The movie that comes directly to mind when pressed to think of a movie I hate is: Eat, Pray, Love. My recollection of the movie is mainly of an over privileged woman focused largely on her own dissatisfaction who tells her not so bad husband to shove it and sets about figuring out why her not so bad life isn’t way greater. The fact that I found the movie too insufferable to actually stay tuned until the end makes it a perfect candidate for me to write my own ending.
In my ending (which would happen about 14 minutes in) Julia is scarfing a platter of scampi, donkey braying ecstatic if insatiate and licking each glistening finger clean of the buttery garlic salve that soothes her indulgence starved soul when a crack opens in the restaurant floor and she is sucked down into the bowels of hell where she meets a dashing devil played by Steve Buscemi. Buscemi turns in a career performance as the droll demon king who sheds humorous and ironic light on the perils of being so self-absorbed. Unfortunately, the lesson is lost on Julia who is delighted by the new level of sorry she is able to feel for herself with the added legitimacy of eternal damnation.
Jared Handley over at Lit Fire http://litfire.socialgo.com/ is now offering daily prompts. Tuesday's challenge was to write a sequel or a new conclusion for a movie you hate. Check out Lit Fire for some daily inspiration.
You know I wanted to like that movie. I did! It's got Julia Roberts. It's about a middle-aged woman seeking a better life. But, I have to agree with you. It was terrible. She does need a good dose of Steve Buscemi. He would definitely give her a smack upside the head. (Love Steve Buscemi - would love to have a beer with him and see how his mind ticks)
ReplyDeleteI'm with wise Mrs Webster on several fronts - TRIED to like the movie (after trying to like the book and putting it down mid tri-country romp) -- but yeah, it was a no go from the me, me, me complex.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to have a beer with wise Mrs. Webster and of course cowboy-surfer dude Mr sagely Sanderford. Some good discoursin' would come'up I betcha.
~ Absolutely*Kate,
shakin' it up AT THE BIJOU
and 'round WebTowne
Just had a friend finish the book at my house, and she adored it. People seem very highly divided along the premise. For some reason they keep phrasing it as though a white woman who isn't poor seeking a more satisfying existence is insufferable. I really will have to give either the book or the flick a shot to see what's under the attraction and repulsion; it feels like it really ought to lie in execution, or for the book, in reflection. I adored Gilbert's TED talk.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I didn't like the movie either. I guess I fall into the same category as you, Harry. I thought it tragic that she walked away from everything because she was unhappy with her own existence, only to wander around for a year trying to "find herself." Not my idea of a way to spend a couple of hours (for a movie) or the equivalent of a twelve hours (if I were to read the book).
ReplyDeleteHi there Harry -- I haven't seen what sounds like a 'heartfelt and incisive insight into the complex emotional turmoil of the over-privileged.' lol. Given this, I hand over to my girlfriend who says: "I bought the book cheap from WH Smith, read it, and found it to be 'self indulgent twaddle'. Once read, I passed it on to a charity shop, never to be seen again. Haven't seen the film, but like Harry's ending better." St + Fi.
ReplyDeleteI love steve buscemi. Recently saw an article about him discussing advice given to him early in his career regarding having his teeth "fixed" -- he said he would have never worked again. I like people who are happy in their own skin and know what works for them.
ReplyDelete[so you can imagine my take on EPL]
*waves* happy labor day!
:0)
I'll have to agree with you there.
ReplyDelete