A-Z #91: The Holiday

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#91 - The Holiday

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. I take absolutely no responsibility in this purchase. This is 100% Sarah's choice. But, in fairness, I do like how coincidentally, this post is put up as I start my own summer holiday - and as a teacher, this is one of the major plus points about the profession.

Why do I still own it?

Sarah noticed that, though we have the two Bridget Jones films, and she has Pride and Prejudice, etc, there are very few really standard shit rom-coms. This is surely a shit rom-com. One Christmas in Ireland, it happened to be on TV, which is when I watched it and, god, it is pretty damn bad. I think what I despise about it the most is how simplified the vision is of England and America - these two brilliant countries simplified down to teeny-villages-and-warm-fires and cups of tea, in America, its just Hollywood and films. I hate how Jack Black, in reality, could never bag someone like Kate Winslet. Especially if he is a film geek. I hate how Jude law is trying so hard to be some 'regular' guy in England and comes across, I think, as creepy as hell. I reckon I will write a long post about this at some point because I remember scribbling down many notes at how X is ridiculous and Y is ludicrous. It really is a load of shit.

A-Z #76: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#76 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 

Why did I buy it?

I remember when this film came out there was a bit of a buzz. Elijah Wood was not playing Frodo, Kirsten Dunst was not Mary Jane... Jim Carrey being taken seriously [again after The Truman Show] and the whole Michel-Gondry-Charlie-Kaufman combo. What would this be like? I think this was, ultimately, the peak of the Kaufman's Surrealist-Film Movement - following Being John Malkovich and Adaptation but preceding Synecdoche, New York. The difference being that, rather than an introspective analysis of the psyche and the process of creativity, this was [almost too much of] a twee Romance. With a capital R. About a break-up.

Why do I still own it?

Because it truly is flawless. Literally nothing is out of place. The idea of erasing-your-memory can very easily be associated with Arnie in Total Recall, but this is no-Total-Recall, this is a Romance. The break down of a relationship is tough for anyone and this film shows that, though sometimes the break-up is inevitable, the memories of the good times will always remain. The fact that this film appeared in many Top Film lists of the decade is not without reason - it has a concept that, if shot badly, would fall flat on its face, but as it stands, it is profound and personal. Relatable. Unforgettable. One of a handful of films I would never want to lose.

Having said that, I showed this to my Mum and Dad and they both thought the film was crap.