Yesterday was bitter cold, with freezing driving rain towards the end of the day. The sky before the rain came was low, and heavy-looking. I did a ton of laundry, wheeling my cart through the freezing streets, and everything suddenly seemed quite wintry and still. It was January 2. Nobody seemed to be at work (they all were doing laundry). The dry cleaners was closed. BUMMER. I finished doing all my laundry, came back to my apartment – the drapes were semi-closed (my gorgeous drapes which continue to make me happy!! Thanks, Mum!) – and it looked like it was 10 o’clock at night outside. A strange and quiet dark dark day. Manhattan looked gloomy and soot-ridden across the Hudson – but the Hudson itself gleamed iridescent silver. The whole day was like that – strange dramatic images, startling, contrasts.
The PMS, she has me in her grip – it’ll all be over by tomorrow – but the first two days are always horrific no matter how many Motrins I pop. All I felt like doing was lying in bed, wrapped up in fleece, reading Now I can Die in Peace, and occasionally moaning, and stretching like a cat – which I feel helps get rid of the cramps.
But I hauled ass out into the cold, did the laundry, and as a result felt holy and pure.
I still struggled with the desire to dress head to toe in fleece and crawl into bed, moaning, but no. I proceeded to put away all the clean laundry. Amazing!
Then my phone rang. It was Jen. She said “Wanna come over and watch a movie?”
Unbelievably, I said, “Sure! I’ll just take a shower and come right over.”
Jen is in Manhattan. It’s hard to describe how – even though NYC is right across the river – it does take some effort to get your ass into town. At least it does for me, in my old age. If you call me at a 7:30 on a Saturday night, and say, “Hey, we’re meeting up at such-and-such in an hour or so – wanna come?” – I will probably say no. Once I’m home, I’m home. Hard to explain. Once I cross the river home, it would take something like a Russell Crowe sighting to get me back into Manhattan at short notice. As in: “Omygod, Russell Crowe has just joined our table – he’s buying drinks for everyone – GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!”
So strangely enough – I said yes to Jen’s invite. Despite the overwhelming desire to be encased in fleece and to lie moaning under my covers, popping Motrins into my mouth like candy.
An hour later, I was at her door. I can’t describe how much this kind of behavior is not in my personality. Yes. I am rigid in my ways. I am a homebody. And I’m not all that spontaneous. But for whatever reason – yesterday – I broke the pattern. Despite the fact that I YEARNED for fleece-age. We went right back out again, into the freezing driving rain, to buy some wine. I had brought my complete Office series – thank you, Lisa – Jen had never seen it – and I was so excited to show some of it to her. I just knew she’d love it.
So we sat on the couch – actually I lay on the couch – so that I was still able to moan, if I felt like I needed it, and stretch like a cat – (Jen’s a good friend – we don’t stand on ceremony with each other) – and we drank wine, and we talked, and laughed, and caught up – and then had a GLORIOUS time watching a couple of episodes of The Office – which I just KNEW she would “get”. On a deep deep level. She GETS stuff like Spinal Tap – not just that it’s funny – but that it is feckin’ GENIUS. It’s almost too perceptive to even laugh at – even though so much of it is just howlingly funny. So that was fun. Within 2 seconds of David Brent talking, she just gasped. “Oh my God.” Halfway through the first episode she said, “Does it ever get less embarrassing?” “Uhm … no. It actually gets more embarrassing.” (I was thinking of this episode.)
Jen also just couldn’t believe how funny Gareth was. His babbling about the territorial army and how he could make poison darts out of frogs or whatever – Jen was just shaking with laughter beside me.
It’s so fun to SHOW stuff you love to other people, isn’t it? I had to force myself to just sit back (or in my case: lie back – like a damn beached whale) – and let her experience it on her own – without getting all in her face, “ISN’T THIS HYSTERICAL??”
Then we watched a film that hasn’t even been released yet – but Jen’s stepfather is in SAG so he gets advance copies of tons of films – but anyway – it’s a movie starring Anthony Hopkins called The World’s Fastest Indian – and I have to admit, it didn’t really sound like my thing, although I love Anthony Hopkins. Turns out – it has the same ol’ sports movie formula that I find so compelling, and so potentially wonderful. It’s just that the story here is this guy whose one dream in life is to break the land-speed record with his 1920s era Indian motorcycle.
It’s a movie based on Burt Munro – a legend in New Zealand – and, I’m sure, a legend to motorcycle-lovers everywhere. Or bigger than that: speed demons everywhere.
All I can say is: when it comes out, SEE IT!!
It’s not perfect – there are some cheesy elements – and I could have done without the soundtrack altogether – there was music below almost every scene – which made me feel like those in charge thought that we wouldn’t “get it” otherwise – very irritating – but the STORY!! Of this GUY! Burt Munro (at least as he is portrayed in the film) was the type of guy who could get other people enthusiastic about his pet projects. That was one of the most moving things in the film. I can’t really describe it – but Jen and I were just so moved by it. He was a mad mechanical genius, tinkering away in his garage, alone – but when it came time to actually get to America, and get to Utah, etc. etc. – he needed to be resourceful, creative, improvisational – and along the way, his journey to get to the speed races – he meets all these people – who help him, or get excited about what he’s trying to do. You start to get the sense that this guy is an amazing man.
Diane Ladd has a great cameo of a woman he meets along the way – a straight-talking woman who lives out in the middle of nowhere – He needs a part for his motorcycle – it busted along the way – so he approaches her, with that same openness he approaches everyone else – and she happens to have this whole welding apparatus in her garage, and she lets him use it …. Lovely connection made – lovely little scene.
There’s the hitchhiker he picks up – a young kid in uniform about to go off to Vietnam – a kid who gets completely caught up in Burt’s excitement.
There’s the serious-eyed little kid at one of the gas stations – who stares at the Indian – which is tied to the back of Bert’s truck – the kid is just mesmerized. He says up to Bert, bluntly, “Is this a rocket?” Something about his face – you just love him.
There’s the Native American man – complete with long braids – who picks Bert up off the side of the road, after an accident involving a wheel falling off the motorcycle. This guy – this random character – who is only in one scene – You just love the guy. He doesn’t seem to be an actor. He really seems to be just a real-life person, strolling through the action of the film. That’s one of the strengths of the films – the people you meet along the way.
I love the big loud Texan guy, chomping on a cigar, who TOTALLY gets psyched about Burt and his crazy motorcycle, and he just wants to BE there when Burt sets the record. He stands in the background, wearing a cowboy hat, a loud Hawaiian shirt, chomping like a lunatic on his cigar – and you just want to hug him. For just being so cool.
I particularly LOVED the transvestite receptionist at this cheesy motel Munro stays in. God. Who IS that actor? Just the warmth, the … sweetness … She is a receptionist at a fleabag hotel – and she dresses like Jackie Kennedy. She sees that Burt is a fish out of water in Los Angeles – he has never been to America before – and instead of throwing him attitude, or being impatient with him – she takes him out to breakfast. It’s unexpected sweetness, because Munro also encounters a lot of obstacles along the way, a lot of people who think he’s nuts, who think he’s a moron … But she believes in him. She helps him out.
I highly recommend you see this movie when it comes out. Yes. There is some cheese. But a little cheese never hurt no one.
And Jen and I ended up cheering at the end of the film – in the climactic moment. Cheering and clapping.
A wonderful movie. But really what it is is it’s a great STORY. That’s why one can overlook the cheese. And the goofy soundtrack. Because they’ve got a great STORY here.
I even forgot the PMS.
I lay on my back on the couch, and yes – I still did moan, on occasion, because I just had to – but the rain battered against the windows, the living room was warm and dry – and I was so so glad that I wasn’t home. Glad I just said “Yes” to her spontaneous invite.
Glad I ignored the call of the fleece.
The best parts are when David and Gareth hit on women. They are TERRIBLE at it and they have NO CLUE how repulsive they are. Not physically, just personality wise, they are so nasty and off-putting but oblivious the whole time. It’s hysterical.
hahahaha totally!!
“Women should not be punished for having big boobs.”
“If anything they should be rewarded.”
“They should be equal.”
hahahahaa
I love Gareth’s list for his ideal woman from his website:
If I could build my perfect woman (like in the film Weird Science) it would have:
Legs : Cameron Diaz
Arse : Kylie Minogue
Stomach : Britney Spears
Breasts : Jordan
Face : Jennifer Lopez
Brain : Winston Churchill
Like, women aren’t even whole beings, just a bunch of parts.
Right – and meanwhile, Gareth looks like GONZO. Like – you best take what you can get, Gonzo!
I love the bit about Churchill’s brain – hahaha
After watching a couple of episodes of the US “The Office”, it does not compare to the original. At. All.
Steve Carrell’s character is too self-aware. He KNOWS he’s a jerk, whereas Ricky Gervais plays David as someone who is painfully NOT self-aware. He doesn’t know he’s a jerk; he thinks he’s perfectly normal, perfectly sane. WE’RE the jerks for not recognizing his brillance, is the way David Brent sees it.
If you have lost both legs and both arms just go ‘at least I’m not dead’. Though I’d rather be dead in that situation to be honest- I’m not saying people like that should be put down. I’m saying that in my life I’d rather not live without arms and legs ‘cos you know… I’m just getting into yoga.
–David Brent
Lisa – right, and also David Brent truly believes that he is the best boss who has ever lived – because of his “comedy”. His ego is all wrapped up in being a guy who laughs – who keeps his staff laughing – He thinks he is the best ever at that.
It’s so embarrassing because he’s so NOT funny!
And he thinks his “music” is entertaining – even comforting to the staff when they hear there are going to be layoffs.
“Gareth, get the guitar.”
emily –
I have to say I think my favorite scene in the entire series is when they’re doing that team-building workshop day – and that POOR MAN comes to lead the office in exercises – and it just spirals out of control. It’s SO EMBARRASSING and it all ends with David playing the guitar for the group … There’s one cutaway shot of the poor guys’ face – sitting back – listening – you can tell he has just given UP.
I’ve never seen the Brit version, but I *love* the US version! I’m going to disagree with you and say that I don’t think Carrell is very aware of himself. He thinks he’s hilarious and a great boss, too.
If you ladies say the Brit version is better, I’m going to have to get my hands on a few of those episodes!
Jon – I won’t even watch the American version, as much as I love Steve Carell. My heart belongs to the Brit one. Totally!
Jon,
Don’t miss them. David Brent is one of TV’s all-time best characters.
Oh, and of course the Brit version is better because Gervais is the creator of it. He thought up David Brent – he wrote the script – it’s his sense of humor, his sensibility – It was very personal for him.
To me – the US version would be like doing a re-make of Spinal Tap or something – with different actors. Spinal Tap SO came out of the specific brains of the guys who created it – so make sure you see the original. Gervais is the mastermind.
BUT – one last thing that I loved about it: David Brent is not without his humanity. By the end of the series – you actually are able to have a little bit of affection for him. And compassion. You don’t want him as your boss – but you see his humanity, you see that he’s just doing the BEST HE CAN.
The whole thing is just genius. And also PAINFULLY embarrassing to watch.
“There may be no ‘I’ in team, but there’s a ‘ME’ if you look hard enough.”
hahahaha
The Brit version just WORKS better than the US version, in my opinion. And not just because it’s the “original” — it’s because, frankly, you have to be smart to get it. The US version is to explain-y, too in-your-face and precious.
The best way I can explain it is that British comedy writers don’t really care if you laugh or not; they put their stuff out there and it’s up to you. US comedy TELLS you, “Laugh here!” but the Brits are, all, “Here’s what we think is funny. Laugh, don’t laugh, we don’t give a shite.”
It’s hard to explain.
How ’bout when David Brent is hired to go give a motivational speech?? And he wears a backwards baseball cap and is completely INSANE? LIke – his fantasy of what he is doing is so DIFFERENT than the reality. And Dawn’s face as she watches him up there ….
shivers of embarrassment …
Lisa – hahahaha Yeah, there’s just something about British humor, it is true.
I mean, the 2 hour special that ends the whole series – is just – amazing in that respect. The only equivalent I can think of is Christopher Guest’s group – and how their movies make VICIOUS fun of the people they are portraying – yet somehow – you like all the people anyway. you know? Or – their humanity isn’t left out of the picture – even if it makes you squirm in your seat with embarrassment.
It is, indeed, very hard to explain.
There are limits to my comedy. There are things that I’ll never laugh at. The handicapped. Because there’s nothing funny about them. Or any deformity. It’s like when you see someone look at a little handicapped and go ‘ooh, look at him, he’s not able-bodied. I am, I’m prejudiced.’ Yeah, well, at least the little handicapped fella is able-minded. Unless he’s not, it’s difficult to tell with the wheelchair ones. — David Brent
Haven’t you guys ever seen some of the stinkers they show on BBC America and PBS? I think British comedy is as hit or miss as American. They have their share of laugh track duds that are just not funny too. We just don’t import very many of the stupid shows. I once had an e-mail exchange with a British fellow who said he thought American comedy was better than British, but that’s because he lives in Britain and only the more successful sit-coms and TV shows are shown over there after they’ve had a good run here. I mean, I don’t think they ever got “Cop Rock” over there or anything.
The wheelchair ones- HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA!!!!
“There are limits to my comedy.”
hahahahaha SHUT UP, David!!
Emily –
That’s an interesting point. I am sure it is hit or miss, like with anything else.
Absolutely Fabulous I loved as well. I’m not wacky about Benny HIll, though, for some reason. Benny HIll was on as much in my childhood as Law & Order is on now – it felt like it was in a constant loop – and it just didn’t do it for me.
Lisa – where do you get those quotes? Are they just stored up in your head?? I want access to David Brent’s quotes!
I love how he sometimes starts out well but as he keeps talking he finds himself in a deeper and deeper hole.
They have lots of quotes at the BBC site for the show, Red.
I hate Benny Hill. Every episode is the same. Oh look, there’s Benny Hill falling off a bike because he was staring at a girl’s boobs. Oh look, there’s Benny Hill crashing into a pole because he was staring a girl’s butt. Oh look, there’s Benny Hill tripping over a bench because he was distracted by a girl….ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz
IMDB. Just click on “quotes”.
emily – totally. Yawn.
I think my favorites are “Are You Being Served” and also “Fawlty Towers”. Cannot get enough!!
Fleece, as in….the Nana????
beth – hahahahahaha I love that we call it the nana!!
Actually I was thinking of my blue fleece blanket that Mere wrapped herself up in and my big tan fleece socks.
I am sitting with the blue fleece blanket over my legs – at this very moment.