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gifford86
Reviews
Used People (1992)
One of my favorite movies!
Slow dancing to a '40s love tune, slow driving to a cemetery 25 years later. A stranger appears at the Shiva, tenderly offering condolences. Pearl's buttoned-down life precludes a relationship with this man. But he persists, with his warm Italian accent, to break down the barriers. Flowers, dinner for her whole family and his, an air-conditioner, a kiss shared while wading in a children's pool, lying beside her in bed to see if they "fit", all culminate in standing before a hippie-Jewish rabbi and a hippie-Catholic priest and saying "I do." In between, others in their lives have their share of problems. Little Sweetpea makes like Superman and tries to dare the Fates, relying on his dead grandfather to save him. Daughter number one, having lost a son, tries on a multitude of roles to survive. Daughter Bibi who hates her nickname, fights her fat battle and her mother battle. Grandma and friend fight each other but end up singing, "Moon Over Miami" together. It's a "happily ever after" movie. In real life there are no guarantees, but "Used People" shows us that, just, maybe, we can make our own happiness.
The Prince of Tides (1991)
Dark and light Southern drama is played out brilliantly by the actors.
Spanish moss dripping from the branches of the live oak trees, dark and brooding tide pools of brackish water, love and hate intermingled, deep, abiding secrets shared and forgotten, Tom Wingo (name like unto Tom Wingfield of "The Glass Menagerie"), quintessential Southern boy/man. Brother Luke and sister Savannah, a mother named Lila, a brutal father, Henry. Terror and shame intertwining to paralyze and shock, murder covered over like South Carolina soil covered over the bodies, psyches being explored, wrung out, hung out to dry, love healing as it crucifies. Christ repeatedly crucified, but the only mention of his name is a curse. Symbolism abounding: violin vs. football, Southern life vs. Northern life, Jewish mother, Southern mother, children playing, laughing, crying, hurting, adults playing, laughing, crying, hurting. Oh, God, where were YOU in all of this?
Priest (1994)
Great movie, inspired me to write a poem
Gay priest, Practicing his sexuality, Torn between desire and duty to God. Hetero priest, Assuaging his loneliness With lovely, dark woman, Giving no thought to "duty". Greg and Matthew, Matthew and Greg. Slowly coming to know each other, Slowly coming to respect each other. Matthew, hiding his own dark secret, Reaches out in compassion To Greg, whose "sin" Is thrust into the public's eye. Greg, consumed by his fall from grace, Still feels compassion for Lisa. Together they comfort each other. Where is God in all this? S/he is there, all right. In Greg's knowing God wants him to be a priest, In Greg's agonizing prayer for help for Lisa, Who is being molested by her father, In Greg's longing for sexual love, In Greg's turning from that longing, In Matthew's raw, burning compassion -- For the poor, the downtrodden, the different, Greg. In Jesus' forgiveness manifested in Lisa. Oh, yes, God is there, all right.
Chaplin (1992)
An ode to Charlie Chaplin
Charlie, Charlie, the Little Tramp, sad diminutive comic. With a mother gone mad, crumbling cakes and bread. You were pursued by demons of your own, Lustfully loving lithesome Lolitas, marrying some, bedding others. You made us laugh, you made us cry, genius of the silver screen. Why, oh, why? Why the penchant for young girls? Why the drive for perfection? Why did you never apply for citizenship in a country you said you loved? Why didn't you share your millions with the unemployed you said you felt for? Why the repression of painful memories? So many unanswered questions. Maybe you didn't know the answers yourself, Sad little comic.