*April 22, 2000 (Saturday)
Cineplex Odeon Rio 14, Gaithersburg
The day before Easter, 2000. Wow. I love this movie! Maybe it was the right combination of comedy and drama that I loved about this film, but let me tell you, it did more for me in that $5 ticket than any other first-run movie I've ever seen. I came out of the movie with this silly grin on my face that wouldn't rub off, and I had this distinct desire to see the movie again as soon as possible. Nuts to the professors who give third midterms.
There are so many good lines in this film I hope they publish a book sometime. I would love to get the script to this film, there are so many choice quotes. The bridge scene is a keeper, as is the "tell-all" scene. I must have been the only one in the theatre crying my eyes out SEVERAL times. Not just once. But many times. (Okay, someone needs to give Father Finn a hug - fast! Come here Brian, for a big bear hug, honeybunch...) Fast fact - did you know that the "Casanova" is Bodhi Elfman, Jenna Elfman's husband?
I didn't know who Robin Norton was until I did a little digging on IMDB and found out that Edward wanted to dedicate his directorial debut to his mom, who succumbed to brain cancer in 1997. How many directors would even name any of their relatives in their films? Not too many. (Another reason why Edward Norton is the kind of guy every girl wants to take home to their parents. What is there not to like about this guy? Maybe the reason why we can't get any information about him is that we'll be shocked if there are any skeletons in the closet. Then again, I doubt it. Not one bad word said about this actor anywhere.)
*May 25, 2000 (Thursday)
Cineplex Odeon Rio 14, Gaithersburg
After finals I decided to give myself a little treat and see KTF again since I was feeling distraught and exhausted after a tough semester of school. I kept trying to psych myself up, saying to myself, you're going to see KTF again, it'll all be over soon...
This time the film had been going for several weeks, so it had been moved out of the newer stadium rooms and was in a smaller theatre. It wasn't a big deal, except that I must have been a magnet that day because all these people started sitting around me. Four 50-ish adults sat behind, and I swear, one of them at least fell asleep during the movie because I heard snoring and heavy breathing behind me! I froze to death in the theatre - it was 90 degrees outside but they blasted the air conditioning, and I don't know if it was the cold, but I lost my voice that night. Maybe it was because I knew where the funniest parts of the movie were, so I was already laughing before I saw the scene again. My stomach hurt so bad from the laughing, and I couldn't talk because my voice was gone, but the movie had a similar effect on me the second time around anyhow.
Yes, romantic comedies are supposed to be lovey-dovey, but I think what amazes me most about this film is that there are slapstick funny parts, but there are equally good serious parts too. I appreciated the references to Fincher's "Seven," "Buena Vista Social Club," and the Fugees better this time because I was expecting it. Also, Edward Norton's sincerity (described by The Washington Post's Desson Howe as causing insulin shock) and sweetness is as perfect as a marshmallow dunked in hot chocolate. It's wonderful the way it melts in your mouth but you know it's a guilty pleasure. I can't imagine this guy looking anymore saintly than he does in this film. His trusty backpack, his Yankees baseball cap, his rosary beads. Ladies, if you were on the fence at this point regarding whether to love-or-leave Edward Norton, this is the clincher. Brian Finn is the perfect man - except for the part about him being a Catholic priest sworn to celibacy. (Darn. Haha. Well, now I'm wondering if he and Salma are really serious...)
*June 14, 2000 (Wednesday)
General Cinemas at Mazza Gallerie, Washington, D.C.
After a lot of thought, I took the Metro from Greenbelt (near College Park, MD, where I am living for the summer) down the Green line to Gallery Place, switched over to the Red, and headed for the Mazza Gallerie, a posh shopping district on the city line between Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, MD. It took about 45 minutes each way taking the subway, and parking was little to be desired. (I tried finding a space at College Park Metro but it wasn't happening, then went to Greenbelt, was getting a little worried and thought maybe it wasn't to be, maybe I wasn't supposed to go see KTF today.)
Also, I was heckled by my apartment mates - not all of them have seen the movie yet, and they couldn't believe I was going out of my way to see the movie for the *third* time. If this film was showing in College Park, I would've seen it every day!
General Cinemas at Mazza Gallerie is a beautiful movie theatre - marble tabletops, fresh daisies in vases in the restrooms. A little expensive but that's to be expected in Washington, D.C. ($6 for matinees, $12.75 and up for evenings) and for the stadium seating it's worth it. There were less people there, or maybe it just seemed that way since the theatre and the seats were a lot bigger. Either way, I watched all the credits to see if I missed anything. The only two names that interested me in the "Thank You" section were "The Nortons" (obviously Edward's family, including the memory of his mother, Robin, who the movie is dedicated to), and someone named "Salmita Bonita" (who I am guessing is a reference to Salma Hayek, Edward's girlfriend of late). Also, the person who mixed Peter Salett's "Heart of Mine" is named T-Bone so they named the security guy after him. I thought that was kind of neat.
I guess you could say the movie did what it was supposed to do - I laughed, I cried (and no, I didn't hurl).
I still do not see the "American History X" spoof - has anyone else seen it? WHERE is it? BTW, I don't think the DVD and/or VHS for the movie will be out before November, so I probably won't see it again until then, unless I get lucky and they show it on campus at the Hoff. So...
littlewillow's tribute to Edward Norton
littlewillow's "Keeping the Faith" page