Friday, February 08, 2008

Elizabethtown

A couple of posts ago I mentioned I'm passionate about movies that move me. I love Cameron Crowe movies--he has such a poetic way of telling stories. His most popular film is probably Jerry McGuire, but my two favorites are Almost Famous and Elizabethtown. I absolutely can't resist Almost Famous--I am always mesmerized as I fall into that world of classic rock. The goosebumps never fail when everyone on the bus ends up singing along with "Tiny Dancer."

But tonight is about Elizabethtown. I saw this movie two years ago, sitting in Abby's cozy little apartment on a frigidly cold snowy night in Minnesota. I remember freaking out after seeing it, as I have a tendancy to do when I fall in love with a movie. I just sat there, rehashing everything with Abs, and wanting to get into my car and drive across the country. I also remember being really tired that night and not catching all the details.

I have an ideal movie situation. I get to indulge myself a lot during the winter, with Mark being gone for basketball so many nights. I have a routine...phone ringer turned off, limited lighting, waiting for the kids to fall asleep, a lone candle on my coffee table, beverage, snacks, and chapstick ready and waiting so I don't have to get up for anything. Tonight was a night with zero interruption so I was able to fall completely into the story.

I don't think I remembered how amazing the soundtrack is...peppered with sprinklings of Elton John, Patty Griffin, Tom Petty...really wonderful stuff. I checked out Amazon and saw they had to jam the soundtrack onto 3 separate CD's! For me, this movie isn't about the romance of the characters, it's all the underlying symbolism and stuff that's hard to write about this late at night...and the highlight is by far the road trip, followed closely by me simultaneously laughing and crying during the Moon River tapdance routine.

I feel like this post isn't flowing so I'll just end by saying that Elizabethtown is a movie that moves me.

5 comments:

gretchen said...

Well, you know where I stand on this movie--no need for that discussion, but I am cracking up that your chapstick is included in your situating--Jamie is gonna love that!

Happy Early Birthday!!!!!!

Tara said...

I actually thought of Jamie when I wrote that...but I have NO SHAME!!!

Full of JOY said...

aww tara...i remember sitting there just STUNNED...trying to soak in all that we had just experienced...i feel as if we also let our dramatic feelings on the movie burst forth!! i need to see it again...

Chuck said...

Elizabethtown is a great movie! I watched it again the other night with Dan and Eric (while enjoying a cigar and a fire) - we all truly enjoyed it and each got something different from it. One of my top ten movies by far!

Eric said...

Elizabethtown is truly a well-crafted and amazing movie. There are those (ahem-tchen) that don't fully appreciate how incredible not only the plot of this movie is, but also how great the actors nailed their roles in the plot. Like you said Tara...the symbolism and underlying stuff is what makes this more than just a 'popcorn' movie (as I call them). I haven't purchased DVD's in years...but this is one that is definitely on my purchase list (once I do that again). Tara...i wish you could see our basement!! I think you'd like it.