Obsessed With Film

Posted by Matt Holmes

“I’d feel guilty taking their money, if I wasn’t… well… kinda one of them”.

So which film character do I think I am most related to?

Well it’s a difficult question to answer especially when I’m a big believer the last person you should ever even begin to try and judge is yourself. You know when you hear your voice talk back on tape or when you see yourself on camera, it never really sounds or looks the way you think it should?

Well that’s the way life really is. Very rarely are you ever projecting just exactly what you think you are projecting, life isn’t quite as kind as that. Other people will forever be best to judge you because you can never accurately really see how you are acting at every given moment

Which makes trying to pick what film character you are all the more difficult. For me, I’ve always been close to three sets of guys which if you were to blend together into a mixer, the end cocktail may look and sound something like me. Or at least, what I think is me…

Those three guys are from Stephen Frears quite wonderful 2000 comedy HIGH FIDELITY. Those being the overly neurotic loser who over-analyses everything Rob (John Cusack), the overly nerdy but kind, friendly and shamefully shy Dick (Todd Luiso) and the obnoxious snob but always genuinely enthusiastic about what he loves, trouble-maker Barry (Jack Black).

I think those that know me, might find that a far conclusion. Most days I’m a mixture of all three but on bad days I could be a sole projection of any one of them. I’m terrible at arguments, if someone doesn’t like something I like, then sometimes I’m like Rob and won’t care so much and will laugh it off… but occassionally and completely in the wrong, I will turn into Barry and just let rip until it gets to the point where I have to argue why he is so stupidly wrong about his opinion until I’m blue in the face.

It probably becomes more about proving my opinion and worth than actually changing their p.o.v. on the topic. Which is sad and pathetic and of course I know it is, but I can’t help it. I will correct people when they get something wrong, they should know the right title or actor when talking about something they are criticizing to me. Or sometimes I won’t even argue, deciding that silence and not lowering my opinion to indulge their warped point of view is actually the way forward.

How sad is that? Having also worked in retail environments, I can understand how Barry reacts here when a customer asks for something so revolting it’s almost a sin…

Obviously, I would hope I was more Rob than the other three, he at least seems to have the most re-deeming qualities with a more fully rounded personality and is more likely to be successful and happy in life. But I also fear his wounds are deeper. He regrets much of his past, as soon as his current life hits a blip he looks back to try and contact the people who may have played a part in it when he should really be looking in the mirror.

He thinks too much about what he loves and their meanings and only values things he loses, when they are indeed gone. He has slept through what should be his most productive years in life, ended up with a dead end job which isn’t quite the career path he wanted but is around the stuff he loves (but some days resents because he is too close to it) and always finds himself attracted to a girl who will give him a little bit of attention, looking at the greener grass at the other side of the hill.

All too often, that is me. And when things aren’t going right, I will organise my movie collection to sour and take my mind off the pain.

OVER TO YOU… which film character would you say is you?

Matt writes an editorial twice a week, usually a Wednesday and Saturday, you can read his previous entry below…

Editorial: Has Quentin compromised his BASTARDS?

categories - Feature Articles, Movie News

Further Reading

• Diane Kruger, a BASTERD with a coffee & a cell phone

• Another sneak peak at an INGLOURIOUS BASTERD

• FYC: Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT

• Director Anthony Minghella Dies

• Editorial: Matt on the Heath Ledger backlash

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