There’s the Rub in “Swingers”

The unfortunately named “Swingers” (no, it’s not about what you’re thinking) is a 90’s classic. Starring Jon Favreau as the dumped and depressed Mike, and a convincing Vince Vaughn as his encouraging best friend Trent, the film defined the dating scene when it was released. Written by Favreau and casting his friends, it’s a semi-autobiographical film about his time trying to “make it” in LA as a young actor. The opening scene is totally “money”, as Mike talks to his friend Rob (played by Ron Livingston) about his heartache concerning the girl he left behind in New York:

Rob: I mean at first you're going to pretend to forget about her, you'll not call her, I don't know, whatever... but then eventually, you really will forget about her.

Mike: Well what if she comes back first?

Rob: Mmmm... see, that's the thing, is somehow they know not to come back until you really forget.

Mike: There's the rub.

Rob: There's the rub.

Mike hangs his head, his despair is palpable. As the movie progresses, it focuses on Trent and Mike’s friendship, and Trent’s efforts to help Mike heal and move on. Trent is one of those loud, boisterous guys who was probably the life of the party in his college frat house. Trent is inspirational, and sucks the despondent Mike into his schemes (“Vegas, baby! Vegas!”) to pursue the “beautiful babies”.

There’s no stopping Trent in his efforts to cheer up his friend. Bar hopping, a midnight road trip to Las Vegas, Hollywood parties- you name it, Trent drags Mike there. At first, Mike fights against all this social activity. He just wants to sit in his apartment, drinking himself to sleep every night. But Trent sees something that Mike doesn’t. “You’re money, and you don’t even know it,” he says several times. Other people agree. Mike is the man, even if he’s down for the count and can’t even perform regular personal hygiene. By the end of the film, Mike does indeed learn that he is “money”. It took Trent’s nudging and coaching to get him to finally realize it.

If only everyone had a Trent in their life.

Is Happily Ever After an “Unbreakable” Promise? Spoiler!

Although one of Shyamalan’s least popular films, “Unbreakable” is perhaps his strongest. Bruce Willis plays David Dunn, a sad man with lost purpose in life. He has emotionally ended his marriage to Audrey, played by Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn). Surviving a horrendous train wreck without a single injury, he is contacted by the extremely fragile Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Physically opposite from each other, they also see life from opposite points of view. Elijah sees the dichotomy of good and evil- the hero and the villain- portrayed in comic books but very much a part of real life. David is dying on the inside; estranged from his wife, the woman he left a life of possible football stardom for back in college. Life for David has not turned out happily ever after. It’s interesting that although David is physically unbreakable, he’s internally shattered. This unlike Elijah, who has an unbreakable spirit but whose body shatters quite easily.

At first, David doubts. He’s never examined his life. He works at the local college stadium as a security guard. He’s trying to move to New York. In the opening scene, he hits on an attractive woman on the train right before it crashes. He’s wounded, doesn’t know it, and lives a life of fear and pain. As Elijah tries to convince David who he is and that he’s a hero in a world that needs him, David turns from skeptic to reluctant believer. Part of his power includes the ability to see the bad things people do when he has contact with them. As he grows in his understanding of his role, he’s confronted with a choice; either look the other way when he sees evil happening around him, or do what he can to help those who are victimized.

The film centers on David’s journey as he grows into the hero that he’s supposed to be. As he fulfills his role, his relationships with himself, his son, and (most dramatically) with his wife are healed. He doesn’t wake up sad anymore. His nightmare is over.

The parallels to real life are amazing. How many of us are lost and broken because we aren’t fulfilling the role we’re supposed to? How are we incomplete because we’re not true to who we are? Who are we hurting by our resulting neglectfulness? How can we step into the role of bringing hope to a hopeless world? Unbreakable begs answers to these questions.

Win Her Heart with “A Knight’s Tale”

“A Knight’s Tale” gave Heath Ledger his pretty boy reputation (OK, there was “10 Things I Hate About You,” but he was more bad boy roguish in that one). The peasant who wants to be a knight, the wavy blonde hair, and the English accent all add to a charm only Heath Ledger could have pulled off. Not only that, but his acting was top notch! Ledger plays William Thatcher, a squire who has no way to “climb the corporate ladder” so to speak. You might think this post is about his rise to stardom from the lowly ranks of a peasant. It’s not.

Although that’s all impressive, there’s a line spoken by Jocelyn in the movie that many may have missed.

“I would have him win my heart.”

What Would You Do “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset”?

Richard Linklater, director of films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, are both relationship centered movies. Sunrise was made in 1995, and Sunset was made in 2004. Both are vastly different movies, but do a great job of telling a story and then picking up that story 9 years later.

In Sunrise, Ethan Hawke plays Jesse, a traveling American in Europe. He meets Celine, played by Julie Delpy, on a train and has an engrossing conversation with her for much of the ride. Wanting to spend more time with her, he convinces her to get off the train with him in Vienna. He's flying out early the next day, and doesn't want to miss a chance to get to know her. She's hesitant at first, for obvious reasons, but is intrigued by this adventurous man she is attracted to. Agreeing, they get off the train and spend the remaining time exploring the city. The dialog was amazing. The writers did a great job of character development, and it’s enjoyable getting to know the characters as they reveal themselves to the other person. Both were imperfect; Jesse was bitter about life, and Celine was a bit naive. There is much to identify with much of what they had to say- both the good and the bad. It’s easy to agree with Jesse at times and with Celine at others.

In the sequel Sunset, Ethan is a successful author, writing a "fictional" book about a traveling American. 9 years have passed, and in the meantime Ethan has found success, while Celine has become bitter by the hardship of life. It's a bit of a role reversal, but one that is believable and identifiable. However, instead of spanning hours, this movie spanned a real- time conversation, lasting about 80 minutes. It was simply them walking and talking from his book signing around the city to her apartment. It was brilliant! It seemed so much shorter, because they just talked and talked, with no action or time span between events. It was all self- analysis, relationship analysis, analysis of each other, and analysis of life. There’s much to agree and disagree with that they had to say, but the conversation was real. It was about real life, about real fears, frustrations, and happiness.

These films do a good job of exploring relationships in a fresh way. The honesty, struggles, and humor of life portrayed in the film is refreshing to see. There are few movies with dialogue like these two, and that’s a shame. When Jesse shares about his frustration with women to Celine in Sunrise, it’s understandable to cringe. If you’re a guy, you understand what Jesse is feeling, but wouldn’t say what he said to another woman. If you’re a woman, you might roll your eyes, seeing the issue from the female side.

Moments like these are what make both films shine.