In college when I discovered my passion for movies and TV, I was big on seeing all the movies nominated for the Oscars and watching Emmy nominated TV shows. I felt like I had to be prepared for "award season"and became the movie guru in my circle of friends. I remember arguing with family members about what movies to go see on holidays because I wanted to see potential award nominees and they wanted to see "feel-good" movies. I would say, "Not all good movies will make you feel good when they're over." And that's true.
However, in the past few months, the tables have turned. The stress of every day life such as the responsibility of being on my own, work, and other big changes in my life have led to my movie/TV tastes changing. Instead of adding award nominees or past winners to my Netflix queue or blockbuster pile, I find myself wanting to catch up on past seasons of The Hills and The Office or watching Teen Mom, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, or Jersey Shore. Hugh deals with Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Girls Next Door since he knows they make me happy. On the other hand, recently I rented The Hurt Locker and only watched half of it and never even opened the case for District 9 (both Oscar nominees this year).
For instance, today and then tonight. Today... Katie and I happily watched THS: The Kardashians instead of finding something more "appropriate" to watch. Tonight...Taryn is coming over, and I have rented The Stepfather, Coco Before Chanel, and A Serious Man. Of course, Taryn and I are going to watch the "critically-acclaimed" horror film, The Stepfather starring Penn Badgley and Dylan Walsh. I realize this is a remake and will probably not be stellar. However, I'm looking forward to escaping from real life for a few hours in my basement and enjoying time with a best friend.
Instead of worrying so much about what people expect from me to know, or what I should have seen because it's a "classic," I'm just watching what makes me feel good...what makes me unwind. Isn't that one of the reasons why movies and TV were created?
So, for right now, I'm an escapist.
Hey darling, I agree it's important to "escape" with a moviegoing experience. When I was pulling 60-hour weeks my first year at the Examiner (I wanted so desperately to be an award-winning journalist right out of the gates), my insistence on movie snobbery subsided, believe it or not. I found myself watching goofball horror films (Tremors 4, Killjoy, The Pit, Creepy Crawling Stripteasers, etc.) as well as Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam (director of such gems as The Fisher King and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) perhaps more than I should. And, yes, my TV diet was pretty MTV-driven.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as your male companion and connaisseur of the feel-good, I fully endorse your Kardashian/bad horror habit. The Hills, Teen Mom and Jersey Chore? As the Dude would say (Big Lebowski reference), I can abide. I love you!
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ReplyDeleteI think being an escapist is simply what we need sometimes Kirbs! Often when we rely on the same rituals they can become monotonous and changing it up and going through phases is what keeps us grounded!
ReplyDeleteI am always up for a change in my movie and TV choices, it's when I "go with the flow" of my mood that I usually feel the best!!!
Love you.... to bits and pieces my dear :)
Kirby, when do I get to watch movies in the movie room!? :) Here Here to watching things that make you feel good. I always like those the best. Real life is hard enough.
ReplyDeleteHave fun and let me know how the Stepfather was.