WHAT'SUP
It Might Maybe be Alright, round 107.29.09
So I have this problem where I always start to panic when other people get to move on and I don’t. Since it is now the end of the summer between my junior and senior years, I’ve obviously hit full-panic mode. I used to cope by watching feel-good classics like “Thumbsucker” and “Ghost World” where life begins after high school. Well, that’s a problem now, isn’t it?
So it has been my goal for the past couple weeks to find some replacements for these movies. Below is my first review of a hopeful for such a film.
If anyone knows a movie where, say, Lou Pucci goes running through the streets somewhere POST-college, let me know.
Attempt 1: “Reality Bites”(1994)
Basic plot: Four recent college grads (no, seriously, it starts at graduation) make their first stab at Real Life in Houston.
Actual plot: Love story between Winona Rider’s and Ethan Hawke’s characters set against the backdrop of instability of post-college and also Gen X angst.
What I thought: Man, I miss the ’90s. I also missed what happened to Janeane Garofalo’s character. It really sucks to set up an ensemble cast and then not follow through. I had such high hopes for figuring out my future vicariously through her. However, it basically had the exact plot structure I was looking for in this kind of movie and it didn’t end too depressingly.
Also, Houston circa 1994 is exactly like D.C. circa now.
“Yes, but how did it make you feel?”: Actually, pretty good. I’m concerned that I went for the most promising title on my list first, and the film’s mumblecore cousins will only serve to disappoint in comparison.
::EDIT:: adding two more evaluations
Character I most relate to: Doubtlessly Janeane Garofalo
What I learned:: You know, I don’t think I learned anything. But I think that might be why I liked it; it made me feel like I can’t prepare myself any better than I am.
Rating: 4/5 (I’m being optimistic here and hoping something else will score higher.)
Next up: “Slacker”
Great and (for me at least) particularly timely feature! I would recommend Noah Baumbach’s “Kicking and Screaming.” Pretty stellar post-collegiate-malaise film, sadly banished into semi-obscurity only because it shares its title with that dumb movie where Will Ferrell is a soccer coach.
I actually just now finished watching it, believe it or not. I’ll probably post a review in a couple days. I’m not sure what I thought just yet, though.