Loving Love: Part 2 of 3 (originally published in January, 2005)
I'm back and I'm ready to extol the virtues of believing in love for another week. How are you doing with the countdown to Valentine's Day? Have you fixed your eye on that shy coffee shop lass? Perhaps that lad who always fixes the copy machine? Don't forget that we all die one day and as far as I can tell, regrets are the worst thing to have on your death bed. Maybe this year you should go out and find an especially adorable set of Valentine's Day cards- a Transformers or Care Bears set would be particularly keen- and simply hand a few out. Why not? I can personally guarantee that if you hand someone a Valentine's card featuring Optimus Prime or Grumpy Bear and they don't apprecaiet it, they are not worth your time. Bring some joy to the hearts of friends and strangers. Spread the love, folks. Here is a suggestion to get you in the mood.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This one just received two Oscar nominations; One for Kate Winslet in the lead actress category and one for original screenplay. Since I'm in love mode I'll go ahead and tell you the truth. After all, how can love grow if it isn't surrounded by honesty? The truth is, this is the best movie of this past year. I know what you're thinking, "Isn't this a Jim Carrey movie?" No. It is a Charlie Kaufman/ Michel Gondry movie. Kaufman is the mind behind Adaptation and Being John Malkovich. He may be the most interesting screenwriter working today. Gondry is a music video directing wunderkind who makes this his sophomore feature effort. It may very well be his masterpiece no matter what he does from here on in. This movie is at once over-the-top zany as well as quiet and subtle. I have now seen this film four times and each time there are piles of details I notice for the first time. The background of this movie is more active than... um... well... something that's really active.
Jim Carrey puts in the most controlled performance of his career and manages to make himself a believablly shy, guy next door type. Technically this movie is amazing, but its heart lies with, well, the heart. It is about the inescapable pain of love, as well as the power and immense importance of it. I really think this is the best love movie of the last decade (with the possible exception being next week's offering). It is intensely honest with its two main characters. Both are riddled with flaws and we are allowed to see parts of their relationship deteriorate for various reasons and in various ways. However, the magic between them in their moments of honesty are almost ethereal. At the beach and on the frozen river we are treated to a chemistry so natural that it feels as though we are watching memories of moments we almost had ourselves. What if I had spoken to that girl on the bus the other day? What if I gave that guy at the supermarket my number? Who knows what might have happen if we were more bold in our lives?
This movie is about love, fate and then our roles inside of that. What it seems to say is that love will only unlock the door for us. We have to be brave enough to open it and walk through ourselves. So, for these next two weeks, as we approach the dreaded day, I ask you- no, I dare you- to give someone you don't know a flower or a handful of multi-flavored hard candies. Why not? What have you got to lose? The fear seems to be of rejection and that somehow that will injure our dignity. Well let me tell you something. I lost my dignity years ago and I have been just fine. Dignity is for suckers and spontaneous and random acts of romance are for champions. This Valentine's season ask yourself, which are you, a champion or a sucker?
Andy tries to live his life by the code of the Champion.
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