Friday, January 8, 2010

Closer - Perto Demais


Quando eu assisti Closer, eu saí do cinema sufocada, sem ar, sem chão... Estava sozinha. E enquanto eu caminhava para o estacionamento eu me sentia à milhas de distância de qualquer ser humano. O que havia acontecido com os finais felizes das comédias românticas? Conhecer alguém, se apaixonar e a partir dali a sua vida passar a fazer sentido. No fundo é isso que queremos, não é? Um sentido para nossas vidas. Estamos todos perdidos... E um dia nos disseram que esse sentido estava no amor. E vários outros passaram a repetir essa ideia em músicas, livros, filmes... que fazem muito sucesso. Principalmente se são lançados perto do dia dos namorados - a segunda data mais lucrativa para o comércio. Transformaram o amor em um produto, tão vazio de sentido quanto qualquer outro. Se não satisfaz suas expectativas, você simplesmente joga fora e procura outro. Esse é o jogo. Inverteram a ordem das coisas. Primeiro idealizamos o nosso futuro relacionamento, depois listamos os requisitos de nosso competidor, depois realizamos alguns test-drive para encontrar algum que preencha boa parte deles. Só que ao mesmo tempo que estamos testando, também estamos sendo testados. Então, os dois jogadores resolveram adotar a mesma estratégia: manter as relações o mais superficial possível. Assim, evitam dois problemas: correr o risco de deixar transparecer algum de seus defeitos e constatar que o oponente o considera inaceitável ou correr o risco de se apaixonar por alguém que não preenche seus requisitos. Desse jogo só há dois finais possíveis: cansar de jogar e se desiludir completamente com o amor ou cansar de jogar e se contentar com um que não preencha os requisitos para poder continuar com o sonho. Até que um dia o sonho acaba. Isso quer dizer que o amor não existe ou que perdemos nossa capacidade de amar? Nenhum dos dois... Eu fui ao cinema sem saber o que esperar... na primeira cena, um casal caminha um em direção ao outro com uma música na qual só consegui prestar atenção no trecho "I can't take my eyes off you", que se repete incessantemente enquanto os dois não conseguem mesmo tirar os olhos um do outro. Até que, por esse mesmo motivo, ela é atropelada. Algumas feridas. Dói. Mas ela vai sobreviver. No final, a mesma música. Mas após um casal desfeito e outro unido pela comodidade e a covardia, passamos a prestar atenção em outros trechos da música: "life goes easy on me, most of the time" e "no love, no glory, no hero in her sky". Quem consegue encontrar o chão depois disso? Onde poderemos nos segurar? É isso que acontece quando se chega perto demais. Quando nos envolvemos, nos entregamos, nos tornamos vulneráveis. Quem vai querer isso quando se pode ter a segurança da superficialidade, dos sonhos pré-fabricados? Eu quero! Talvez eu seja um pouco masoquista. Mas precisamos ser um pouco para querer viver. Dói, mas a gente sobrevive. Evitar a dor é evitar viver. Eu vivi por muito tempo no meu mundinho, meu refúgio. Construí do jeito que eu quis. E construí também um senso de self. Eu sabia exatamente quem eu era, do que eu gostava, o que me deixava triste, o que deixava alegre, o que me trazia certezas e o que me fazia duvidar. E sem sair de lá eu só observava o jogo superficial, preferia só sonhar... era mais seguro ainda. Até que resolvi brincar um pouco... mas não sei jogar esse jogo... ganhando ou perdendo eu sempre perdia... perdia a chance de sentir alguma coisa. Até que um dia, sem perceber, fui parar em um relacionamento como o de Closer e percebi o efeito que a vulnerabilidade tinha em mim. Descobri sentimentos que até então desconhecia. Experimentei raiva, rancor, ódio, dor, muita dor. E vi que poderia ser tão egoísta a ponto de ferir sem perceber. E quando eu percebia doía muito mais em mim. Mas ao mesmo tempo eu ia descobrindo também a enorme capacidade que eu tinha de me doar. De colocar a felicidade do outro antes das minhas vontades - e descobrir que isso me trazia muito mais felicidade do que satisfazer as minhas vontades. De acreditar na humanidade. De poder fazer absolutamente qualquer coisa. E entre expectativas e decepções, meu humor oscilava em uma velocidade incrível. E alguém que sempre teve dificuldade para expressar os sentimentos passou a ter uma enorme dificuldade para escondê-los. Minha vida era um turbilhão de emoções e eu não tinha mais nenhum controle sobre elas. Mas, Drummond estava certo, a dor é inevitável, o sofrimento é opcional. A gente sofre até quando a gente se permite sofrer. Eu sofria porque eu estava cega. Eu não tinha entendido ainda. O que eu sabia sobre mim era muito pouco... "Só através dos olhos dos outros posso ter acesso à minha própria essência, ainda que temporária" (Sartre). Eu preciso do outro. Só no meu mundinho, eu não consigo ter acesso a quem eu sou e o que sou capaz de fazer pelos outros. Eu estava aprendendo a amar. O amor não é esse produto pronto que cabe numa caixa de bombons. O amor é um sentimento forte, poderoso, que nos deixa totalmente expostos, nos obrigando a aprender a confiar. Confiar que o amor por si só já vale a pena... não podemos esperar algo em troca, não podemos ter certeza que não nos deixarão, não podemos esperar satisfazer nossas expectativas, não podemos esperar que façam sempre o que faríamos naquela situação, porque não sabemos ao certo o que faríamos em qualquer situação... o mundo que funciona na nossa cabeça, só funciona na nossa cabeça. Não devemos acabar com o nosso mundo, mas descobrir como conhecer o mundo dos outros pode transformá-lo... sem medo... a gente sobrevive sempre... e cada vez melhor... o amor vem acompanhado de uma série de outros sentimentos que só com muito treino a gente aprende a controlar. E é isso que quero. A oportunidade de poder treinar. Talvez eu passe a vida inteira para aprender a amar. E quero encontrar várias raposas querendo ser cativadas e vários pequenos príncipes querendo cativar. Não para nos completarmos e vivermos felizes para sempre, mas para juntos aprendermos a amar. De várias maneiras... Há tantas formas de amar e tantas formas de demonstrar esse amor. E construiremos mundos juntos... Há vários mundos possíveis também... Mas isso só é possível de perto... bem de perto.

My Weekend Crush

If you judge a person by the company she keeps, then Amanda Seyfried is critically-acclaimed, funny and hot. Hmm, guess you can judge a person by the company she keeps. The 24-year-old actress has shared the screen with Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Vanessa Redgrave, Robin Wright Penn, Holly Hunter, Tina Fey and Megan Fox. Granted, that last association is probably most notable for the kissing. In 2010 she has not one, not two, not three but four films coming out – “Chloe” (with Julianne), “Letters to Juliet” (with Vanessa), “Dear John” and “Marmaduke” (yes, as in the dog – they can’t all be award contenders).

There is an inherent sweetness behind those big eyes. But as much as they could out doe a doe, there is also a flicker underneath that speaks of so much more. I’m particularly looking forward to the new dramatic thrilled “Chloe.” First, it’s by Atom Egoyan whose movies are always arresting and was also one of the first to introduce the world to Mia Kirshner – and in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit no less. Second, it co-stars Julianne and Liam Neeson. Third, it stars Amanda as a prostitute who just might seduce them both. And finally, it’s got this poster. See what I was saying about a flicker? Happy weekend, all.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

We need a resolution

Only one week into the new decade and I’m already behind. Can you turn over a new leaf when a bunch of old ones are still covering the lawn? Now, I’m not normally the kind of gal to make formal New Year’s resolutions. I prefer to brainstorm and then take my results into casual consideration so the disappointment of not completing any of them isn’t a crushing at the end of the year. Hmm, note to self: add something about optimism this year. But in honor of a fresh new decade (the tens, one more decade and we all get to wear flapper outfits and drink gin from bathtubs again), I’ve decided to make my resolutions official this year. And, as with everything I do, I’ll look at them through the cotton-candy colored lens of pop culture.

Ms. Snarker’s New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Read better.
Now, granted, I read a lot now. In fact, I’m constantly reading and writing and reading so I can write more. But I’d like to read less fluff and filler (and, let’s face it, internet) and more substance and style. Basically, I need to read better, more challenging books. Though, my alternate plan should my high-minded literary aspirations fall through is to find and marry the person at Borders who keeps making such sly social commentary through shelving.


2. Move more.
Most of my waking (and occasionally a few of my non-waking if I can get away with it) hours are spent in front of a glowing rectangle. Which, in turn, requires a certain level of sedentariness. Given the homicidal tendencies my gym evokes, my plan is to Wii myself out of my holiday fat pants. If I’m going to look sweaty and klutzy, why not do it from the comfort of my living room? Alas so far my plan has been thwarted by chronic shortage of the EA Sports Active game I had planned to buy. I fear if I buy the Jillian “If I fall in love with a woman, that’s awesome. If I fall in love with a man, that’s awesome” Michaels game instead, all I’ll do is stare sedentarily at her abs. Not that I’m not considering it, mind you.


3. Be responsive.
This is really short-hand for “Answer your damn email.” When I started this blog and for most of its existence I’ve been truthful to my “I write back” mantra. But this past year things got out of hand. Like 1,000 messages in my inbox waiting impatiently for an answer out of hand. I apologize to everyone who so graciously wrote me in the last year that I haven’t had a chance to write back. Please know that I’ve read every single email, tweet, PM, whathaveyou. I’m trying to do better. I promise.


4. Follow through.
I am a procrastinator from way back. In fact, if I don’t have a definitive deadline it pretty much doesn’t get done. That’s why this blog is nice – once a day, no excuses (even if it’s occasionally later in the day thank I’d like – cough, like now, cough). But I need to cut out the dawdling and just get all Nike on my life. So I just need to follow through and finish what I sta…

So, kittens, that’s it. Four simple rules to live by in 2010. I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Paging Ellen

So, how did our little Homeskillet become a pitchwoman while no one was looking? The more I’ve seen of Ellen Page shilling for Cisco Systems, the more I’m perplexed. Who knew deadpan irony sold information technology specialization expertise?

Now, when I first saw Ellen pop up in a Cisco ad back in early November, I thought it was perhaps a one-off thing. The ad coincided with a rather clever product placement in “30 Rock” as Jack videoconferences on – what else – a Cisco system. But more ads keep popping up and there Ellen is on the Cisco homepage looking relaxed with a dog and the supreme confidence in “the human network.” Whatever that means.

Her series of ads (three so far) are actually sort of funny in WTF-is-that-Ellen-Page kind of way. I’ll post them chronologically, because I think they get better (or possibly Ellen just gets cuter) as they go along.



Also, did you know Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is a real place? I wonder if the whole town got networked flat screens courtesy of Cisco. Now that, that would be something to sell out for.

Look, actors and actresses lending their names, faces and talents to sell products is nothing new. But I’m slightly befuddled at some of the recent moves. Like, how is Luke Wilson looking a little paunchy and possibly lost for AT&T a good career move? The thing is, these endorsements have usually been limited to a certain sort of celebrity – the mega stars or zeitgeist sirens. Think Catherine Zeta Jones, Ashton Kutcher and Kim Kardashian-Paris Hilton-thenextbigwhatchmacalllitgirl.But now the indie and – I say this with as little snobbery as possible – credible actors are entering the fray. It’s disorienting.

Not that I’m necessarily complaining. Anything that brings a cutie like Ellen into my living room more is welcome, I suppose. I just never guessed that one day she would be the cheese to my teleconferencing macaroni.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Where things are hollow

Every era can be defined, quite succinctly, by who it deifies. Prophets. Politicians. Powerbrokers. Poets. Us, well, we worship at an entirely different altar: celebrities. I say this knowing full well that I am among the ranks of huddled masses laying sacrificial offerings at the feet of the famous. I love pop culture, I steep in its bubbly froth daily. But that doesn’t mean I always drink to intoxication. And it doesn’t mean it can’t worry about where our addiction will ultimately lead us.

I say this as news of another high-profile death surfaced yesterday. Casey Johnson – heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, daughter of the New York Jets owner, lesbian socialite, Tila Tequila fiancée, mother to a 2-year-old daughter and a 30-year-old young woman – was found dead in her L.A. home. Other than those well-publicized profile points, I don’t really know anything about Casey. Most people probably don’t. I didn’t follow her life or exploits in anything more than the most peripheral way. But now, less than a month after she made a seemingly unavoidable splash on the red carpet with Tila, talking about their engagement and landing on gossip pages everywhere, she is gone.

Fame can’t save the famous, and it certainly can’t save the rest of us unknowns either.

But what this sad situation really reveals is our evolving esteem for celebrity. Sure, we all still worship there, but we don’t necessarily like the demigods we created in the first place. How else can you explain the vitriol that followed Casey’s death toward her self-proclaimed fiancée? Of course, much of it unfolded on what has become our new town square: Twitter. This is, after all, the age of the 140-character eulogy. Tila tweeted her grief, then tweeted that Casey was actually in a coma, then tweeted she wasn’t in a coma while confirming the worse, then tweeted for privacy. It was a mess and it was unseemly and that’s life sometimes.

Granted, defending her is not my mission here. If you want to distill that relentless drive for fame down to its most concentrated form, I think what would come out of the spigot would look remarkably like Tila Tequila. I’m not a fan, but I wish her no ill will. I certainly wouldn’t, as some in the professional asshole business have done, call her a “vile subhuman” or chastise her for “clawing your way from the F list to the D list of fame” within the same hour she found out that the person she was at the very least friends with had died.

But then, that’s the flip side of our obsession. We’ve become contemptuous of our own creations. Because it wasn’t just Perez offering up harsh condolences, but so many anonymous others lambasting and lashing out, cackling and crowing. Which is just so strange to me. What would drive a perfect stranger to write someone at a traumatic time and tell her she sucks? What glee can be gained from such shaming? Is it simply revenge against those who have – even in the most superficial way – made it to that mountaintop?

I don’t know; I’m not sure I want to know. But I do know that death, no matter the person, is terrible and sad. And fame, no matter the kind, doesn’t change that. Not one bit.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Mirror, mirror

A whole new year, a whole new decade. A change to reflect, anew. We like to put importance on certain numbers, days, milestones. The beginning of a year holds the same promise each time – a clear slate, a fresh start. We look back on what has passed. We hope for what lies ahead. And we reflect on what we want, what we really want. Today, I want to look at beautiful women looking at themselves. What? You reflect your way, I’ll reflect mine. Why hello, 2010. My, you look pretty.

Rachel WeiszMia KirshnerHelena Bonham CarterMichelle WilliamsMaggie GyllenhaalLeisha Hailey & Jennifer BealsJulie AndrewsTallulah BankheadChristina RicciOlivia WildeDid you know Olivia’s real last name is “Cockburn.” Yeah, clearly that had to be changed.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Vacation Vixen: Hilary Swank

Just in case you needed any help sticking to that resolution. Happy New Year, all.