Sunday, September 30, 2007

Oh! Darling

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This weekend, Lacey and I made our way up to Edmond to see Across The Universe because the Norman theater is stupid and won't show anything but Jessica Alba movies. It is a known fact that I am on Team Beatles and am an easily entertained sap, so it should be no surprise that I fucking loved this movie. It inspired several thoughts:

1. Evan Rachel Wood is really dating Marilyn Manson?
2. Selma Hayek might be the hottest woman alive.
3. Once, when L and C-tina and I were much younger, C-tina dressed up like a boy, L and I donned defunct dance costumes and videotaped a rather racy and strange interpretation of "Oh! Darling." I cannot, for the life of me, remember why we would to this, but it confirms that we were truly odd girls.
4. I am hopelessly and eternally in love with every Beatles song ever.
5. I would marry Jim Sturgess. He just looks so lovable. And he's British. And he sings. I don't know.
6. I would name our children Vera, Chuck and Dave. But seriously, is it weird that I'd name them Sadie, Jude and Lucy?

Other thoughts: yes, the movie was certainly cheesy, the narrative trite, the performances imperfect, but somehow, all of those shortcomings converged to create a truly endearing experience. It's like you just overlook the ridiculousness of it (uh, hello, Bono? Eddie Izzard? Joe Cocker?) with the same enthusiasm when you plunged headfirst into your parents' worn copy of Rubber Soul. Growing up with Beatles songs in the 80s/90s prevents one from properly contextualizing some of the sentiments. As obvious as it was, it was good to re-hear the lyrics (especially a heartbreaking rendition of "I Want To Hold Your Hand") with a new voice in a historical, although fictional setting. Dumb as it sounds, this movie truly added depth to my understanding and enjoyment of Beatles music. Also, it confirms The Beatles are undoubtedly superior to most everything out there (yes, the Stones) and that their music not only transcends time, but is more than capable of propelling a narrative and compelling genuine emotion.

I've spent the rest of the weekend in this sort of nostalgic fog listening to each album, surprising myself that I do like vinyl better even though I claim it shouldn't make a difference. I want to fall in love to "Something." I want to break up to "I'm Looking Through You." I want to get back together to "Don't Let Me Down." I wanna get it on to "And I Love Her." I want to get married to "Here There and Everywhere." I want to sing "Mother Nature's Son" to my kids. I want to dance around like a dork to "Your Mother Should Know." I want to make dinner to "Her Majesty."

Let it be. That I am a dork.

21 comments:

Mr. Shain said...

you know what's fun? writing movie reviews a month after the film's out in theaters. you never fail to ignore convention blythe... (even in your relationships).

Unknown said...

There is nothing better than the smell of vintage vinyl. The cracks and the pops gives me the shivers.
As for your choice of Beatle's tunes to live your life to I would have to go with the following:
Fall In Love: Here Comes The Sun
Break Up: Hide Your Love Away
Get Back Together: We Can Work It Out
Marriage: Ballad of John and Yoko
Kiddy Sing A-Long: Yellow Submarine
Dork Out Around the House: Hello, Goodbye
Dinner: Norwegian Wood
*Bonus 25th wedding anniversary tune: All You Need Is Love

The [Cherry] Ride said...

I am going to go see this, just so I can argue with you over just how lame this movie truly is.

Mr. Shain said...

i dunno [cherry] although sappy, it's a pretty damn good film....

Anonymous said...

They filmed part of it on my block. You probably saw places where I occasionally eat dinner, Blythe.

Anonymous said...

Growing up with Beatles songs in the 80s/90s prevents one from properly contextualizing some of the sentiments.

Maybe, but how much context do you need? Does it really matter that "Sexy Sadie" was written to bash the Maharishi? "I Saw Her Standing There" boils down to one word: "jailbait." Yet both of these records hold up pretty well after four decades or so.

There are times when I think less context might be useful. Consider Lennon's solo shot "Imagine," which, separated from that lovely piano tune, is rehashed hippie drivel without benefit of actual hash.

blythe said...

mr. shain - i'm pretty sure you're just jealous that we didn't invite you. how was "dinner" with "other people?"

eg - good choices. i approve.

cherry - fine. bring it. you will love it. you will cry. or i will make you cry. either way, there will be crying.

shain - when did you see it?! what's going on?

crimenotes - are you inviting me to dinner? no? fine.

cg - i think it does matter. when you grow up in it, you automatically associate. since i didn't, i don't and it's interesting to go back and pin meaning to some of the songs i otherwise would listen to at face value. i'll give you imagine though. blech.

d said...

the beatles blow in any context.

blythe said...

d - what? how? on what basis? is this some trick to get yourself out of the competition? if so, it's not working. or is it?

Peter said...

I've long been more of a Stones guy personally.

Plus, Bono's giant mug popping into the commercials raised my eye brow.

My right one, in case you were wondering.

Dan Nolan said...

I'm starting to think that I might actually hate Bono. Will I still be able to enjoy this movie?

Top Ten boobs of all time:
10. debatable
9. debatable
8. debatable
7. debatable
6. debatable
5. debatable
4. debatable
3. debatable
2. Selma Hayek's right boob
1. Selma Hayek's left boob

truly transcendent.

Dan Nolan said...

(honorable mention: bee-spot boob one, bee-spot boob two)

Dan Nolan said...

ok, final list:

Top 20 boobs of all time:
20. debatable
19. debatable
18. Charles Nelson Reilly
17. debatable
16. debatable
15. debatable
14. debatable
13. debatable
12. bee-spot's boob one
11. bee-spot's boob two
10. debatable
9. debatable
8. debatable
7. debatable
6. debatable
5. debatable
4. debatable
3. debatable
2. Selma Hayek's right boob
1. Selma Hayek's left boob

d said...

b - i'm sorry to let you down, but this is one thing on which we will never agree. none of my other friends understand my hatred either, but the beatles make me physically ill.

feel free to masturbate to them freely though. i won't judge you for it.

blythe said...

peter - the stones? i'll let you off the hook since you're obviously wrong.

dan - yes and yes. and wait, 12 and 11? at least i beat #18.

d - blasphemy! i need more information about this. i deeply hate the who, so perhaps i can relate? and i'll masturbate to whomever i damn well please. and i just might be ringo. i'm crazy like that.

dmbmeg said...

Did you see Marilyn Manson's video where he is actually having sex with Evan Rachel Wood?

If not...here you go:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NX1fqMGQWtI

Sorry since this is a family blog and all.

Dan Nolan said...

that's a best of all time list. I'd say 11 and 12 is pretty good.

JHC said...

Love the Beatles but no way can I see a movie with Evan Rachel Wood. She's the most vacuous actress out there, and that's saying something.

Salma's boobs are falling (see what I did there?) for me right now as she's currently breast-feeding. How you gonna rank her higher than blythe? pffffft

blythe said...

jebus - i know. and i watched that video and almost puked/came. ugh.

the funny thing is i would say 35% of the people that read this blog have actually seen my boobs. oh dear.

JHC said...

I guess I'm (unhappily) in the majority then.
Awesome.

So@24 said...

"You saw a film today, oh boyyyyy."

I had to.