Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Big chills...or not?

Oooh, I bet you're wondering how I knew...
About your plans to make me blue...

Another '80's favorite. Another one we've all seen a million times.  Another soundtrack that played endlessly...for years. 

I watched it again the night before last.  Then...I listened to the soundtrack all day yesterday and all day today...filled with Motown classics.  The Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson to name a few.  Some amazing tunes peppered throughout...do I dare say...a boring movie.  Seriously, re-watch it...ugh, it dragged on.

I found myself dissecting it...another group (seven) of thirty-somethings who briefly reunite for a weekend after a life-long friend commits suicide.  Set at some palatial, quintessential southern home, where they all come together and end up spending the weekend wondering...again...what is the meaning of life?  What is our purpose?  Hmmm...flashing back to St. Elmo's Fire...the chase after meaning...the constant wonder of what we are supposed to be doing?  

Yes, a classic film with a soundtrack that in my opinion...saves face. I really don't remember finding them all so...whiny.  I did love the scene where they are all dancing around the kitchen singing...and they all get the old -school Nike's...but come on Kevin Kline...get some new running shorts - ewwww...they were totally grossing me out.

Over the course of the movie you discover the group of friends, are in fact, quite successful.  But, as they peel open the layers of themselves...after what seems like a long-drawn out.. wine...doobie-filled weekend, you discover they all  come to the conclusion their lives don't represent any real purpose.   Again, no conclusions about their own lives...or life in general.  There goes one of the songs in my head, "You Can't Always Get What You Want."  Or can you?

There we are...still thinking about the biggest burning question in life.  After some thought...perhaps that is the meaning of the movie...to leave us wondering.  Who are we?  Where have we been?  Where are we going?

Alex,  the one who was deemed the smartest...the brightest...the one who would 'do something' with his life...and ended up, he was the least accomplished and then committed suicide.  Why did he commit suicide...I am not sure the reasons ever really become clear?

Who is really to say what constitutes a meaningful life as long as you are living your own?  Isn't that really the beauty?  Again, ultimate reality is different for everyone. 

I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine.
I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey, yea.