;)
;)
;){kind=icon}
‘I’m Fine, Thanks’ in a Nutshell -- Extended Edition #indiefilm
Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 8:53PM Grant Peelle's directorial debut “I’m Fine, Thanks” is a fast paced documentary produced by Adam Baker, with a catchy soundtrack.
"I'm Fine, Thanks" DVD and Poster BundleIts bright, crisp and welcoming scenes are uplifting amidst tales of self-doubt, panic attacks, deteriorated health and most importantly -- longing. The subjects are longing for the day when it feels good to get out of bed in the morning; to live a fulfilled life, whatever that looks like.
Through home video footage, interviews with people who each have a different definition of the American Dream, clips of his crew and narrated tours of a cross-country road trip to end complacency, Peelle makes it clear that “the day” to finally go after a dream never comes to those who just sit back in their rut and wait for it to arrive. The day to live a dream is today. The time is now. “I’m Fine, Thanks” blends humor, adventure and sometimes tragic reality checks that illustrate one thing - being fine is a miserable way to live.
No one has to bathe his or her brain in caffeine just to tolerate a job that he or she hates. No one has to work so many hours that he or she develops a hole in the intestine after sleepwalking for days on end while ones’ immune system plummets. It is heartbreaking -- alarming even, to climb a ladder, reach the top and then realize that you have it leaned up against the wrong wall. Realizing that you don’t even know what the right wall is, however, is even scarier. Continuing on paths that disappoint you is one way to guarantee that it will never be found.
Actresses Virginia Wilcox, Claire Kennedy-Vega and I at the East Coast Premiere of "I'm Fine, Thanks." Photo by Dave LaTulippe; Courtesy of Grant Peelle.
When people follow their dreams and live a life that is in alignment with who they are, they don’t answer the question “How are you?” with “I’m Fine, Thanks.” They respond with “I’m fucking great! Never been better. How about you?”
I don't know about anyone else, but that's the kind of response that I'd like to make more often than not. It beats the alternative!
What started as my attempt at writing a short review turned into this extended assessment. So, it looks like there will be two review series from now on at this blog: short reviews such as the one on “Blitz” and not-so-short ones such as the one on “Player Hating: A Love Story.”
Reader Comments (5)
Yeah, I had to tweet this because I definitely want to be able to answer the "how you doing" question with "Freaking Awesome!"
Amen! Why waste your days at a job you hate? It's worth it to chase the dream, but having a backup plan is never a bad thing. ;-) Might as well have a day job until I write the Great American Novel...
I'd love to be able to say that and mean it. My health has me so far down in the dumps, I'm likely to answer with, "Life fucking sucks right now." But there aren't many in my crowd who are ok withe the fuck word...(That's an inside joke, my drunk friend was saying to a prude at a campfire, so you don't lke the fuck word? Of course, she'd meant to say f-word, but the tale has become legend.
I'm interested in seeing this film, but I don't really know how to access these indie films you talk about. Our small town never plays them at the theater, I can get older ones on netflix, etc., but how would get to see this film soon?
Thanks,
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Angela,
Thanks for the Twitter support and with "Neverlove" picking up steam, I think you're closer than you might think to feeling so freaking awesome that you're answer is better than fine...it's great!
Herman,
Yep there are benefits to having backup plans. I still started to subscribe to the Denzel Washington school of "never have a backup plan" -- not necessarily to that extreme, but in a sense that backup plans make it easier to become complacent or not work toward goals or dreams as heavily or with as much conviction as one would if there was only plan A in existence.
I do think that backup plans have their place, especially when it comes to preparations for natural disasters, etc. but I think in the context that Peelle and Baker's movie is discussing it, these plans may not have to have the same blueprint for everyone. After all...there's room for the day job and moonlighting on the Great American Novel...the day job could even help to provide insights into the development of such novel! It's a win-win situation there ;)
Tina,
I hope your health improves soon. From the looks of it, you've been managing well throughout the dumpy down days by still working on your regular activities as much as you are able while dealing with the responsibilities of parenting and related tasks that come with the everyday hustle and bustle of a life that may sometimes feel like it's on autopilot, so cheers to you for still rocking through it! I actually subscribe to your "Life fucking sucks right now" answer more often than I desire, for reasons other than health...and then I read this blog and you all bring it back up for the time that I'm here.
The photo of the "I'm Fine, Thanks" poster links to the movie's website (www.imfinethanksmovie.com), where you can find out more information about how you can watch the film. It has been screening in different areas of the country via town theaters and group organizations; it is also available on home video and mobile devices. I guess the shorter answer to your question is: If you want to see it in a theater, you will have to check the list of screenings on their website to see if one is playing in your town. A sooner option would be to just order or download or stream the thing at your leisure. Of course, that goes for this particular film.
Many of the indie films I mention on this blog have different forms of availability depending on how and where they are distributed. A lot of of the short films are available online at the filmmaker's websites or their video channels. I often link to them in the text of my posts and/or via the photos in the posts. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know.
I didn't see this but from the review this is a piece with which I can identify. There is no American dream anymore. The Founders Dream was liberty and the pursuit of happiness- in short, FREEDOM. We are far from FREE in America these days and many thrive on dependence not independence.
That said, dreams are personal. Have them and pursue them with vigilance. Dreams form passion and when passion is pursued it is not a job, it's your being.