movie coverI'd rather be watching TV![IMDB link] [Netflix link] I originally read about this movie in that piece-of-shit trendoid free advertisement magazine Nylon that everyone started getting out of the blue. Then either Sammy or Joe H (I think–or maybe both) strongly recommended that me & Mark watch his movie. So we decided to watch this as soon as we got a chance. This got a 7.2 (3000 votes) on IMDB and 3.8 stars (1700 votes) on Netflix.

PEOPLE: Ben Kingsley. Famke Janssen (yum). Josh Peck (a relative nobody who was in Spun). Olivia Thirby. Mary-Kate Olsen (as another hippie chick… like her role in Weeds). Jane Adams (who I’m always semi-aware of due to her memorable face… She was in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Frasier [as Mel], Wonder Boys… And even a few episodes of Family Ties). Method Man. The movie is directed by Jonathan Levine, who I’ve never heard of.

QUIRKS: 1994. Hip-hop. Drug use. Drug dealing that you really think should get someone busted — but it’s New York City so nothing happens. Paying your shrink for sessions by giving him marijuana. Having a crush on his [step-]daughter. Awkward first relationships. Seizing life. Attempted suicide. Divorce. Summer vacation. Poor parents.

BAD STUFF: There’s really not much bad about this movie, except for the focus on Hip Hop music, which I think SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS. I tend to dislike dramas for the sake of being dramas… But I also tend to like most movies I see. The worst thing about this movie, really, is that it’s quite depressing. But it’s also quite poignant.

CONCLUSION: This was a good drama about life, wanting to live it, seizing the day, not being a loser, and love. You have to get hurt if you want to play the love game — that’s how it works. The two main characters (pot-dealer + shrink-who-smokes-pot) basically become friends and explore their depression together. It’s also a good snapshot of 1994 (pagers, not cellphones). Awkward drug dealer has to explore his first romantic/sexual relationship in the context of his own loserdom. Depressing yet ultimately hopful events ensue.

RECOMMENDATION: A great movie to see to give you a poignant perspective on life. Netflix: 4/5 stars. IMDB: 7.5-8/10.

MOVIE QUOTE 1: “Don’t say nothin’, ok? Just stand there til I leave. I wanna remember this. I’ve never done it before.” “Never done what?” “Had my heart broken.”

MOVIE QUOTE 2: (main character goes on about not feeling great) (shrink asks:) “Is this about Kurt Cobain?” I hadn’t put two and two together that this occurred right after Kurt Cobain’s suicide.

COINCIDENCES: I just bought a cigar box ($1) for storage the week before watching this movie, where the main character used a cigar box for storage.

FRIENDS’ RATINGS: Nobody’s seen it yet, but I’m sure a lot of people will. Eric M and Glen have it in their queue. Sammy/Joe H (wish I remembered who told me about it) seemed to really like it and strongly recommendd it to me as well.

Mood: tired
Music: Gwar – Vinnie (Church Version)