I can draw! I can draw?

I recently saw a speaker who asked a group of adults, who here can draw? In a room of over 1,000 people only about 5 or so raised their hands. Then he went on and said, if I went to a high school about 10% of students would raise their hands. Then he asked, if I were to go into a kindergarten class how many students would raise their hands? If you are like me your answer is the same as mine. 100% would raise their hand.

I have been thinking about that question a lot. It’s true what happened? When we (and again this is not in reference to every single person) were younger we were never afraid of being wrong. And we were never afraid of saying I can do this. 

Which reminds me of a movie I’ve seen recently, About Time. For you Bill Nighy fans, if you love Nighy-isms, you’ll enjoy this movie. Tim’s dad played by Nighy tells his son (Domhnall Gleeson) that the men in their family can travel back in time. There are a couple of conditions that come with the time travel. They can only travel to places they have been. Tim decides to use this power to find love, as he and his dad call it the mother ship.

Later in the movie Tim learns his dad (Nighy) has cancer, after he passes away Tim’s wife wants another child. Tim is unsure because it means that he will never be able to see his dad again. If they travel to far back before their children are born they will come back to a completely different child. For example instead of a daughter, they would have had a son.

Tim’s dad tells him to live each day twice. Once with all the tension, and sets of everyday life and the other with seeing everything in appreciation. Soon Time learns just to live life enjoying the small things. 

Sorry I went off on a bit of a rant. One because it was an awesome movie, and for two I have a point to this movie summary.

It seems like the older we get the more in line with society we become, the more afraid we are of saying the wrong thing or just being afraid to make a mistake. At times it can be exhausting because we have to force ourselves to remember the joy in the little things. And it shouldn’t be that way, we should not have to force ourselves. 

I don’t say this to be on a soap box, and my we’s are not to everyone or anyone…just something I have been thinking about.

“Every so often I’ll have, like, a moment. When just being myself, in my life, right where I am is, like enough.” –Angela Chase, My So Called Life.

Underappreciated Movies

Some of the wonderfully, beautifully awesome movies you’ll see and it’s not even scratching the surface yet

I was watching one of my favorite movies, Prey for Rock n Roll. And it got me to start thinking about movies that are in my humble opinion, underappreciated. Then again maybe it’s not so much underappreciated, perhaps it was because not a lot of people saw the movie in the theater. I am not too sure, but … Back to Prey for Rock and Roll. For starters the soundtrack kicks butt. Gina Gershon sings load vocals in a lot of the songs, such as My Favorite Sin, Prey for Rock and Roll, Ms. Tweak, Sam, The Ugly, Every Six Minutes, Pretty Pretty, Bitter Pill, Punk Rock Girl, and Post Nuclear Celebration Party. Gina Gershon went on tour the songs from the movie in front of a live audience.  And yes to answer your question she is my hero. Another hero behind the scenes is Cheri Lovedog whom the movie is based off. Gina Gershon and Laura Petty are too funny together as best friends because they have a natural chemistry. 

Fanboys. I have two words for you, Sam Huntington. Need I say more? Okay perhaps I should elaborate. Four dudes travel across country to live out a childhood dream of busting in to Skywalker Ranch. While there is the Star Wars verses Star Trek battle, there is a good parallel between the Star Wars movies and Fanboys itself. Star Wars movies with Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher movies that is. Speaking of Harrison Ford, there is a scene when Eric (Sam Huntington) and Windows (Jay Baruchel) have an argument about Ford being the best actor. To which Windows said Harrison Ford is the greatest actor of all time, and has not made a horrible movie. Pan out as they drive past a billboard ad for Six Day Seven Nights

The next movie might have had a little more viewers than some, but Whip It is on my list. This is one of the few movies I feel it a good representation of the book. I know right? And they book avoids my pet peeve, movie covers on books. Sorry what was I saying? Oh yeah two words, Ellen Page. I know, I know some of the people I think are wonderfully awesome and funny actors cannot be my sole reason for every unappreciated movie. Or can it?

Pirate Radio. For starters let’s take a look at the awesome cast. Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge, Tom Brooke, Rhys Darby, Katherine Parkinson, Chris O’Dowd, Kenneth Branagh, Gemma Arterton, Jack Davenport, Emma Thompson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. If you love any of these actors and have not seen this movie, you need to watch this. The story is about a radio station illegally transmitting their radio shows on international waters so they do not get arrested. Seriously if you love witty and smart movies, you need to watch Pirate Radio.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Here’s another awesome example of a great cast. Mos Def, Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zoe Deschanel, Alan Rickman, and John Malkovich. Again if you like witty and smart movies you need to watch this. For the love of Pete! I think the cast says it all. I know I said I would not use wonderfully, awesome, brilliant actors as the only reason to watch a movie. But along with writers and directors they make stories we love come to life.