In a world so full of media and material, movies are bound to be made of classic works of literature. I am lucky enough to have my favorite authors' work made into now classic films. Of these authors is the infamous Thomas Hardy (not Bane, the real guy).
Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England in 1840. He considered himself to be a poet, but his novels are what he is most remembered for to this day. Novels like Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and Far from the Madding Crowd have been prolific in their reach and make excellent source material for film adaptions. Hardy's work focuses on the decline of "Victorian" society in the rural parts of the English countryside. Much of his work takes place in a made up part of England called "Wessex" which is a combination of areas from Hardy's life time. Before he started writing, Hardy spent time learning architecture as an apprentice and went on to practice the trade. He fell in love and married his first wife Emma in 1874. For the rest of his life, he wrote her poetry. They grew apart, and he remarried, but after her death Hardy continued to write poems addressed to her. When he died, his heart was buried with his first wife and his ashes were sent to the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
A young, poor woman named Tess is forced to claim kin to a rich family when her father discovers that their family name was once well renowned. While in the care of these rich relations, Tess is seduced and raped by the man claiming to be her cousin. With her virtue lost and her cousin unwilling to marry her, Tess is forced to be outcast by all. She moves away to labor as a dairy maid in hopes of earning money for her family, and while away she meets a man by the name of Angel Claire. Angel is the son of a preacher who is studying farming techniques that he plans to one day take with him to Brazil where he hopes to be a successful rancher. Tess and Angel fall madly in love with each other, but Tess is troubled by her past and the loss of her purity. Circumstances lead her to keep silent about her past until the two of them are married, and on the night of their wedding Tess explains her checkered past. Angel, a man of many morals, cannot stand the thought of his Tess being so stained so he makes for Brazil immediately leaving Tess to fend for herself. Tess is tormented by the world for an action that she had no control over and lives her life miserably hoping that Angel will return for her.
Far from the Madding Crowd
Bathsheba Everdeen has inherited her uncle's once great farm upon his death causing her to be the mistress of a large estate and in charge of a great many employees. Gabriel Oak, a shepherd, is passing through Miss Everdeen's land when he comes across a fire. He assists in putting out and Bathsheba asks him to stay on and help her run the farm. The two have a history that makes their new arrangement a bit awkward, but the they decide that they need to work together in order to run a successful farm. Bathsheba's reputation as a beautiful and clever land owner is spreading, however, her neighbor, Mr. Boldwood, is not impressed with her. Slighted by Boldwood, Bathsheba decides to send him a valentine as a joke. Boldwood is entranced by the sentiment he believes comes with the valentine and begins to obsess over the idea of marrying Bathsheba. She, however, has too much of her own farm to run and is far too independent for a marriage. While walking her grounds at night, Bathsheba encounters a solider by the name of Troy. Troy is a dangerous man full of sexual energy that both frightens and excites Bathsheba. In her state of excitement, Bathsheba hastily marries Troy. The two are not well matched, and Troy is still hopelessly in love with his first sweetheart Fanny, who is now carrying his child. When Fanny dies, Troy leaves Bathsheba to fend for herself and her farm. Only Gabriel does not desert her.
The Woodlanders
Raised together in a woodland village, Gracie and Giles were meant to be together. After being sent away for school however, Gracie's well meaning father decides that she's too good for any old oak man of the woodlands. He sets his sights on a better match. A new doctor has moved into a rented house across the way from Gracie's home, and she finds him very attractive. Charmed by this doctor and urged by her father, Gracie agrees to marry the doctor, leaving Giles without a thing. Soon after their return from honeymoon, Gracie's husband Dr. Fitzpiers expresses his dislike for the country folk that Gracie has grown up with and loved. He complains about their culture and class. As if an answer to his disgruntlement, he is called to the house of the Lady who owns much of the woodlands, Mrs. Charmond. A widow, Mrs. Charmond finds Dr. Fitzpiers's wit a welcome change to the country folk sensibilities of her tenants. The two form a relationship and cause unrest in Gracie's life. She has remained faithful to Dr. Fitzpiers even though her attachment to Giles pulls at her. Dr. Fitzpiers and Mrs. Charmond move aboard for a while leaving Gracie completely alone to face loving someone she cannot have.
Thomas Hardy's work often examines the idea of the female character. Often his ladies are multilayered. They are independent with ideas of their own and just as confused by love as men are, though men are portrayed as hopeless when in love with a woman. With the character of Tess, Hardy created a woman who was wronged by her circumstances and seen as someone who did it to themselves. However, when discussing Tess, Hardy claims she is the ideal "pure" woman. She loved only one man all her life and did her best to do right by God. The world saw her as something else because of the horrors that befell her. With Bathsheba, Hardy created a woman who had choices. In the constantly changing landscape of the countryside, Bathsheba has the ability to be independent, but the "ideal man", a solider for his country, is the downfall of her moral character. Gracie, following a father's faulty logic, is caught up in the societies standard of a good match. In all of these cases, the woman are subject the whims of the world and society only to find that their own paths are far better than what they are told they should have. Their characters are strong, and they are faced with moral issues often. The men often play the secondary character as the female characters develop and change to realize their position and place. Perhaps this is why Hardy's work is so interesting to me. I find that his women, though altered by the society they live in and considered tainted by their choices, remain pure in their love of the men they choose.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Friday, December 25, 2015
Stream of the Week- Braveheart
"I will never be on the wrong side again."
In the wake of English rule, the Scotsmen who had lived in tyranny and war for most of their lives, banned together behind the cry of William Wallace to win their freedom. As a young man, William watched as his father and brother died trying to win their rights and Scottish land owners. After being taken by his uncle to be educated, Wallace returned to his homeland in hopes of settling down. The King of England tightened his grip on the Scottish people by granting his English nobles in the land the right to the wedding night of each new bride. It was his hope that this would bring more nobles to Scotland to amplify his control. Wallace, in love with a Scottish woman, marries in secret to avoid having to share his wife with a nobleman. His disobedience leads to her death giving Wallace a reason to rise up against the British forces. Wallace collects soldiers and warriors as he goes campaigning against the English. He attempts to unite the Scottish clans and nobles in hopes of uniting Scotland to overthrow the English throne and put forth their own King- Robert the Bruce. Wallace fights bravely, making himself a legend among the Scottish people. Each time his story is told, new interpretations arise making him almost a mythical being to the Scottish people. The King tries every trick to lure in Wallace and turn him before he can rise too large of a force. He sends his new daughter-in-law, a French Princess, to bribe Wallace with gold and land. Instead, the Princess finds herself faced with a strong man who is unwilling to back down. She respects and "loves" Wallace for this prompting her to become allied to him. She feeds him information about shipments and surprise attacks in hopes of keeping him safe, and in return the Princess is able to get back at the King and Prince for their behavior towards her. Wallace grows strong, but the Scottish nobles are not willing to commit to his cause and lose their land. They betray him one by one which leads to his capture by English forces thus ending the life of the legend William Wallace.
This 1995 film directed by (and starring) Mel Gibson has become a well regarded classic of historical drama films. Winner of the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Cinematography, Best Effects, and Best Writing for Screen, this film has proven itself an important part of cinematic history by telling a compelling dramatization of an important historical occurrence. For me, one of the most important aspects of this film is that it was directed by the lead actor. The balance between directing each scene and starring in each shot must have caused a great deal of pressure on both the crew and Gibson himself, earning my respect.
In the wake of English rule, the Scotsmen who had lived in tyranny and war for most of their lives, banned together behind the cry of William Wallace to win their freedom. As a young man, William watched as his father and brother died trying to win their rights and Scottish land owners. After being taken by his uncle to be educated, Wallace returned to his homeland in hopes of settling down. The King of England tightened his grip on the Scottish people by granting his English nobles in the land the right to the wedding night of each new bride. It was his hope that this would bring more nobles to Scotland to amplify his control. Wallace, in love with a Scottish woman, marries in secret to avoid having to share his wife with a nobleman. His disobedience leads to her death giving Wallace a reason to rise up against the British forces. Wallace collects soldiers and warriors as he goes campaigning against the English. He attempts to unite the Scottish clans and nobles in hopes of uniting Scotland to overthrow the English throne and put forth their own King- Robert the Bruce. Wallace fights bravely, making himself a legend among the Scottish people. Each time his story is told, new interpretations arise making him almost a mythical being to the Scottish people. The King tries every trick to lure in Wallace and turn him before he can rise too large of a force. He sends his new daughter-in-law, a French Princess, to bribe Wallace with gold and land. Instead, the Princess finds herself faced with a strong man who is unwilling to back down. She respects and "loves" Wallace for this prompting her to become allied to him. She feeds him information about shipments and surprise attacks in hopes of keeping him safe, and in return the Princess is able to get back at the King and Prince for their behavior towards her. Wallace grows strong, but the Scottish nobles are not willing to commit to his cause and lose their land. They betray him one by one which leads to his capture by English forces thus ending the life of the legend William Wallace.
This 1995 film directed by (and starring) Mel Gibson has become a well regarded classic of historical drama films. Winner of the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Cinematography, Best Effects, and Best Writing for Screen, this film has proven itself an important part of cinematic history by telling a compelling dramatization of an important historical occurrence. For me, one of the most important aspects of this film is that it was directed by the lead actor. The balance between directing each scene and starring in each shot must have caused a great deal of pressure on both the crew and Gibson himself, earning my respect.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Capture of Culture- Tap World
Rhythm is the universal language.
Most cultures have a style of music and a traditional style of dance. Tap, however, came as a combination of two cultures- African Culture and Irish Culture. This blending of cultures led to a style of dance that relied heavily on rhythm as it's foundation. In this way, Tap is able to transcend language barriers to connect people through the communication of rhythm. By following tap dancers from all over the world, Tap World is able to trace the emergence of Tap in various countries and show how each one has put a new spin on it. The older generation of Tap dancers has made way for a new group of highly motivated and innovative group of people who take the old steps and forms and apply them to new genres of music as well as adding new stunts to the style to make it visually more interesting. These artists and creators have to find ways to support themselves with their dancing. Many end up teaching while others dance on the street in hopes of making tips to save up and change their lives. Though the demand for professional Tap dancers is low, they find a way to support each other and act as a cohesive family.
This documentary gives a brief overview of what the Tap culture is like by following various teachers who are bringing Tap dancing to the furthest regions of the world. In Brazil, they might not have the best education system, but they have Tap dance classes. In Taiwan, they might have cultures that don't have native dance styles, but they have Tap. Here in America even, there may be inner city kids who have broken families and low incomes, but they have enough passion in them to Tap dance. As all the teachers state "Rhythm is the way to communicate". It doesn't matter where they are from or who they are, they can Tap.
Most cultures have a style of music and a traditional style of dance. Tap, however, came as a combination of two cultures- African Culture and Irish Culture. This blending of cultures led to a style of dance that relied heavily on rhythm as it's foundation. In this way, Tap is able to transcend language barriers to connect people through the communication of rhythm. By following tap dancers from all over the world, Tap World is able to trace the emergence of Tap in various countries and show how each one has put a new spin on it. The older generation of Tap dancers has made way for a new group of highly motivated and innovative group of people who take the old steps and forms and apply them to new genres of music as well as adding new stunts to the style to make it visually more interesting. These artists and creators have to find ways to support themselves with their dancing. Many end up teaching while others dance on the street in hopes of making tips to save up and change their lives. Though the demand for professional Tap dancers is low, they find a way to support each other and act as a cohesive family.
This documentary gives a brief overview of what the Tap culture is like by following various teachers who are bringing Tap dancing to the furthest regions of the world. In Brazil, they might not have the best education system, but they have Tap dance classes. In Taiwan, they might have cultures that don't have native dance styles, but they have Tap. Here in America even, there may be inner city kids who have broken families and low incomes, but they have enough passion in them to Tap dance. As all the teachers state "Rhythm is the way to communicate". It doesn't matter where they are from or who they are, they can Tap.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Stream of the Week- Kate and Leopold
He is the man that will bring you fresh brioche in bed.
Finding a rip in the space time continuum, Stewart goes back to the 1800s in time and stumbles upon the inventor of the elevator. On his way back to his own time period, Stewart is followed by Leopold, the inventor, and the two of them fall back into the modern age. Feeling responsible for Leopold, Stewart tries to stash him in his apartment, but his nosey ex who lives downstairs, Kate, finds the stranger in Stewart's room and starts asking questions. Unwilling to believe the truth about time travel, Kate decides to regard the stranger Leopold as a complete weirdo with a really odd sense of mannerisms. Because Leopold is now in the future and not in the past where he should be inventing elevators, all of the elevators in the city begin to fail. Stewart ends up falling through an elevator shaft, and while in the hospital, he asks Kate to look after Leo. Kate is a career woman who believes in rational thought, and she refuses to be swept up by Leo's charms. He, however, has other plans as he attempts to sweep Kate right off her feet. But they are from two different eras, and they have different goals in life. It would be impossible for it to work out. Wouldn't it?
I don't care how cheezy or formulaic it is, this is a Meg Ryan rom com, of course I watched it. From the director of, oddly enough, Knight and Day and Walk the Line, this film shows the ever loved cliché that love knows no time periods or bounds. It is a leap that must be taken (literally and metaphorically). It is sweet enough with it's New York charm and romantic sensibilities. Every woman, apparently, wants a good old fashioned prince.
Finding a rip in the space time continuum, Stewart goes back to the 1800s in time and stumbles upon the inventor of the elevator. On his way back to his own time period, Stewart is followed by Leopold, the inventor, and the two of them fall back into the modern age. Feeling responsible for Leopold, Stewart tries to stash him in his apartment, but his nosey ex who lives downstairs, Kate, finds the stranger in Stewart's room and starts asking questions. Unwilling to believe the truth about time travel, Kate decides to regard the stranger Leopold as a complete weirdo with a really odd sense of mannerisms. Because Leopold is now in the future and not in the past where he should be inventing elevators, all of the elevators in the city begin to fail. Stewart ends up falling through an elevator shaft, and while in the hospital, he asks Kate to look after Leo. Kate is a career woman who believes in rational thought, and she refuses to be swept up by Leo's charms. He, however, has other plans as he attempts to sweep Kate right off her feet. But they are from two different eras, and they have different goals in life. It would be impossible for it to work out. Wouldn't it?
I don't care how cheezy or formulaic it is, this is a Meg Ryan rom com, of course I watched it. From the director of, oddly enough, Knight and Day and Walk the Line, this film shows the ever loved cliché that love knows no time periods or bounds. It is a leap that must be taken (literally and metaphorically). It is sweet enough with it's New York charm and romantic sensibilities. Every woman, apparently, wants a good old fashioned prince.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Capture of Culture- Hungry for Change
We're overeating and still starving to death.
We live in a world chalk full of options as well are surrounded by thousands of different diets that all claim to give us the results we want. Scientists, nutritionists, and food lovers, however, are learning that nothing presented to us in that way is good or healthy to us. We eat products that are presented as food, but in truth are really lacking in the nutrients we need to survive. Full of sugar and carbohydrates, foods like soda, baked goods, and "low fat" products draw us in with an initial sugar high, but quickly fall flat as our bodies find that they do not contain the vitamins and nutrients our body wants/needs. The biggest killer of people today and of the next generation will not be tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, it will be improper dieting. One of the largest concerns these food experts have is the amounts of sugar we inhale with each food product we consume. When we eat more than 150 pounds of sugar a year, it becomes apparent that sugar is a drug more than a natural ingredient. Like cocaine, white refined flours and sugars are products that are taken from naturally nutritional foods and oversimplified to the point where they lose all value to the body. High fructose corn syrup is the largest contributor to our over indulgence in sugar intake. The best way for us to live is through knowledge of these factors in hopes that we can find real foods to eat to make our lifespans longer and our actual lives healthier.
I love food documentaries. They are incredibly addicting (forget the sugar). Hungry for change easily fits in the same space as Fed Up, Food Inc., SuperSize Me, and countless others as it examines the same basic "truths" in the food market. Though these films say similar things, I believe it's important to continue watching them in hopes of somehow getting to the general population so that we can change what we eat and what is produced. As more research is produced, more knowledge is exposed, and maybe one day there will be enough to save us all.
We live in a world chalk full of options as well are surrounded by thousands of different diets that all claim to give us the results we want. Scientists, nutritionists, and food lovers, however, are learning that nothing presented to us in that way is good or healthy to us. We eat products that are presented as food, but in truth are really lacking in the nutrients we need to survive. Full of sugar and carbohydrates, foods like soda, baked goods, and "low fat" products draw us in with an initial sugar high, but quickly fall flat as our bodies find that they do not contain the vitamins and nutrients our body wants/needs. The biggest killer of people today and of the next generation will not be tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, it will be improper dieting. One of the largest concerns these food experts have is the amounts of sugar we inhale with each food product we consume. When we eat more than 150 pounds of sugar a year, it becomes apparent that sugar is a drug more than a natural ingredient. Like cocaine, white refined flours and sugars are products that are taken from naturally nutritional foods and oversimplified to the point where they lose all value to the body. High fructose corn syrup is the largest contributor to our over indulgence in sugar intake. The best way for us to live is through knowledge of these factors in hopes that we can find real foods to eat to make our lifespans longer and our actual lives healthier.
I love food documentaries. They are incredibly addicting (forget the sugar). Hungry for change easily fits in the same space as Fed Up, Food Inc., SuperSize Me, and countless others as it examines the same basic "truths" in the food market. Though these films say similar things, I believe it's important to continue watching them in hopes of somehow getting to the general population so that we can change what we eat and what is produced. As more research is produced, more knowledge is exposed, and maybe one day there will be enough to save us all.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Stream of the Week- Philomena
"I didn't see that coming, Martin, not in a million years!"
As an Irish young woman, Philomena met a stranger at a fair and caught up in the moment, conceived a child. Her father sent her to the nuns, and after having her child, Philomena was contracted to work in the laundry department of the abbey along with all the other unwedded mothers. They were allowed to see their children for an hour a day, and every so often a big car would come and take a child away. The nuns adopted those children out to Americans without telling their mothers. Philomena had to watch as her son Anthony was taken from the abbey, and there was nothing she could do to lay claim on him. For 50 years, Philomena prayed and searched for Anthony. She visited the abbey often to find information, but they claimed all their records were lost in a huge fire. Her daughter, now aware of what her mother went through, talks to a reporter to try and get him interested in the story. Martin, a recently fired BBC affiliate, is hesitant to take the story at first, but he begins to see it as a human interest story. After some digging, and no help from the nuns, Martin learns that the children were adopted out to America. Martin gets him and Philomena on a plane immediately to DC in hopes of finding her Anthony. They discover, through some digging, that Anthony worked on the republican campaigns of several presidents, was in a homosexual partnership, and died of aids several years earlier. Philomena is devastated, but there is still something she needs to know about Anthony- did he ever wonder about her?
From the director of High Fidelity and The Queen (an odd track record if you ask me), Philomena is based on a true story and adapted from the book written by Martin about the journey he and Philomena took to find her son. Philomena has an excellent sensibility to her, as she is both the adorably talkative grandmother who will tell you her whole life story and the tough nurse who has seen it all. It's the kind of story that we don't think about or ask questions about, but it's one that we should all be willing to learn about.
As an Irish young woman, Philomena met a stranger at a fair and caught up in the moment, conceived a child. Her father sent her to the nuns, and after having her child, Philomena was contracted to work in the laundry department of the abbey along with all the other unwedded mothers. They were allowed to see their children for an hour a day, and every so often a big car would come and take a child away. The nuns adopted those children out to Americans without telling their mothers. Philomena had to watch as her son Anthony was taken from the abbey, and there was nothing she could do to lay claim on him. For 50 years, Philomena prayed and searched for Anthony. She visited the abbey often to find information, but they claimed all their records were lost in a huge fire. Her daughter, now aware of what her mother went through, talks to a reporter to try and get him interested in the story. Martin, a recently fired BBC affiliate, is hesitant to take the story at first, but he begins to see it as a human interest story. After some digging, and no help from the nuns, Martin learns that the children were adopted out to America. Martin gets him and Philomena on a plane immediately to DC in hopes of finding her Anthony. They discover, through some digging, that Anthony worked on the republican campaigns of several presidents, was in a homosexual partnership, and died of aids several years earlier. Philomena is devastated, but there is still something she needs to know about Anthony- did he ever wonder about her?
From the director of High Fidelity and The Queen (an odd track record if you ask me), Philomena is based on a true story and adapted from the book written by Martin about the journey he and Philomena took to find her son. Philomena has an excellent sensibility to her, as she is both the adorably talkative grandmother who will tell you her whole life story and the tough nurse who has seen it all. It's the kind of story that we don't think about or ask questions about, but it's one that we should all be willing to learn about.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Capture of Culture- Twilight in Volterra
It is a city with a mysterious past and a new pop culture fatal attraction.
In Stephanie Meyer's series, Twilight, an ancient tribe of Vampires known as the Volturi reside in the Etruscan city of Volterra. Without ever visiting the city, Meyer weaved an entire storyline around this obscure ancient village. Upon reading her novel, New Moon, many inhabitants were amazed at how accurate Meyer's description of the city turned out to be, and as popularity in the book began to rise, so did the tourism in Volterra. Using this new found fame to their advantage, the board of tourism of Volterra set to create a tour specifically crafted to take eager readers on an hour long tour of the city in which they could explore all the locations of important events in the novel. With each tour, a plethora of fans swoops in engulfing the city's rich history as it has mysterious locations such as the prison and the asylum all coming together to make a perfect location for the speculation of the supernatural. This documentary takes interviews with fans and tour guides alike to show how accurate the story is to the actual setting of Volterra and to show how the modern novel has impacted the ancient city.
Without ever reading the books or seeing more than the first film, I was interested in the actual history of the mysterious town and how it got to inspire such a popular series. Twilight, though not my cup of tea, has greatly affected tourism in this small village, bringing to light how important it is as a city. Volterra was the largest city in Italy at one point, housing more than Rome at a certain time in history. Without the use of it in the Twilight series, Volterra might have gone undiscovered by many travelers as a hot spot of activity and mysterious history.
In Stephanie Meyer's series, Twilight, an ancient tribe of Vampires known as the Volturi reside in the Etruscan city of Volterra. Without ever visiting the city, Meyer weaved an entire storyline around this obscure ancient village. Upon reading her novel, New Moon, many inhabitants were amazed at how accurate Meyer's description of the city turned out to be, and as popularity in the book began to rise, so did the tourism in Volterra. Using this new found fame to their advantage, the board of tourism of Volterra set to create a tour specifically crafted to take eager readers on an hour long tour of the city in which they could explore all the locations of important events in the novel. With each tour, a plethora of fans swoops in engulfing the city's rich history as it has mysterious locations such as the prison and the asylum all coming together to make a perfect location for the speculation of the supernatural. This documentary takes interviews with fans and tour guides alike to show how accurate the story is to the actual setting of Volterra and to show how the modern novel has impacted the ancient city.
Without ever reading the books or seeing more than the first film, I was interested in the actual history of the mysterious town and how it got to inspire such a popular series. Twilight, though not my cup of tea, has greatly affected tourism in this small village, bringing to light how important it is as a city. Volterra was the largest city in Italy at one point, housing more than Rome at a certain time in history. Without the use of it in the Twilight series, Volterra might have gone undiscovered by many travelers as a hot spot of activity and mysterious history.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Stream of the Week- Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List
Sometimes New York doesn't feel big enough for two people in a fight.
Naomi and Ely have been best friends forever. They've always been neighbors in their building and have always had each other's backs. Over the years, the two of them decided to make a "no kiss list", a list of boys they both were attracted to. They figured if they could avoid fighting over boys, they'd be better off. It's their first year out of high school, and Ely is coming out of his shell more. It makes Naomi nervous because she's always loved him, but he'll never love her back in that way. To battle his new found confidence, Naomi settles for boyfriend Bruce, who she only tolerates. As Bruce is coming to pick her up one night, he and Ely share a moment in which they both realize they are attracted to each other. They try to keep it from Naomi, but Ely can't so he tells her. By doing this to Naomi, Ely has brought up some very difficult emotions so the two being a blown out brawl. Neither of them want to budge on their positions or admit that they miss each other when they stop talking. Naomi finds some solace with gentleman and doorman Gabriel and as she spends less time with Ely the more she realizes that no matter what Ely is still a huge part of who she is, and she's not ready to give that up.
From the director of Dear Dumb Diary and the writer of Step Up (3D), this movie didn't look like it would hold up. However, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List deals with some very difficult subject matter when it comes to being a young adult in the world. Not only do they have to learn their own boundaries, but they also have to define what everyone else's boundary is in relation to theirs in order to create harmony in their building. In a world where 14 yr olds look like they're 20, it can be difficult to understand sexuality and sexual orientation. By examining what happens when girls feel so comfortable around gay men, this film touches on some important issues.
Naomi and Ely have been best friends forever. They've always been neighbors in their building and have always had each other's backs. Over the years, the two of them decided to make a "no kiss list", a list of boys they both were attracted to. They figured if they could avoid fighting over boys, they'd be better off. It's their first year out of high school, and Ely is coming out of his shell more. It makes Naomi nervous because she's always loved him, but he'll never love her back in that way. To battle his new found confidence, Naomi settles for boyfriend Bruce, who she only tolerates. As Bruce is coming to pick her up one night, he and Ely share a moment in which they both realize they are attracted to each other. They try to keep it from Naomi, but Ely can't so he tells her. By doing this to Naomi, Ely has brought up some very difficult emotions so the two being a blown out brawl. Neither of them want to budge on their positions or admit that they miss each other when they stop talking. Naomi finds some solace with gentleman and doorman Gabriel and as she spends less time with Ely the more she realizes that no matter what Ely is still a huge part of who she is, and she's not ready to give that up.
From the director of Dear Dumb Diary and the writer of Step Up (3D), this movie didn't look like it would hold up. However, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List deals with some very difficult subject matter when it comes to being a young adult in the world. Not only do they have to learn their own boundaries, but they also have to define what everyone else's boundary is in relation to theirs in order to create harmony in their building. In a world where 14 yr olds look like they're 20, it can be difficult to understand sexuality and sexual orientation. By examining what happens when girls feel so comfortable around gay men, this film touches on some important issues.
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