Jeeze. It has been awhile since I've posted anything. Must be all of this snow. My blogger itch is buried beneath 6 inches of gravel-studded slush. Today I had some time to shovel. Thus, here is the latest thought:
"Blue Valentine." Saw it at the Angelika a week ago and fell in love with the dull ache it left inside my rib cage. The story is familiar territory - a plot that revolves around the dissolution of a relationship. However, the way "Blue Valentine" showcases love's gradual fade-out is not trite. There is a constant juxtaposition between then and now - leaving even the sweetest of moments tinged with an unbelievable sadness because we, unlike the characters, know what lies ahead. Often times I get irritated by movies that aim to depress but don't give adequate authenticity to the emotion. Plenty of cinema aims at make audiences weepy. The goal is not satisfied if there is not a source of identification. Without identification, the movie gravitates quickly into being labeled as 'bad.' The problem isn't that melancholy movies are poor. More like viewers don't appreciate cheap shots aimed at provoking their tear ducts. Nobody enjoys a let down without a reason. What I want from a sad movie is realness - a mood that stirs up what I already know well, a discomfort that makes me remember something I had wished to forget.
