We Needed a Film Night

The Movie Mud

Josh and I love to see movies together; however, we tend to lean in close and whisper commentary throughout a film. We try not to be a disturbance to other viewers, but I can see how we would be annoying as film goers.

Jeff Nichols's movie Mud was especially difficult to not feel a little restless and chatty since it was so long. Although, the length is no discredit to how great the film was. I blame myself for a short comfort span. The film proved to be powerful from beginning to end. 

The movie was full of heart without being sentimental or saccharine. I was appreciative to see a movie with such a positive ending, which seems to stand out against the often bleak endings of many recent films. (I'm not referring to just any films, mainly more artistic films, which is also a vague term, but I could write a whole post on trying to define it. So, for this post, let's assume that I'm talking about literary-like movies.) Still, it managed to expose the small Arkansas town with a lot of care and authenticity. 

The movie seemed to follow a full circle--where the characters end up where they started, but this time everything has changed for them. I really like this idea because this tends to reflect reality. We start out somewhere, our innocence is taken, people die, and things change, but we somehow end up facing the same events sometimes in the same place. However, all those experiences have hopefully given us new meaning or different skills to work with.

I also loved that one of the main characters, Ellis, was driven by the idea of love. He might be 14, but he sees that love, even failed love, is worth investigating. He sees how others around him are giving up on love, but he maintains the belief that humans are truly at their best when they act with love. This notion isn't written enough in movies, especially in this form. He is a romantic--in the sense that he believes there is more to life than the scientific reaction of events. Death, divorce, and violence don't stop him from keeping hope and seeing the good in people.

The point of view in which the movie was told was possibly one of its strongest aspects. We are introduced to the main character "Mud" through two young boys, mainly Ellis. Mud's story is told through Ellis which allows us to see him from innocent and objective eyes. If the film were told from Mud's eyes, we would all probably feel uncomfortable and hesitant that a man in the woods is using two boys to get what he needs. With the outside perspective of Ellis and Neckbone, we are able to approach Mud's sad, maybe a little pathetic, life story and sustain our judgment long enough to get to know him. This way we care for him more, and we want him to succeed. 

This film is definitely one of my new favorites. I'd even see it again.

Photo credit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/may/12/mud-jeff-nichols-review

Love Stamps from our Birth Place

Love Stamps from our Birth Place

I drove along Highway 45 where I spent several mornings

gritting my small teeth

behind big rig tractors,

or forcing myself to smile behind the arse of a steady stop school bus

late, late, late

for work. But today, I turned down a country road near Rigby High School,

home of the Trojans

I let the sun bake me in his green fleece coat

in front of some farm house with a gravel run

and a tired, red pickup.

I hoped no one would bother me

asking what I was doing parked in his or her or their driveway

Was I lost? Broke-down? Trespassing? Destroying the dried up grass?

Yes, all of the above-- I prepared myself to say as I waited,

phone between my legs,

for her call.

I shoved my way out of the fleece coat when the sun made

my eyelids droop. Too heavy for the heat.

I hope she wouldn’t call, so I traced outlines in the workbook

ready in the passenger's seat, purple pen at its side.

She and I would probably discuss ways to go for walks,

or drives in the giant neighborhood, or take a nap

next to his cat, or phone a friend, or even sing a song--

to ease all the behavior inside me.

I would tell her a bit about Josh

how I’m mad, or no, scared

that I am making a huge mistake.

or leap of faith, something.

I called him instead while stepping out of the car.

squinting my eyes, and leaning against the window.

“She’ll call, she’ll call, I’m sure...”

“How about you call her?” he said.

But I did call her, even left a message.

I stepped back into the car, waited five more minutes

in the only decent spot for T-mobile reception,

then I drove back to Lewisville,

where I tried to exchange these freedom and liberty stamps

my mom mailed us for our wedding invitations.

I planned to trade them for several sheets of “love” stamps

at the dinky post office, where history is told through five

black and white photos hanging on the gray wall:

our birthplace, where we settled, where our parents were raised,

where we have grown, and where we stay to die.

The post woman only offered me more of the american flag stamps,

so I drove back to the warehouse 500 ft. away

I clocked in and settled back into my desk.

she called me.

but I didn’t answer.

I love this Fine Fellow

My handsome fellow received a, much needed, hair shaping last night. I like his hair long, and I hope he continues to grow it out. But he has never cared much for a hair plan, and well, he desperately needed one. His mane was beginning to sprout in strange places all over his head, and his incessant desire to mess through his hair didn't help. 

The end result was very dapper. Mostly, I was pleased that he loved it. Good Golly, I love that man. 

"Wild, Wild Horses, We'll Ride Them Some Day"

I had a blue, blue morning--the kind where I didn't want to move from my bed (well the bed that is not technically mine, but has temporarily become my bed). When I went into work, I hoped that I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Of course it was a lively morning for everyone else, so I was forced to talk about nothing. Around lunch time, I convinced myself to go for a walk, even though my head hurt and I was just plain mad about life, I guess. On my walk, I engaged in some kind of anger, befuddled prayer with God. I may have even kicked a rock or two. This continuous prayer did bring a little comfort, especially after some man in a cut off shirt laid eyes on me while I crossed near his front porch. I started to pick up speed when I heard some horses whinnying to each other. I ran toward the sound to find a circle of horses galloping and making noise. For some reason, it instantly cheered me up. In flip flops, I weaved through weeds and bushes to get closer. And I just watched.

more engagement business

A pledge to marry, or something like it

My friend Melanie took these photos for us in St. Anthony (an interesting town in Eastern Idaho). It has a way of surprising you--in the way that there are unique brick buildings, hanging stop lights, a gigantic army tank memorial, and a dam right in the center of town. When Josh and I first started dating, we drove to St. Anthony. I took pictures of him in front of the same book store that we revisited for our engagement shots. That day, I remember, we held hands and walked through the small, strange town. We bought Diet Cokes and Sour Patch Kids at a dirty gas station. It was great, and I was crazy about him and his wild hair.