MARTIAN CHILD, in case you don't know, is about a widower, who also happens to be an incredibly successful novelist, who takes in an abandoned little boy who claims to be from - you guessed it - Mars.
The movie stars John Cusack (I've never been a fan), Amanda Peet (pretty as always), the other Cusack, Joan (whom I love-love-love), and Bobby Coleman as Dennis, the Martian boy (cute-cute-cute).
I actually enjoyed the movie, not least because it speaks to a subject that's dear to my inner teen: alienation. I was the kind of kid who often felt out of step with the rest of the world, still do on a lot of days. There's a lot of pressure to be like everyone else, no matter what one's age. For some reason, others feel threatened, as though their own goals/values are invalidated by anyone refusing to walk lock-step. But I think I must have been born with my own perverse little drummer. Doesn't mean it doesn't get lonely from time to time, doesn't mean I never feel alienated - I do, I do. It does get easier to be different when one is an adult, but it's never easy-easy. Still, I can no more fire that little drummer than I can stop breathing...at least today...hopefully.
So how about you?
QUESTION OF THE DAY: WHAT MOVIE SPEAKS TO YOUR INNER CHILD/TEEN?
Yes, this is a short post today. But I'm pretty phlegmy right now and I don't want you-all to catch it.
Oh, one quibble with the film? The novelist that John Cusack portrays lives in a dream house, has things happen like his editor organizing a last-minute grand gala for the ritualistic handing-over of his latest first draft. A handful of novelists live like this, while most of us grunts do not, and it's such Hollywood depictions of the rarest that leads everyone around me including the mailman to conclude that just as soon as they make the time to park their butts in front of the computer, they will become obscenely wealthy too; you know, like me. HA!
Be well. Don't forget to write.
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15 comments:
MEANS GIRLS always speaks to my inner high schooler. :) I adore Disney movies, too.
Oh, I love MEAN GIRLS. Lindsay Lohan really is so much more than just the sum of all her personal issues.
Clueless is one of my all time fav movies. I love how Cher thought she knew exactly what was going and could see things clearly, when really she was, as the title suggests, clueless. My inner teen can totally relate to that feeling!
...forgot to say hugs on the flu. Hope you're feeling better soon.
I really liked Martian Child. The light mobile the little boy built before he went to wait for his spaceship was touching.
How about 10 Things I Hate About You?
When I was in Tacoma a couple of years ago, I visited Stadium High School where parts of the movie were filmed. I wish *my* high school had looked like that!
Ooh, this is fun: everyone os picking contemporary movies based on classics!
Amanda, a sign of how fluey I am is that I conflated "Clueless" and "Cher," and somehow came in my head with you talking about "Moonstruck." (!!!) "Clueless" is great - Jane Austen's EMMA for the Valley Girl set.
Cool, Gerb! I haven't seen "10 Things" yet but I well know its base story: "The Taming of the Shrew." Sometimes, I can be a shrew!
Lauren, hope you're feeling better soon.... having flu sucks.
A movie that speaks to my inner child is one I saw for the first time on the plane the other day.... and I just sat there totally spellbound with a silly smile on my face.
Enchanted..... it has everything I love: songs, happy ever after, and McDreamy (from Greys). It comes out on DVD here toward the end of the month... and I'm there.... I have to have this movie.
What do you mean you're not a John Cusack fan?! Is that, like, even possible?!
Thanks, Sara - doing a bit better today! I saw "Enchanted" too; liked it plenty but didn't fall in love.
HA! Bev, tht gave me my biggest laugh of the day. How do you feel about Jon Bon Jovi? We're in agreement there at least, aren't we?
PRETTY IN PINK- loved it! And still watch it when it comes round on TNT. Actually love all those John Hughes movies- dating myself, but there it is. ..
And, I'm with Bev, how can you NOT like John Cusack???
:-D
Alyson, maybe because I'm an idiot? Funny thing, I love the movies he's in often, he just doesn't send me. Go figure.
I'm loving John Hughes too, but we must mention it by name: THE BREAKFAST CLUB. I always dreamed of breaking down the cliques on a deep Saturday.
Lauren-
Nah- you're not an idiot, I mean, you totally aced the Jon Bon Jovi test!
Jon Bon Jovi? Oy. Too blow dried pour moi. And now he's in that ad with his shirt open to his navel. Jon, the eighties are over, Jon!
Melissa, oh yes, I meant to mention THE BREAKFAST CLUB when Alyson brought up Hughes - *loved* that movie! I think I was Ally Sheedy in it; well, closer to her than the others. Btw, congratulations again on Violet in the Times!
Thanks, Alyson!
Bev, how can we be sisters anymore??? Blow-dried? Blow-dried??? That was '80s Jon, who I cared nothing for. But at 45 - both he and I! - I think he is hot-hot-hot! ("Jon, don't listen to Bev! The woman favors popsicles over fudge pops!!!")
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