My Useless Opinion on Movies
Chapter 1
Couldn't find anything with 17 stars...
Roman Holiday *spoiler alert*
So today I watched Roman Holiday. I’ll give you a moment to pause and think about how much you love that movie. Or think about how you need to see it.
*moment*
lovely.
So, there’s so much I want to say. Firstly- the film is obviously brilliant. Soo ahead of its time. So perfect. The ending? Incredible.
I must say though- if this movie was to be made today, exactly how it was then. I do not think it would’ve been a hit. No Oscars would’ve been won. In fact- I doubt it would even be nominated.
Really, come on. No language, sex scenes or drugs? It wouldn’t even be considered a drama. Selena Gomez would be cast as the princess, with Justin Bieber in his debut role as Joe Bradley. Now wait… I don’t mean any offense to either one of them. I’m just trying to explain the demographic that such an innocent film would have to target in todays audience.
That’s the thing. Blockbusters today are so rarely amazing nor innocent. They’re good, and I love them. But they don’t give you that sense of being totally immersed into another world.
Roman Holiday, for its time- was like a holiday to the general public. People didn’t travel like we do today. To see Rome on the big screen was a treat within itself. Being in B&W, their focus was still more attentive to the characters and storyline rather than the setting. Such a perfect mix.
It was probably one of the first movies to create the storyline of:
boy/girl using boy/girl in order to get $/fame/win a bet.
So many movies have done it since then. And with each one, we brace ourselves for that crucial moment- when the boy/girl accidentally finds out that the other is using them. Then the other tries desperately to explain how, yes- they were using them.. but that was in the beginning. Since then they realised that they’ve fallen in love. Still the boy/girl is not quick to forgive… and some climatic thing happens that shows the boy/girl that it’s time to forgive and fall in love. aww.
The thing with Roman Holiday is… they skip all that nonsense. Joe realises that he is in the wrong. Takes himself out of the scheme. Shows her exactly who he is. She skips any feelings of bitterness… and you’re left on the couch feeling hopelessly crushed as you see the best 7 seconds of eye contact in motion picture history. That 7 seconds goes through everything that the movies of today try and fit in. I am getting teary just thinking about it. I cry every.time I see it.
I couldn’t find any clips of the scene on youtube that didn’t have some sort of tragic popsong playing in the background… just please do watch the film. Especially if you haven’t seen it.
It’s rare these days for movies not to end in a happily typically after way. When they don’t- it’s some sort of Sundance festival film. Not that there’ s anything wrong with that.
If I could have anything – it would be to star in a remake or follow up to Roman Holiday. It of course would have Audrey Fans disgusted and going mad. There is always that conundrum of wanting to see something done- and knowing it will never be good enough. It either ‘didnt stick to the original script’ or ‘was trying to be too much like the original… there was nothing new’. You would never win. Still though. I would love to be in it. en mis suenos…
I give this movie 17 stars out of 5. I know it’s cool to rate lower and show ‘artistic disapproval’ … but I really love it- in every way.
Audrey winning the Oscar:
Confession: everytime I watch this clip, I say the speech with her.
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Chapter 2
An Affair to Remember *spoiler alert*
