AND SO WE MEET AGAIN. I have begun taking active requests from everyone (leave ‘em in the comments or send them to me via Twitter), because Old Lady Movie Night is for all of us. I mean, yes, I’m referring to myself as the Old Lady since I’m writing this from bed at 9:30 p.m. on a Wednesday (EASTERN TIME) and waiting on a hot cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean it belongs to any of you guys less.
OLD LADY MOVIE NIGHT IS FOR THE PEOPLE.
However, sometimes the people get vetoed after certain writers named Anne T. Donahue realize they have yet to cover the movie they were obsessed with in high school the most. And that time, my friends, is now. (I love you.)
REAL TALK ALERT: here’s the thing. As some of you guys know, my teenage years were not a great time. I didn’t know how to function terrifically, I got picked on a lot, and my emotions were going haywire (#understatement). And if you were me, and not an adult, instead of communicating or thinking at all, you chose to cling to pop culture as a means of hope and/or understanding. Or in my case, you clung to Girl, Interrupted, and quoted it all the time, changed your ICQ name to Lisa, and wrote out the speech she gives Daisy before Daisy dies in your info box, as a means of … I’m not quite sure. Wanting attention, maybe? Not knowing how to express myself in a rational way? I blocked a lot of it out. (And I wish I was joking about that.) (Or joking about doing it at all. Like I said, I was in a weird place.)
Needless to say, I ended up switching high schools, and life quickly got better because of that. BUT I’m tired of pretending the Girl, Interrupted era didn’t happen. It did! If we can talk about house eggings, we can talk about this. But prepare yourselves: discussions will be had, and revelations will be made.
CUE THE LIGHTS.
1. Disclaimer: if you’re feeling bad/sad/awful/anxious/etc., talk to someone.
I know you don’t need me to tell you this, but I’m going to: if you’re struggling with your mental health, or you feel sad, or you feel out of control, or you feel anything that makes your quality of life less, talk to someone. Anyone. You will feel better, even if it takes time. Personally, I think I clung to Girl, Interrupted because I knew something was going on in my own head, and watching it play out in movie form made it easier to deal with. So, I went to counselling all through high school, and now I still see my doctor to keep things in check.
SO this is me, watching a movie about mental health with you, and then reminding you that if you feel like you need to talk to someone about your own mental health, do it. The worst case scenario is that you feel better, or you take steps to ensure you’ll eventually feel better, I kid you not.
2. But on another topic, let’s just really admire Winona Ryder here for a second.
Like, I know Angelina Jolie got a lot of praise — aka AN OSCAR — for this movie, but Winona, you guys. WINONA. I am 27 years old, and I still deal with the fact that I will never be her. Well, yes, I can deal, because I’m an adult (WE’RE ALL ADULTS). But to be completely honest, I am incredibly jealous that she can wear horizontal stripes like she is in the scene that I’m watching, because SOME OF US CAN’T. Also, pixie cuts. Perhaps a look that would make me look worse than anyone on this planet. (Which I’ve made peace with, courtesy of grade five’s mushroom cut.)
3. So Susanna’s a high school senior, and her guidance counsellor is concerned about her future.
EVERY MOVIE, someone in the faculty is concerned about someone’s future. Did I just go to a terrible school? (Yes) Because aside from the mandatory college/university application process, NO ONE followed up on where anyone was going or why. Well, they probably did with the students who were doing the varsity thing, but the rest of us? Negatory, Big Ben. (Great phrase, courtesy of my mom who probably heard it from a friend.) Not to say my teachers/guidance counselors were negligent — just that they had 25925285 students to worry about, so why would they care where I was off to? YOU KNOW? BUELLER? (Where did he go to school, guys?)
I think Josie and the Pussycats would make for a good review. I love that movie.
Another brilliant post, as always! I would like to make a humble request: please, please, please, please, PLEASE dedicate a future Old Lady Movie Night to the amazeballs movie The Young Victoria. Seriously, it’s that good. You can take note of the following:
1. Emily Blunt is a goddess and can do no wrong (plus she is married to America’s boyfriend, John Krasinski)
2. Perhaps it’s a good thing that someone holds your hand when walking up and down the stairs (especially if you are a klutz like me)
3a. How romantic is it that there a young prince being coached on how to woo you, tested daily on your likes and dislikes?
3b. How creepy it is it that there a young prince being coached on how to woo you, tested daily on your likes and dislikes?
Love your posts! MWAH!
The Young Victoria! Yes! Such a good movie and story and cast.
AHHH! I LOVE THAT MOVIE. Consider it done. (Also let the record state that I WEPT in the theatre at the ending because it was so lovely. People stared. And I’m proud of it.)
I was 17 when that movie came out, and I LOVED it so much! I was totally obsessed with it, too. The actors were all amazing, and Winona should have at least been nominated for as Oscar. I think this was Angelina Jolie’s best performance to date, and it was the perfect role for her. I mean, maybe there are better actresses out there, but no one could have done Lisa better. She deserved that Oscar. One thing I would like to know: Why did they dye her hair that weird color?? In the book, Lisa had brown hair (if I’m remembering correctly), and A.J. has brown hair. I found that awful dye job a little distracting, and I’d love to know what the thought process behind it was…
I LOVE this movie so much. But let’s not forget the book. Susanna’s journal is even more heartbreaking than the movie. There were 2 different Lisa’s. The Lisa from the movie and another girl who was a junkie. It also tells what happened to THE Lisa after Susanna left the hospital. How Susanna coped with being “free” so to speak. The trials of going through life w the stigma of having been in a mental hospital. I re-read the book and rewatch the movie as much as my husband will let me.
I love this film so much! I first saw it 4 years ago in a hotel room in London with a friend. We caught it as Susana was in the taxi on her way and I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it since then. There isn’t a single bad performance and so many great scenes!
Winona = perfection. I loooved this! Hey, since you’re taking requests, I watched Uptown Girls last night and the whole time I was thinking: this would be a great choice for Old Ladie Movie Night! And it seems an even better idea after this cause we would get to see the great Brittany Murphy in a much happier role
I love Uptown Girls! Absolutely. Thanks so much for the suggestion! (And totally — Brittany Murphy rules forever.)
When I first saw this movie when I was like 11, I was so scared of how raw and real it was. When I watch it now I feel the same, its so spooky with its realness; that’s what makes it so good!
YES.
These are my most favourite-ist posts in the world. NEVER STOP! And this movie made me hate Jared Leto, even though he was still legit #dreamy in it.
Thank you so much! xo!
Jawbreaker would be great for an Old Movie Night. I watched that movie one bizzillion times in high school.
YES! Perfect. Thank you!
I was OBSESSED with this movie. I still want a cat just like Ruby. She is my dream cat. And yes, Winona totally deserved an Oscar for this.
Right?! What the hell, Academy?