blither blather

[jaeclectic]

I have just convinced myself not to go to the gym tonight, because a) I walked to and from the dentist at lunchtime (1.3 miles each way), plus the 30 minutes on the bike this AM, which ought to be enough for one day, b) my knees are feeling creaky, c) I went to the gym yesterday (instead of Tuesday due to UPS foo), and two days in a row is bad when knees are already creaky, and d) I am going to be out tomorrow night and the night after, so really I *ought* to stay home with the kitties tonight.

Isn't rationalization beautiful? Seriously, I have been really enjoying it when I go to the gym, but I am still in the mode of feeling like: there is never. enough. time.

On an unrelated note, something that I meant to mention a few weeks ago: I saw the movie Million Dollar Baby, and it completely pissed me off. I may have been sensitized by having recently (finally!) read Backlash, but it just seemed totally clear that it was unacceptable to have a strong, tough, hardworking *woman* actually *win* at something. And nothing in the packaging led me to understand that this was not going to be a feel-good movie. The first two thirds of the film, I thought it was Rocky remade with a girl, and I was content to be watching fluff with a likeable lead character or three. But no: we have to have the freak accident, and the grueling hospital scenes, and at the end, a narration that makes it clear that the movie is really *all about* the Clint Eastwood character and what kind of guy he was. The tragic end of a working-class woman athlete was just there as a case in point. Garrh!

This came to mind because I recently tried to watch another Hilary Swank vehicle, Boys Don't Cry, and couldn't finish it. It was another one of my impulse buy DVDs (10$ at Targét), and I put off watching it for quite a while because after buying it I looked on imdb and saw that it includes a rape scene, which is not my idea of light entertainment. In the event, I didn't even make it that far -- I got to the scene where one of the guys is showing off his scars from having cut himself, and he hands him/her the knife and says he/she should try it, and I just shuddered and turned it off -- too painful for me to watch. I think I am becoming ever-wimpier about what kind of movies I want to see. It is such an immersive experience, and there are things I just don't want to be immersed in. Even if it is powerful and artistic and an impressive achievement of cinematic art, or, you know, just generally thought to be a pretty good movie.

OK, enough blather. Time for me to go sit in the armchair instead of in front of the computer.

Comments

[eac.livejournal.com]

I've always meant to see Boys Don't Cry, but keep putting it off because of the massive mood hit it will entail. Got through Hotel Rwanda this week, though.

[jafitz.livejournal.com]

Yes, a similar case. I managed Hotel Rwanda by seeing it at the Parkway with a friend. Having company does help a little. Maybe we can get together sometime and watch Boys Don't Cry (as in, I could visit and bring the DVD), if for some reason we both decide that, dammit, we just *ought* to...

[zabet.livejournal.com]

i'm getting more and more overwhelmed by excessive violence in films these days, too--for me, i think its something to do with getting older and losing that teflon-impermeability teenagers seem to have. example: there's a supposedly-brilliant film by michael haneke that is just 2 hours of this seemingly nice family being tortured, and a. keeps wanting to see it, but i keep being all "no. just no." on one level, i get it--counteracting our often cavalier attitudes towards violence, and i like the filmmaker enough that i'm willing to give it a chance--but then i look at the reviews again, and i just don't think i can take it, and don't really want to.

i saw boys don't cry in the theatre and almost left during the rape scene. it's a good, solid film, with a powerful social message--but i found that scene excruciating.