Elizabethtown

2005

Director: Cameron Crowe

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Key Elements: Lines - Characters – Message – Music

My Review:

This movie has grown on me over time.

After an epic failure at work, Drew is contemplating suicide. But when he hears of his father’s sudden death, he postpones his plan to help his family with the arrangements. Those arrangements bring him to his father’s home in the south, and he crosses paths with Clair – a girl who gives him new hope in life.

The first thing I loved about this movie was that it makes a great argument for engaging in life. Drew wants to escape, but Clair won’t let him. She doesn’t deny his despair, but she encourages him to face it. She invites him to fully drink it in, but then to let it go. Pain is real, but life goes on. There have been times I wish someone had given me such wise guidance.

The other thing I love is how Clair draws his attention to the joyful little things in life. Drew had lived in the world of big ideas where value was measured by conquering and success. Clair pulls him down to earth and forces him to stop taking himself so seriously. She shows him the beauty of a sunrise, the joy of a song, and the treasure of friendship. She shows him life outside of himself.

On top of all this, there’s an awesome scene at his father’s funeral where a band plays Free Bird and sets the stage on fire. It’s incredible and I am now seriously considering having Free Bird played at my own funeral.

Full of simple wisdom and great character interaction, I’d totally recommend seeing this movie at least once.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Trust me. Everybody is less mysterious than they think they are.
• We peaked on the phone.
• Drew, it was real, and it was great, and it was really great.
• I'm one of a kind.
• What they say is, it *will* hit you, it could be ten minutes or it could be ten years from now.
• Most of the sex I've had in my life was not as personal as that kiss.
• And don't worry. Because as great as you look tonight, you are safe with me.
• To have never taken a solitary road trip across country? I mean everybody's got to take a road trip, at least once in their lives. Just you and some music.
• Death and life. And death and life. Right *next door* to each other! There's like, there's a hair between them.
• Okay, it's all about family bro.
  - Thank you, Chuck.
• Because we have a moment here, let me tell you that I have recently become a secret connoisseur of 'last looks'. You know the way people look at you when they believe it's for the last time? I've started collecting these looks.
• All forward motion counts.
• It takes time to be funny. It takes time to extract joy from life.
• I want you to get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened.
• Sadness is easier because its surrender. I say make time to dance alone with one hand waving free.
• So you failed. Alright you really failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You think I care about that? I do understand. You wanna be really great? Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make them wonder why you're still smiling.
• I'm going to miss your lips. And everything attached to them.
• You know, You're always trying to break up with me, and we're not even together.
  - I know... We're not?
• If it wasn't this... it'd be something else.
• You're great, Claire. Actually, you're kinda amazing.
• Just tell me you love me and get it over with!

Stills:

Vanilla Sky

2001

Director: Cameron Crowe

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Key Elements: Characters – Lines – Message – Concept

My Review:

Based on the Spanish film, Abre los Ojos, this is the ultimate Existentialist movie.

Existentialism teaches that there are certain things in life that we must accept, but our response to our lives is up to us – we choose what is meaningful to us.

David’s big choice comes at the end of the movie – will he live a lie or risk reality?

I also like David’s idea of being a “pleasure delayer” – of putting off gratification to build anticipation so that when the time finally comes, it’s amazing. This perspective makes it easier to have patience.

My favorite thing about this movie is a quote from Sophia: “Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.” It’s a great reminder of the opportunities for good we all have. This is particularly true for the Christian, because God’s mercies are new every morning.

Clip (Spoiler):



Quotes:

• Isn’t that what being young is about? Believing secretly that you would be the one person in the history of man who would live forever.
• I know sour, which allows me to appreciate the sweet.
• Most of us live our whole lives... without any real adventure to call our own.
• Well, you know, I'm a pleasure delayer
• You will never know the exquisite pain of the guy, who goes home alone.
• Every passing minute is a another chance to turn it all around
• We better watch out…
• My dreams are a cruel joke. They taunt me. Even in my dreams I'm an idiot... who knows he's about to wake up to reality. If I could only avoid sleep. But I can't. I try to tell myself what to dream. I try to dream that I am flying. Something free. It never works...
• This is a revolution of the mind.
• You’re in fucking sad shape! Don’t fucking ever hit a girl! Hit me, but don’t fucking ever hit a girl!
• You have revealed yourself to me.
• Listen to me because this is the last time we’re ever going to speak… I was your friend.
• I wanna wake up! Tech support! It's a nightmare! Tech support! Tech support!
• You were missed, David. It was Sofia who never fully recovered. It was she who some how knew you best... and like you, she never forgot that one night where true love seemed possible.
• Look at us. I'm frozen and you're dead, and I love you.
• I want to live a real life... I don't want to dream any longer.
• The little things... there's nothing bigger, is there?
• Open your eyes.

Stills:

Jerry MaGuire

1996

Director: Cameron Crow

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Key Elements: Characters – Lines – Message

My Review:

A friend of mine and I were talking about what we thought the best romantic movie was. We decided to exclude any that gave unrealistic representations of love. In the end, I decided THIS was the best romantic flick I could think of.

There’s a lot of reasons to like this movie. But what I really love is the statements it makes about romance.

It’s been said that women need love and men need respect. We see both aspects in this movie.
Dorothy respects Jerry for the courage and conviction she saw in his mission statement. This is a good lesson for any guy looking to be some woman’s hero. Be willing to take a stand for what you believe – It’s attractive.

And Jerry shows love for Dorothy when he comes home to her because he misses her so badly. What he tells her is a reminder to guys that what a woman needs more than anything is to be shown that she’s important to you – that you love her.

The only possible drawback this movie has is the repeated statement that two people can complete each other. The Christian knows that only Jesus truly completes a person.

But looking at it from another angle, when husband and wife come together, they become one. Therefore, they do, in a sense, complete each other.

Great romantic flick.

Clip:



Quotes:

• I hated myself... no, I hated my place in the world.
• The key to this business is personal relationships.
• That's how you become great, man. Hang your balls out there!
• Show you the money.
  - No, no. You can do better than that! I want you to say it brother with meaning! Hey, I got Bob Sugar on the other line. I bet you he can say it!
  Ye, ye, no, no, no. Show you the money.
  - No! Not "show you"! "Show me" the money!
  Show me the money!
  - Yeah! Louder!
  Show me the money!
  - I need to feel you Jerry! Show me the money!
  Show me the money!
  - I love black people.
  I love black people!
  - Who's your motherfucker, Jerry?
  You're my mother fucker! Show me the money!
  - Uh! Congratulations, you're still my agent.
• I am out here for you. You don't know what it's like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok?
• You are hanging on by a very thin thread and I dig that about you!
• D'you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?
  - Did you know that Troy Aikman, in only six years, has passed for 16,303 yards?
  D'you know that bees and dogs can smell fear?
  - Did you know that the career record for hits is 4,256 by Pete Rose who is NOT in the Hall of Fame?
  D'you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?
  - I... I can't compete with that!
• I love him! I love him for the man he wants to be. And I love him for the man he almost is.
• I just want to be inspired.
• If this [points to heart] is empty, this [points to head] doesn't matter.
• I'm cloaked in failure!
• I love you. You... you complete me. And I just...
  - Shut up, just shut up. You had me at "hello".

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