Tonight's post loosely ties in with my first post. I saw a movie this year that changed the course of my music forever. It was written and directed by my favorite writer of all time, Charlie Kaufman. His movies have become so much more to me than entertainment; they have become a conduit between me, and the musician I hope to be some day. There is a great barrier between the two, but the wall seems much weaker after watching his movies. It isn't that there are any great life lessons to be learned from the plot, per se, it is the way in which he adapts himself, and his work, into his work.
I'm a little afraid to go into too much detail about the plot of his latest movie, for fear that my interpretation may belittle the magic of his writing. But I will do my best. In short, the movie is about a man who is experiencing some sort of crisis in his life. He is a writer and he is attempting to do something that no one has ever done before in the history of cinema. He wants to make a film that accurately represents real life. He leases out a building that is the size of an entire city, and within it, he builds his own "city". Thousands of people are cast for different parts. The thing that is different about this, is that each character is a lead in their own story; there are no extras. Wow, this plot has already lost 80 percent of it's magic by me attempting to explain it. I could never write movie reviews. Let's try this instead, I will post the trailer here:
I remember leaving the theater feeling something like Charlie Kaufman might have been feeling when he decided to make this movie (and what the lead role was feeling in the movie, and the actor in the movie that plays the character of the lead role in the movie the lead role is making in the movie...) The feeling of wanting to create something so big, that your imagination scarcely has enough space to hold it. These are the ideas that frighten and excite me the most. I drove home and started working on what I wanted to be the greatest achievement of my life. A new beginning in music. Much like in the movie, I felt that it may take me the next 17 years to create it; not knowing if there will ever even be an audience. I don't know if I even care at this point.
I am really enjoying your blog Jeremy.
Posted by: Kevin Russ | March 12, 2009 at 05:49 AM
Thank you Kevin. Is it bad that I'm about to post a link to your flickr? Your pictures are amazing, and people can see your work here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pattersonminx
Posted by: Jeremy Larson | March 12, 2009 at 01:23 PM
My hubby and I love Charlie Kaufman. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of our most favourite movies.
I always liked the impression the movie left on me - that we should spend more time enjoying life, rather than trying to figure out what it all means.
Posted by: Toni Brockliss | March 12, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Seems like an interesting movie. I think I'll check it out sometime.
Posted by: Michelle P | March 12, 2009 at 03:59 PM
i'm impressed that you even attempted to describe such a complicated, huge, amazing film! thanks for this post, your passion is inspiring. can't wait to see what you end up creating!
Posted by: cori | March 12, 2009 at 04:20 PM
This sounds beautiful. I will watch it tomorrow!
Watch some German movies...! The Reader is really good...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockin'_On_Heaven's_Door_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408777/
and there are sooo many more :)
Posted by: Teresa | March 12, 2009 at 09:21 PM
i didn't get a chance to see this when it was in theaters, i'll have to catch it on dvd. i saw an interview of charlie kaufman on the colbert report one night and he seems so humble, he explained the movie almost exactly the way you did, so don't worry about spoiling the magic :]
Posted by: mallory | March 13, 2009 at 03:34 PM
Awesome thoughts. I'm tracking with you. Wrote some of my thoughts here: http://www.messycanvas.com/2009/03/creating-its-a-gift/
Posted by: Mandy | March 15, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Ok...I am not really sure I understood the whole movie. But I certainly liked the last part the best...
Realization can be a blessing or not...
Posted by: Teresa | March 16, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Uhhh... I ran out and rented it immediately after reading your blog... It was an interesting idea, and I liked the overall feel of the film, but it was too raunchy to be at all enjoyable... I'd hardly call it inspiring, it kinda upset me actually.
As much as I wanted to like it... Yeah, not so much...
Posted by: Eric | March 22, 2009 at 07:01 PM