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One of the reasons I enjoy having an "errand day" is that it gives me some alone time in the car to just think, ponder, contemplate, reflect, whatever.  And no matter how many messages or texts I get from Ginger to "turn on the cellphone", I don't think I'll ever have it on all the time.  I really love the time to myself.

So while traversing the Valley this morning, I got to thinking about "movies that changed my life", courtesy of Nicole at Sister's Choice.  She had written on the subject, and after being"tagged" about it, so had Susan of Blackberry Creek.  They got me to wondering whether there were movies that had had that kind of impact on me.  I confess that I was initially at a loss to think of any...

And while it was certainly a "life-altering" moment for me, I don't think watching Daniel Craig emerge from the ocean in Casino Royale is what Nicole was referring to. 

I think I'm supposed to be a little deeper than that... like I do that very often.  :) 

Movies were never a huge part of my childhood, or even part of my teenage years.  The first movie I ever remember going to was at Radio City Music Hall though I can't remember what the movie was.  I remember the Rockettes.  My next movie experience was an outdoor thing at the company "camp" in Maracaibo, Venezuela.  The company my father worked for had a large compound where all the company families went on Friday nights.  The kids ran around and played, the parents socialized and then there was a movie "imported" from the States.  Once the cartoons were over, we were usually too busy running around to watch whatever movie was playing.

So I think the first movie I remember that really had an impact on me was one I saw in high school -- She Wore A Yellow Ribbon starring John Wayne.  We saw the movie as part of an English class and after seeing it, the teacher introduced a discussion about the many stereotypes the movie portrayed.  The Indians in the movie were the "bad guys", the "enemies" and they weren't particularly smart, whereas the cavalry were noble, brave and much, much smarter.  It was one of the first times that I really thought about what kinds of messages and ideas I was getting from movies, television, books, etc. 

It was around the same time that I first saw Inherit the Wind starring Spencer Tracy and To Kill A Mockingbird with Gregory Peck.  Both movies made me think about the power of ignorance, and the need to think for yourself and to find your own truth.  And both movies made it clear that thinking for yourself and challenging the "status quo" was difficult, and not without consequence.    

 

 

Like Nicole, I loved Audrey Hepburn.  Though I wouldn't see Breakfast at Tiffany's for many years, I fell in love with Eliza Doolittle and My Fair Lady.  At first it was the songs ~ I Could Have Danced All Night still gives me goosebumps and makes me smile.  But in later years, it was the idea that you could change someone's life by changing something so seemingly small as their manner of speaking. 

 

Consciously or unconsciously, we judge others ~ and we ourselves are judged ~ by external factors over which we sometimes have no control.  In My Fair Lady, by giving Eliza the speech of a lady, people's perception of her changes even though she does not.  She is the same person she's always been.  Years later, Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda made a similar point.  By changing the appearance and speech of Maggie, the way that people responded to her changed.  But unlike Eliza, Maggie did become a different person, a better person.  Both movies made me really think about how often we make judgements about people based on race, gender, education, appearance, etc., and how those judgements can shape and affect that person.    

(And getting to stare at Gabriel Byrne didn't hurt.  Or Dermot Mulroney for that matter.)

Now, don't laugh at the next one... I loved Independence Day with Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and a whole slew of other folks.  I loved all the action and special effects, but what I remember most walking out of that movie was the notion of how really stupid we humans can be.  There are too many times when we think we're so smart, that we're the only thing here, that there isn't anything bigger, more powerful or more knowing than we are.  I also liked that we needed everybody working together to solve the problem.  

More than anything, I think there are moments in movies that I remember having an impact on me.  One of my favorite movies is The Shawshank Redemption.  While I love everything about the movie, the scene near the end where Red goes to Buxton gives me goosebumps everytime I see it.  I could play that on a continuous loop ~ everything about it is perfect.  The light, the music, the pace, the symbolism... it conveys "hope" perfectly.  You have to move to it, it takes time and faith, and it's a little scary.   

There are dozens of others but if I continue, this will become as long as Gone with the Wind.  Been there, done that before... :)

Now I have to go microwave some popcorn... all this talk about movies has given me a craving. 

And then I'm going to go find my Casino Royale DVD...

          

   

Comments

[auntiepami]

Daniel Craig. Oh my. Did you see Defiance? It's those eyes. Just a little twinkle here and there. Hmmm. I still love Aliens. That's my go-to movie when I'm down or sick. But, as for life altering. I'm more of a book person. The Bluest Eye is one that comes to mind quickly. My folks raised us (as a military family exposed to many different things/cultures/people) not to be biased. So, that book really moved me. Yes, this could turn into a long post.

[Laurie]

Great post. It would be a long list for me too. To Kill A Mockingbird is certainly at the top. So much so - that would I had a son I wanted to name him Atticus (THAT would have been popular on the playground, wouldn't it) ;) And don't get me started on Daniel Craig. The only scene better than him walking in from the surf is that scene where he is putting on the bow tie of his tuxedo. There are no words for that scene.

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

Yes, yes. All great movies. Shawshank is definitely on my list too.

[Nicole]

How could I have forgotten Inherit the Wind?