Life, Love and the Movies

My fellow LAMB member Nostra at My Film Views hosts Life, Love and the Movies with Karamel Kinema. Here is my entry for their sixteen-question blogfest.

LIFE

1. What was the first movie you saw in the cinema and what do you remember about that visit?

My mother took me and my brother to see “Hocus Pocus,” which is earliest movie theater visit that I can remember making.

2. Are there any movies you have very strong memories of which are not because of the movie (for example something which happened at the time you were watching it)?

When I went to see “Sex and the City 2” at a small independent theater, the movie was already playing before the scheduled Showtime. One of the owners offered a free item from the concessions stand to make up for me missing a portion of the movie, to which I obliged and was happy to munch on some Twizzlers.

3. Which movies had a big impact on you and changed a (small) part of your view on life?

Nobody knows how long he or she has on this earth and “Million Dollar Baby” heightened my awareness of living in a manner that allows you to accept your own mortality. The movie speaks to an importance of living life on your own terms and giving it everything you have in a way that allows no regrets at the end of it all – which had a big impact on me.

It is not often that a movie changes my view on life or any aspects therein but “Blue Valentine” did just that. After watching “Blue Valentine,” I am no longer in favor of abortion as much as I once was and it’s all because this movie brought to me an understanding that sometimes it’s best to follow my heart and other times I’ll have to follow my head but either way, it won’t be easy.

4. Do you have any comfort movies which you return to because you are in a specific mood (for example if you are feeling down/nursing a heartbreak)?

I tend to watch “Mona Lisa Smile” at times when I’m feeling like womanhood is a curse, when I’m just lacking direction, or when I’m seeking hope for the future. The three circumstances are oftentimes mutually exclusive.

5. If a movie would be made about your life, what type of movie would it be and who would you like to portray you?

While it’s difficult to gauge what type of movie would fit a portrayal of my life, I suppose some hybrid of a suspense drama could work.

Ideally, actress Jurnee Smollett would star in such a movie. An old friend once told me that I take life way to seriously; I think Smollett would be able to pull it off.

6. Which existing movie best represents you?

Man, I don’t know how to answer this question.

7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would be the last movie you would want to see?
I want to say “Million Dollar Baby” but that is way too easy. If you must go, then you might as well go out with a bang -- so, I’d want to watch “Gladiator.”

8. If you can spend your life working in the film industry, what would you be and why? (you know, director, producer, actor, cinematographer, costume designer, sound designer etc?)

Funny you should ask, because, well – I am an independent filmmaker who wears many hats as a writer, producer and director. If I had my way, I would just direct but writing and producing has gained more traction, so that’s may be the direction I go in.

LOVE

1. Did you ever have a first kiss with someone while at the cinema and if so which movie was playing?

Nope, I haven’t engaged in a kiss with someone while at a movie theater.

2. What is your favorite movie relationship and why?

There are several movie relationships that I favor and of the two that immediately came to mind, I’ll name the most passionate one – Aragorn and Arwen in the Lord of the Rings film series. The unwavering loyalty shared between these two, even through times of uncertainty and war, makes them a badass couple.

3. When did your love for movies start and how has it grown?

Um, let’s see – I think my love of movies started when I wrote short stories and screenplays as a child and then it grew when I received my first video camera for Christmas.

4. If you have to choose one film to watch with your loved one, what would it be and why?

It would be “Love Jones” because the main characters fight for what they want and also learn how to get out of their own way when going after the things they desire. I also like how the characters were able to realize their goals and share these things with each other without playing down their own place in the world.

5. If you can choose one character from a movie to be your significant other who would it be and why?

I would choose Aragorn from Lord of the Rings to be my significant other because he is the shit!

6. What was the first movie that made you fall in in love with film and cinema?

My memory is fuzzy on this, so I’m thinking – maybe “Commando” or “Schindler’s List.”

7. How did your passion for movies turn you into a movie blogger?

Since I didn’t have a website that I could update regularly, needing a place to showcase my movies is how I got into blogging.

8. What is your favorite date from a movie?

For some reason, I don’t recall any dates in a movie that stood out to me, at this time. The gardening scene in “The Town” where Doug tells Claire about his mother missing is about as close to a favorite movie date that I can think of right now.

If you want to participate in this blogfest, Nostra’s instructions are as simple as pie:

- Write a blog post about it

- Include one of the blogathon logos from My Film View’s announcement page in your post

- Add a link to the blogathon announcement, so others can participate as well: http://www.myfilmviews.com/2014/01/20/announcing-LLM-blogathon/

- Leave a comment at My Film Views with a link to your post

Special shout out to Sydney Aaliyah who was the source of how I found out about Nostra’s blogfest!

Monday Movie Meme - Man in the Iron Mask

*If you’re visiting from The LAMB, go HERE to read my Acting School 101 post for September. Alternatively, you can just scroll down the page, since it’s the previous blog post published before today’s post.

This week’s Monday Movie Meme is short and simple, given that it is based on the subject of a blogathon I’m participating in today called LAMB Acting School 101, hosted by Courtney Small of Cinema Axis: Man in the Iron Mask.

Share on your blog or in the comments, ONE movie you think showed Leonardo DiCaprio at his best in terms of acting. Remember to visit the blogs of fellow Monday Movie Meme participants. Also, if you haven’t already, join the conversation about the trajectory of DiCaprio’s career, by reading my LAMB post: What Leonardo DiCaprio Can Teach Us About Diligence!

Here is my selection for this week’s Man in the Iron Mask theme...

Blood Diamond – For the most part, I hated Danny Archer’s manipulative, greedy and selfish ways in this movie. This tripped me out because I’ve always liked Leonardo DiCaprio, so I think that any lovable actor who can make you hate him while still wanting to watch what happens next is an actor who doesn’t mind taking on roles that don’t paint his or her character in the best light – and still manage to make us wanting to root for them in the end, or at the very least, hate them a little less than we did during the first half of the movie.

What movie do YOU think shows Leonardo DiCaprio at his best?

What Leonardo DiCaprio Can Teach Us about Diligence

“Getting your foot in the door and having a career is like winning the lottery. I've always felt ‘Okay, now I've gotten this shot; I'm lucky to have gotten this shot, and if I don't do this to the best of my ability — if I don't work my ass off and make a life of it — I've squandered this incredibly golden opportunity.’ And that's always been what has propelled me." – Leonardo DiCaprio

Whether you believe, or doubt, that you have what it takes to win at life is irrelevant. More importantly, are you willing to put in the work that is necessary to keep moving forward?

The credits under Hollywood’s leading man Leonardo DiCaprio’s belt demonstrate that one big break can propel anyone to the top of his or her game – but it’s a concentrated effort that keeps you there. The trajectory of his ever-evolving acting career is no accident and to this day, even I have yet to see a movie starring this fine performer that I didn’t like. That is at least, not taking Danny Boyle’s adventure drama “The Beach” and Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama “Gangs of New York” into consideration, since I didn’t watch either of those films in their entirety.

Although DiCaprio rose to stardom for his portrayal as the poor man Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s romantic drama “Titanic,” he was already positioning himself alongside Hollywood heavyweights such as Robert De Niro. The big screen adaptation of Tobias Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life wasn’t even on my radar until a friend told me about it -- after “Titanic” came out in theaters. DiCaprio’s performance as a troubled teenager named Toby, opposite De Niro playing Toby’s abusive step-father in “This Boy’s Life,” gave promise to what has become the fabric of this man’s accomplishments – an unrelenting quest for the next best project.

DiCaprio knew early on – since he was around 15 years old – that pursuing characters with depth are more valuable than appearing in just any film, for the sake of a bigger paycheck. He put the potential of building a career in movies before any desire for fame and, more particularly, fortune.

As a kid who just wanted to act and would’ve been content doing television commercials, Leonardo DiCaprio does not take his strides as a film star for granted. When given the choice between two films, DiCaprio goes for the project he believes will help him remain a front runner in show business. This is someone who takes his job seriously enough to stay on track, not letting anything get in the way of what he wants.

“Titanic” was just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended) – Leonardo DiCaprio reeks of success in terms of movies he chooses to work on. A rough patch with “The Beach” and “Man in the Iron Mask” during the slow period of his career didn’t stop him – he kept at it, looking for good material and finally found his footing again, upon the releases of Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” and Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.” These crime dramas indicated that he had more to offer than being the poor artist-hero, romancing rich women and saving people on sinking ships.

DiCaprio was on a roll by 2006, as an undercover cop in Scorsese’s highly acclaimed crime thriller “The Departed,” which shined during awards season. Although the movie opened at #1 and remained in top box office spots for weeks, this Golden Globe nominee (for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama) refused to rest on his laurels, just as he didn’t back in 1997 when “Titanic” became the highest grossing film of all time (until Cameron made “Avatar”). Rather than take a break from the big screen or experiment with roles in risky projects, Leonardo DiCaprio’s quick follow up as a South African diamond smuggler in Edward Zwick’s war thriller “Blood Diamond” indicated that he was on another level with regards to obtaining longevity in one’s career.

In the last eight years, we watched him in a new movie – or two – released annually, much to the enjoyment of audiences worldwide. From the moment that this three-time Oscar nominated actor got his groove in “The Departed” (or “Catch Me If You Can” even) he continues to get better with each project. I’ve also noticed how films starring DiCaprio are lauded among his peers as well as critics and with the exception of the few cases where some of these movies have negative reviews, all of them still turn a profit.

The box office results tell me that audiences generally have a favorable response to his choice in projects, even when the industry thinks otherwise. Baz Luhrmann’s romantic drama “The Great Gatsby” – DiCaprio’s latest movie, where he plays a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby, is no different. The film is his second highest grossing project, behind “Inception,” despite receiving poor reviews by critics.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s talent is undeniable. His consistency and intent on steering his career in the direction that feels right for what he wants out of life, however, is what schools the rest of us on how to progress in our own lives.

We benefit when our decision making supports growth and a willingness to be at our very best when reaching every open door on the path we’re pursuing. It is not enough to find an opportunity and seize it. Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t just make producers/directors seek him out for their movies and audiences look forward to seeing him on screen – he sets himself in a position where we look forward to him to coming back, time and time again.

Like DiCaprio, you must figure out a way to keep yourself in the game – never squander the chance to take yourself to the next level. Instead, use it to bring you another opportunity and so on. If you don't know know where to start, try learning from the man who shows us what it means to aim high.

In an interview with Refinery 29, Leonardo DiCaprio said that Gatsby is the “manifestation of his own dreams.” Based on the evolution of DiCaprio's acting career, it would not be far off to say that his life mirrors that of Gatsbys, in the sense of not only making dreams become a reality -- but sustaining those dreams as well. 

Can YOU describe an experience where one opportunity or another helped you move closer to (or made it possible for you to obtain) a professional or personal objective of yours?

What movie would YOU say gave Leonardo DiCaprio his big break?