Ramanujan Redux

Groundhog Day is one of those beautiful films with the all-around package. It’s lighthearted yet serious, contemplative without being preachy, developed without being self-indulgent. There is humor and darkness and redemption, all with Bill Murray at the center. What more could you ask for?

The film itself is very smart. As soon as the meteorologist realizes he’s stuck in the same day and the same place indefinitely, he starts to learn to take advantage of it. The character follows a classic OODA loop. He orients himself to his boundaries by breaking them (he ends up in jail, kills himself multiple times, steals a groundhog), he observes the people and gets to know each and every one of them (he uses it for a great pickup tool that most dudes wish they had), he decides whether to repeat an act over and over again (like trying to seduce his cute as a button producer night after night after night) and then acts on it (he spends one day robbing a security bank truck after observing the scene for weeks).

However, this product soon grows stale as the times pass, and he soon despairs that he will never realize the joy of love or despair, doomed to the same one-night stands and random hijinxes. Even suicide cannot save him. It is endearing to watch Murray transform from a self-absorbed blowhard to a self-pitying soul to a redeeming character. He starts thinking of how best he can make use of the time, learning all sorts of different things, helping people when he knows they might need help, as he slowly gains an understanding of what makes him happy.

Now, you might think after watching Groundhog Day, “Gee, I wish I could be given that time to learn who I am!” But you ARE given that time. Every day. Every day you can learn how to be a better person. How to be comfortable around people. How to be confident around others. How to follow your passions and dream to do what you’ve always wanted to do.

The lesson is that every day is precious. Every day might feel the same and be the same, but you can learn who you are by embracing that motto rather than running away from the situation. The situation is there. Accept it or go another day dreading waking up. Slowly and surely, you’ll realize what it is you want.

And while you might not get the chance to relive the same day over and over again, doesn’t every day kind of feel the same now?

[amazonify]B00011CZRE::text::::Se7en[/amazonify]: This movie was gruesome, but I guess this is what you expect on a film concerning the seven deadly sins. David Fincher penned a really solid script, keeping the characters to a minimum to ensure development of the mystery doesn’t wander off-track.

The most impressive part of this film is that the killer never seems to lose focus, never loses the upper hand. This is a man who has planned his crimes well in advance and controls the dynamic from beginning to end. It’s an unconventional approach compared to the usual “take down the evildoers” approach. Even when the film reaches its resolution, it feels more chilling than satisfying.

Morgan Freeman plays a well-cultured, grizzly old veteran who can quote Chaucer and Dante, a role he has replicated in every film he’s ever been in. Brad Pitt is aggressive, and then more aggressive, then more aggressive…this doesn’t really stretch is acting capabilities. Gwyeneth Paltrow has a brief role of big-city angst talking about babies, which is never a good sign for the baby–why else would it be brought up?

The twist at the end isn’t much of a twist–you can see it coming about an hour away. For those who don’t though…it’s going to be rough.

[amazonify]B0007W7I4W::text::::Assault on Precinct 13[/amazonify]: This movie is like any typical siege film–hopeless situation, painful emoting, internal conflict casting a shadow over external conflict, and an improbable resolution. All in a day’s work for Hollywood action thrillers. Thank God Laurence Fishburne is involved–at the least he can elevate the level of discourse from mediocre to deep. Adding Fishburne is like adding Scottie Pippen to a team of “Who theys?”–you’re always going to get a respectable two hour performance from the players involved.

All your typical “hopleess situation” characters are involved. There is an intelligent psychatrist who dissolves into a babbling maniac during times of crisis. There is a grizzly old cop who distrusts any criminal scumbags in any situation. There is a kooky minority junkie who mumbles and grumbles about government conspiracy theories. There is a sexpot secretary who needs cigarettes in her mouth. There is the amoral crime lord who does what he needs to do to save his skin. There is the lead cop battling internal demons. All in a day’s work.

The film itself isn’t unique or interesting–I figure in three days I’ll have forgotten about 95% of the movie and moved on with my life. But it’s a nice study aid to keep the adrenaline flowing.

Groundhog Day: A brilliant film. I’ll talk more about it in a separate post; let’s just say for now it’s one of those films you should pick up on a gloomy day to lighten up your mood.

Did you know that if you’re deaf and dumb, you too can reach glory at the highest sporting levels? This can certainly happen in a country like India, where big muscles will never predominate. You’ll never see someone use steroids in this sport, unless they want to pound the ball into the ground.

Iqbal is pretty much your standard cliche sports hero movie, except this time there’s a disability involved. Also touched upon are the sociological ramifications of cricket and its complete paralyzing of the Indian economy (I’d assume Europe/South America is similar with its soccer leagues), but I know little about these things. I’ d probably just blather on about the diversity of sport in America keeping us ahead of the pack instead of orally fixated on one team, all year.

I have a more interesting question: Why do these type of films appeal to us?

Certainly, being a sports hero has appealed to most of us at an early age. I know it has to me. I always wanted to be Scottie Pippen or Penny Hardaway, using suffocating defense on one end and being the unassuming sidekick to a bigger star (I knew I’d never have the talent to be anything more than unassuming), but genetics constrained me to a pitifully average 5′5″ figure by the age of 20, and I just couldn’t keep up with the faster stars. So I’d have to confine myself to the pickup courts and find passions in another.

So while I think Iqbal is a celebration of one star finding his dreams, we should also realize that our dreams are right in front of us. Ask yourself: What is it that you want to do? What is it that you enjoy doing more than anything else? Would you be willing to do anything to realize those dreams like Iqbal? Or will you be a spectator and let the Iqbals around you fulfill what’s in front of them?

Movies like this make me realize how far I must go. I have a lot to do.

Why do you enjoy about the inspirational sports film? (Think Hoosiers, The Mighty Ducks, etc.)

One other note: There is an interesting use of strategy in this movie I noticed after reading 33 Strategies of War–lull the enemy into a false sense of security, let him think that he has the advantage over you, and then pounce. It’s at the climax of the film, and it’s pretty badass. Highly enjoyable film.