Hey everyone, I'm the girl who spends
way too much time watching movies, but you can call me
TheCinemaChick! I've been looking back at some indie films I've seen
this year and I've decided that I'm going to spend some time visiting
them. So get ready for two tales of love, mystery and separation.
With that said, let's look at Joss Whedon's film “In Your Eyes”
and Jim Jarmusch's “Only Lovers Left Alive”.
Now, you guys know me well enough to
know that I can't stand chick flicks. I loathe romance movies. Give
me a good horror film any day. However, I kept hearing things about
both of these films so my curiosity was sparked. The first one I
mentioned is available to watch online through Vimeo. I believe I
paid to rent it on there. However, I would pay to watch it again or
even own it. Yes, it's a story about two people falling in love but
its done in such a new way that I found myself enjoying it. Our
story centers around Becky (Zoe Kazan) and Dylan (Michael
Stahl-David), who live on opposite sides of the country. They've
never met but they share a mental link making it possible for them to
speak to each other and see what the other is seeing. They grow up
not realizing what's going on until Becky is married and Dylan is a
convict.
Through a long series of events, they
fall in love. Bear in mind they have never seen each other. One
day, they both agree to step in front of mirrors and in that moment,
they both know it. They're meant to be. However, he's on parole and
stuck where he is and she's just trapped in a seemingly loveless
marriage. Philip Porter (Mark Feuerstein) is such a jerk! It turns
out he uses his wife as some kind of psychiatric experiment. He even
has her placed in a mental hospital against her will because he
believes she's insane. Dylan, sensing something is wrong, violates
his probation and flies to her, steals a car, helps her escape and
they finally meet each other in the final moments.
I know, I just skipped over a good
chunk of the film, but I really think this one's worth seeing. Yes,
it's another fairly typical love story, but it's presented in a new
light. I liked the idea that Becky and Dylan fell in love with each
other, not their looks. In all honesty, that's one thing I have come
to hate about movies like this in mainstream media. The most
attractive men and women end up with partners and getting a happy
ending. If you are average of ugly, well, sucks to be you. In this
case, they got to know each other before seeing each other, so the
love was stronger in my opinion.
While I do wish Becky hadn't been such
a wimpy character, I can see why Joss Whedon wrote her that way. I
say wimpy, but that's not the best description. I'd say she's
awkward, unsure of herself and she wants to find happiness. She
knows it's not with Philip because he keeps distancing himself from
her. The more she talks to Dylan, the happier she is. When she
escapes the mental hospital, I was so happy when she got her revenge
on him. You go, Becky!
I'm glad they ended up together. I
wanted to see Dylan leave his shady past behind and I wanted Becky to
stand on her own two feet. They are a somewhat mismatched pair but
they're so adorable together. It kind of renewed my hope in the
romance genre, but only slightly. I won't be that shocked when I see
another romantic comedy with actors like Cameron Diaz, Channing
Tatum, Rachel McAdams or even Jennifer Lawrence start popping up
again. Once, just once, can we have a realistic romance movie?
Seriously, every romantic comedy follows a formula. I can predict
the movie based on the type of love interest. They're boring and
could use a major overhaul. I guess I can see why people enjoy them
though. It's nice to see two people happy together and live
vicariously through that.
But again, things don't happen like
that in real life. It's always boy meets girl, they fall in love,
something tears them apart and they unite and declared their undying
love for each other. Actually, this is also the plot of just about
every Disney movie ever made. I know, I know, there are some
exceptions, like “Brave” and “Frozen”. “Maleficent”
taught us that men are bad and you should never trust them because
they will hurt you. Okay, “Frozen” also did that, but to a
lesser extent. You get my point! Love in the movies is not at all
like love in real life.
Love in real life is weird and painful
and confusing but when it's real, it's the best feeling ever. I know
this because I was once in love but that ended...badly...oddly
enough, he ended up with a former friend of mine. I was upset at
first, but now I'm just laughing at both of them. He went from me,
college educated, twice published, to a high school dropout.
Sorry, not sorry.
But the thing is, we won't end up
together. We won't have some magical reunion where we realize we
were meant to be. I'm okay with this. Plus, we all know I can do
better.
You see my point though. I didn't
meet, fall in love, break up and reunite. In the movies, its like
they meet one man and that's the one they'll marry. It doesn't make
sense to me. That kills the fantasy for me. I know, we go to movies
to be entertained and to get away from the real world. If I'm going
to see a romance movie, I want there to be a realistic edge to it. I
don't want this same old story that'll never happen.
You know what? Go rent “Love
Actually” or “Valentine's Day”. I know there's multiple plots
in each one, but it's the most realistic you'll get. People make up,
they break up and some people realize they picked the wrong person.
Things to end on this perfectly happy note. There is a fair amount
of uncertainty to it, which I loved. From someone who despises the
whole genre, those would be the only two I'd highly recommend.
Well, I've gotten a bit off topic.
The second film is “Only Lovers Left
Alive” and I will admit, I wanted to see this because of Tom
Hiddleston. Can you blame me though? He's got such a wide range of
skills! He's one of the most popular comic book villains, he's been
F. Scott Fitzgerald, a soldier with PTSD, a captain in World War I
and soon he'll be Hank Williams. Then there's Tilda Swinton, who is
just...I cannot praise this woman enough. She's androgynous, she's
vaguely alien in features, she's so soft spoken...seriously, can we
be friends? I have the utmost respect for this woman. Tilda
Swinton, you are one of my top favorite people in film.
Now, this is also a darker film. It
is about a pair of vampires named Adam and Eve. Adam is the dark,
brooding reclusive musician while Eve is the bright, extroverted
traveler. They are polar opposites but they are deeply in love.
They live separate lives but Eve decides to visit Adam and that's
when things seem to get twisted. It's harder to find blood so it has
to be purchased from the hospital.
Also, if you one of those “Oh my
gosh, Tom Hiddleston is so hot!” girls, there are some nude scenes
in there. Yeah, he gets naked. So does she. Then he eats a
popsicle. It's very creepy yet sensual. I think it's because of the
context.
Once together, they just work
perfectly. They balance each other out so well. This is the kind of
love you should want, not that stupid Edward/Bella crap. Anton
Yelchin has a small part as Ian, who is the person who goes and runs
all over Adam's errands. Then we have Mia Wasikowska as Ava, a
younger vampire who has trouble controlling her thirst. It's because
of her one of my favorite lines happens. She actually ends up
killing Ian for his blood. Adam looks at her, then at him and says,
“Well, you ate Ian.” He is so bland and monotone in the delivery
that I just couldn't help but laugh at him.
“Only Lovers Left Alive” is not a
fast paced movie. It does move slowly, there are parts that feel a
bit too long but overall, it just felt intimate. I don't mean
intimate in the sexual sense but in the sense that you've joined this
journey of two people. Most of the scenes are tight, focusing on the
couple and they play up the colors perfectly. Eve always looks
stylish in something white and form fitting while Adam's clothes are
usually darker and in less than perfect condition. John Hurt also
has a small role in the film, as Christopher Marlowe, yes that
Christopher Marlowe. The choice to barely focus on the secondary
characters was a good one, in my opinion.
I highly recommend both of these
movies if you just want a night in, by yourself or with a partner.
They're quiet but artistically done. And remember, I hate romance
movies but I loved these. “In Your Eyes” is available on Vimeo.
“Only Lovers Left Alive” should be available on DVD and Blu-Ray
soon. Actually, it comes out this Friday, September 12. I just
checked Amazon so I can confirm this.
I'm TheCinemaChick and I'm single,
ready to mingle but for now, I'm going to bed.
**No copyright infringement intended.
This blog is just an opinion and done solely for entertainment, not
to steal material**
