I forget?

Still, the River runs on just the same

In a more just world, River Phoenix would turn 40 today. In honour of his birthday I watched Stand by Me and Dogfight. And again I remembered very clearly why I was obsessing over River earlier this year. What a talent, what a charisma, what a man.

There are a lot of songs written for River Phoenix. As I was listening through some of them, I noticed they were all about his death, none about his life. It's understandable that tragedy is more inspiring, but a song about life would've been more appropriate for this day. Well, anyway, here's River by Natalie Merchant. (The title of this post is from an Ellis Paul song, also called River.)

 
You were one of ours
One of ours 

Happy birthday, River.

Stand By Me

Stand by Me (1986)


Directed by Rob Reiner. Starring Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland.

Long story short: Four boys go on a quest to find a dead body, and... Well. You know how it goes.

This was on TV tonight, so I gladly watched it again. I saw Stand by Me for the first time only a month or two ago (yeah, I know, I'm not normal), but it hit me hard. I remember being strangely preoccupied for the rest of the day after the first time. Like I had to go for a walk and had some wild, crazy ideas floating around my head (don't remember the ideas anymore, thank god...). And well, again, I find myself wanting to go for an awesome adventure, to experience some awesome things and make some awesome memories... And oh man, there's that damn melancholy feeling again! This film is supposed to be a nostalgia fix for middle-aged men, not for a girl in her freaking twenties. Oh well. Guess I'm not normal, eh?

Okay, shall we carefully approach the point, then? Those four boys are just great, everyone's their own special personalities. Vern is so funny, because whatever he says he always sounds so naive. That high-pitched tone of his voice, haha, just great. Teddy is a bit disturbing character with his Normandy obsession and stuff, but he has some great lines ("I cherish these moments."). And then these two.


I don't know if in real life it's possible for twelve-year-old kids to have a friendship so profound and mature, but Gordie and Chris are just enviably good buddies. Oh and they made this little cry-baby weep just a tiny weeny bit. Again. Not that it takes so much, really. Sigh.

Stand by Me has a simple but powerful plot. It's a coming-of-age story of the best kind. The only part I have difficulties watching is of course the pie-eating contest. Gross. Oh and the leeches. Gah. Otherwise, it's great. Jack Bauer was a huge badass already in the 80s. And... What the hell IS Goofy, indeed?

Oh and I'm sorry. I came across this and I just have to share it with you. He's just so FINE.


When I watched Stand by Me for the first time, I had a black hole or something in my head, so I didn't realize that charismatic young man was River Phoenix until the end credits. And... so began my River obsession. Which I'm trying to keep in check right now. In case you haven't had enough yet, you should maybe try reading my River Phoenix tribute, then I guarantee you'll have enough.

I wish I'd seen Stand by Me much much earlier, so I wouldn't feel like a fraud saying how much I like it after seeing it only twice. Anyway. I'm off to some awesome adventure (=to bed).

"I'll see ya."
"Not if I see you first."

My favorite TV shows 3/5 + a wise investment

Yesterday I sat in front of my laptop for half a decade (or that's what it felt like, though I think the more accurate guess would be three hours) and changed the layout of my blog. There was blood, sweat and a few tears, but in the end I stood up as a winner, I overcame the obstacles, I kicked my laptop's ass! And all that without a bazooka. Ha! I still think I should learn that fine art of coding, but considering I haven't yet, I'm pretty satisfied with the result. The star of my blog is now River Phoenix, because I freaking LOVE that picture ja Stand by Me is on TV this weekend. God, he just can't take a bad picture, can he? ...Couldn't take a bad picture, could he... Eer. Yes. I can't use the past tense correctly when it comes to River.

So, to the main event or something! I had some problems trying to rank these remaining TV shows in a fair and truthful way... Oh well. Sorry Grey, you've been chosen to be number 3!

3. Grey's Anatomy

At the moment Grey's Anatomy is stuck somewhere in the middle of season six. I actually don't know if they're currently even shooting new material. Hopefully they'll finnish season six with dignity (...) and then we'll say goodbye to Seattle Grace, because Grey has definitely lived past its golden age.

Now, let's look back to that golden age that was once upon a time when George was still alive and had some decent storylines, too. Back in season one I was fanatically following four shows: The O.C., Prison Break, Grey and Lost. Those good old days, I had something to look forward to every weekday! I remember watching the first teasers on TV and liking it even then. Oh and yes, I've had a lot of fun with Grey's Anatomy over these years - and tears, too, god yes, a lot of tears. I love the humour in this show, too, it's different from The O.C. and definitely not like Skins humour, but it's kind of sweet and yet edgy.

I like many of the characters, Izzie, Dr. Bailey, and Lexie of the newer faces, but there is only one number one and that's our very own George O'Malley. At my weakest moments I remember wanting him to be a real person so I could marry him. Ha ha. Well, I could still marry him, couldn't say no. George is so SWEET and cute and sympathetic and I'd always just want to give him a biiiiiig hug. I loved the little romance between him and Izzie and their friendship was always so adorable.

During the fifth season he didn't get good storylines, I suppose because there was some personal problems behind the scenes (earlier they had written Burke off the show, because the actor was slightly homophobic and didn't get along with T.R. Knight, who plays George). I guess that's why they also killed George off. Oh god, that was a SHOCK. When I watched that episode, I had an entrance exam to a university the next day, and I didn't sleep well at all because I was so shocked about George. (I bet that's why I didn't get in. Grey's fault, I'm positive.) But dear god, I never saw that coming! It was a shame that he had to go, but at least he left the stage with style! When George died, my interest towards Grey's Anatomy kind of died too. We had so many great moments with everyone's favorite 007, but here's one, from the golden age of Grey's Anatomy.

Meredith: "Where are the tampons?"
Izzie: "He didn't buy them."
Meredith: "You didn't buy them?"
George: "Men don't buy tampons!"
Izzie: "You know what? You're gonna have to get over the whole man thing, George! We're women! We have vaginas! Get used to it!"
George: "I am not your sister!"

That wonderful weather we have today is not very good for this movie watching business. Also my sister is visiting me today and tomorrow I get to babysit my lovely wonderful (almost) one-year-old nephew! But there's always time for a movie, and if there isn't, I'll make some time.

Oh and I went shopping today! Me and my friend went through basically every shop in town, but only thing I found was this. Only 10 € from Anttila! Ooooooh yeah! Now I can once again enjoy Brad Pitt's glorious "Italian" accent. Hahahaha. That has to be the best moment in the whole movie. Maybe even the best moment in Brad Pitt's entire career. (Although that "old" babyface Benjamin Button was a pretty nice moment too. Oh yes, thank you, special effects. That was just dreamy. I remember watching it for the first time... I think I didn't blink once when that gorgeous "young" man was on screen. And there might have been some drool dribbling down my chin, because I'd forgotten to close my mouth. Oooooh yes. Why can't you really age backwards? ... I clearly need to watch Benjamin Button once again.)

The Damned United

Yesterday, after finnishing my River Phoenix tribute, I found one more quote I'd like to share. This one is by River himself.

"I don't want to die in a car accident. When I die it'll be a glorious day. It'll probably be a waterfall."

I'm not sure how that makes me feel, I'd like to know what the context was. But yeah... It wasn't glorious when it happened. Not a waterfall, no.

Okay, not to be too grim (or a hypocrite, again, since last night I wrote that people concentrate too much on his death), I'll add two more that I liked.

"I wouldn't eat a hamburger for 40,000 dollars."

I wish I could say the same...

"Everything is ironic to me. There are moments I find hysterical, but I'm probably the only one who would find that, except for a few people."

And now for something completely different!

The Damned United (2009)


Directed by Tom Hooper. Starring Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent.

Long story short: Brian Clough takes over the management of England's top football club Leeds United, after his biggest rival Don Revie retires from the job. It gets personal, and it gets nasty.

Like I said, completely different, no heartbreaking romances this morning. This is a bit odd choice, as I know nothing about football, but I have my reason(s), and we'll get to that, later.

Based on the research I've done (= I read the first paragraph of a review in IMDb), there are not many good football movies around. The only football movie I can remember is Bend it like Beckham, which I saw approximetely half a millenium ago. So, I just have to take the reviewer's word for it: this was a welcome movie for the football world! Now, from the point of view of a non-football fan, this could have been a very boring movie to watch. It's based on actual events and people, of which I'd never heard of before. I don't understant the crazy passion that the British have towards this game. (I wrote 'the British', instead of 'Brits', because, apparently, it's like calling Americans 'Yankees'. See, I've learned something this year, wohoo!)

However, I enjoyed the film from the very first scene. The reason has to be Micheal Sheen. He's just kind of brilliant! And excellent as this slightly cocky, super über ambitious and confident football manager. He also did couple of tricks on the field himself, and I don't if it was Michael Sheen or stuntman+CGI kicking that ball, but anyway, whoa. (And I'm looooooving that accent, good gracious.) The film was entertaining to watch and easy to follow, and it had flashbacks too, which always gets a thumbs-up from me. Also, I always like when in the end of a movie based on real people, they show how they really looked like and you can compare them to the actors. Michael Sheen was a great choice! He's cool (not so cool as a vampire, though). Oh and we got to visit Brighton! I've never been to that place, but everytime I see a picture I just want to leave right away. It's beautiful!

There, some shameless and beside-the-point Brighton advertising for you!

And... hmm. Do I still have something to say about the topic, I don't know, I got kind of distracted there. Hmm. One intelligent observation: There seems to be no British film without a Harry Potter actor in it. This one had Wormtail (again, named Peter!) and Prof. Slughorn. Maybe everyone in Britain just have been in a Potter film. Oh and the reason I watched this film, I almost forgot! It's silly. I knew Chris from Skins would be in it. And he was, for two glorious minutes, at least! He even had a line, which consisted of at least six words, can you believe it! And he wore a stupid black wig. Ha ha. I just need to settle on waching him on Skins. Too bad.

In summary, The Damned United was a film worth watching, especially if you are a football fan, but even if you're not. (Insert a glance outside the window here.) And if it's supposed to be bloody spring and it's bloody snowing. Sigh. Gotta love this country. Cheers, mates, I'm off to Brighton.

"We're just gonna have to beat him, Pete. Beat him if it's the last thing I do."

"In simplicity there is truth." - River Phoenix

Didn't see any films today... Today was a River day. A good day! (I'm just going to sprinkle these photos everywhere, because MAN was someone a natural in front of the camera.)

I walked to the campus to force myself to finnish my essay (and I did!). Last time I went to the campus there was much more snow the sea was still frozen... Not anymore! It was so pretty there, I love that our campus is by the sea. Sun was shining and it was amazingly warm and I played my feel-good-songs, like Downtown and Walking on Sunshine, in repeat, and I had to fight myself not to smile like an idiot all the time.

At home I dedicated my day mostly to River Phoenix. First, I'm falling in love with that name more and more all the time! God bless the Hippie parents, look at these names: River, Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, Summer... Ah! I would totally name my children like that if I lived in an English speaking country. (Doesn't work here, really.... Joki Jokinen. Sade Virtanen. Vapaus Vanhanen. Kesä Mansikkamäki. Ridiculous. Shame, though.) Where was I...? I've had River by Joni Mitchell stuck in my head half of the day. I bet River sometimes wished he had a river he could skate away on. If not in those words.

I watched a biography/tribute show I found on Youtube. I'll link it here, in case someone's interested. It's in five parts, together about 45 minutes long.

(Damn, I'm a technical genious for managing to do that!) I learned a lot about River. Shame to say, pretty much all I knew before was the same majority of people (those who have heard of him, I mean) do: he was in Stand by Me and he died young. His backgroung is very interesting, the cult and being smuggled back to America... And I so need to find more of his movies! It's not easy, though, in this godforsaken country (sorry. I didn't mean it. Oi Maamme Suomi ja sitä rataa). It was both sad and respectable, how the really HATED being a celebrity. The whole celebrity culture is really very idiotic and so so shallow, and I can't say I've done anything to stop it... Vice versa. But I could say River changed my point of view a bit. That side of the industry is just... ugh. And yes, I love the Oscars and all that stuff, but let's face it. Most of that is just pretending and showing off and so phony and ridiculous spending of money. (Still, I'm watching next year. Again. No doubt. Am I a hypocrite or what... Hah.)

More about River. Watching that biography also made me feel that I should become a vegeterian (not that I will do that, either), stop buying things I don't need (as if) and go pat my roommate's cat on the back (that I might do... as soon as I get up). Point is that he's inspiring. (Not sure if I should write was or is... I'm confused. Sure he's dead, but he inspires me now, so...? Oh, anyway...) And the way he lived his life is/was/whatever very admirable. He had princibles he believed in, and lived according to them. Like when filming some movie he demanded clothes not made of animal skin. Even though at that point he really wasn't in a place where you could make demands, he got what he wanted, because others saw something special in him, even then.

(Lovelovelove that picture! One not so serious. Though he does EXCELENT serious, too.) And then he's death... First I'd like to quote what Leonardo Dicaprio said in an article in Esquire "on the night River Phoenix died":

"When I was eighteen, River Phoenix was far and away my hero. Think of all those early great performances — My Own Private Idaho. Stand by Me. I always wanted to meet him. One night, I was at this Halloween party, and he passed me. He was beyond pale — he looked white. Before I got a chance to say hello, he was gone, driving off to the Viper Room, where he fell over and died. That's a lesson."

I read lots of comments saying that Leo's words were somehow offensive and inappropriate and I sort of get their point. I mean it is kind of wrong that everyone always talks about River's death insted of his life. And sure, it's a bit dramatic and so on, but I really don't mind that comment. After all, it is quite a coincidence that Leo happened to see his hero on the night of his death. World loves drama and stories like that. I can't deny that I had some shivers when I first read that.

Anyway, I don't have much more to say about his death. It was very very very unfortunate and tragic and unfair and wrong and sad. What I understood was that he didn't take that stuff for kicks, he took it to cope. World is unfair sometimes, that's something you can't get over.

Oh and my faith in humanity improved an inch. That paparazzi, who could've taken a million dollar picture, but called 911 instead. "I'm a human being before I'm a photographer." I'd lift my hat if I had one. Not everyone would've acted similarly.

Now I should somehow summarise the greatness and uniqueness of River Phoenix. And... I can't really. Well, you know. But I really need to watch My Own Private Idaho (a great name for a movie by the way!) again, because first time I was just too confused about the story, I couldn't concentrate on River's performance. Here's one more picture, possibly my favorite of those I found today.

I truly am sorry but I will conclude my River Phoenix entry in a very inappropriate way. But come on, girls, take a look at that hair! Next to that, Robert Pattinson is, well, bald! In your face, R-Pattz!!!

(Again, sorry.)

Dogfight

Dogfight (1991)

Directed by Nancy Savoca. Starring River Phoenix, Lili Taylor.

Long story short: It's 1963. The night before a group of young Marines are shipped off to Vietnam, they spread around San Fransisco to play a game called Dogfight. The rules are simple: whoever brings the ugliest date to the party, wins. Eddie isn't doing very well in his hunt, until he finds Rose. They go to the party together, and as the night goes by, Eddie begins to see that maybe Rose isn't so ugly after all...

So. First a few words about the reason I watched this film: River Phoenix. I sort of "discovered" him just recently, as I watched Stand by me for the first time (I know. It was ABOUT TIME!). His silent and subtle charisma is just AMAZING. World is so unfair sometimes. Who knows what he would've grown up to be, considering what he managed to do and be in only 23 years. I mean... yeah. You know. Talents like River just don't come along too often. And yeah, maybe I feel like this because his life has that melancholy jamesdean-y kind of feel to it and maybe he would've grown up to be just someone doing mediocre movies, but I don't like to think that way. He's very unique. (And I'd like a bio pic, please. A good one.)


Now. To the point. When I started watching Dogfight, I knew basically how the plot would go. Meaning, he would pick up a random girl, use her and then fall for her. Knowing this didn't bother me at all. The beginning promised a carefree comedy, but it got much much deeper. As Eddie and Rose spend the night together, he starts talking about being sent to "this little place near India called Vietnam". That's when I really began to get inside the story and care for the characters, knowing what was waiting for him. The characters are very real and I totally related to some situations they got into. At times it was funny, too. (I'll quote the restaurant scene in the end.)

The ending is not for everyone's taste, but I think it was rather brilliant. No words, just... Mm. And the expression on River's face...Mm mm mm. The film left things a bit open, something for the viewer to decide on and to make their own conclusions about. That way is usually much better than obviousness.

I liked this film more than I expected. I liked it a lot. In a way it is similar to Dear John (boy falls in love with a girl just before going off to war and so on), but this one I definetely will watch again. It reminded me a little about Before Sunrise, one of my favorite films ever. It was sweet, genuine, sad, funny... And really worth watching. Watch it. It has Hippies too!


"Are you ready to order?"
"Yes, goddammit. I'm going to have the fucking poached salmon, with the son-of-a-bitching rice, and a dirty bastard salad with a shitload of Roquefort dressing. Thank you. And who knows what this asshole wants."
"Uh, I'll just take a fucking beer."

I had a good day, film-wise. Essay wasn't finnished, but then again, when it comes to essays, there's always tomorrow.

Oh, and I am considering about telling someone about this blog. I mean, so far writing just for the sake of it hasn't been bad at all, but I wouldn't mind a reader or two. We'll see what I think tomorrow. Goodnight, I'm going to try and hunt down some more River films.