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Your mom puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?
Last two nights, functionally without sleep. Meh.
This afternoon I watched Real Genius (1985) with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rushthatspeaks for the first time since a party in high school when I suspect I read through most of it, because all I remembered was a couple of lines and the house exploding with popcorn. It is an actual science fiction comedy. It has repartee as fast as screwball and with the same deadpan slant sensibility. ("I want to see more of you around the lab."—"Fine. I'll gain weight.") The plot is not idiot and the plans aren't foolproof. I love how the name "Pacific Tech" is mentioned exactly once near the beginning of the film and then gotten out of the way so that it won't distract from the viewer's observation of Caltech architecture and graffiti. But what I really love, and I suspect the reason the movie has the cult following it does, is that unlike almost every other movie with brilliant characters, no matter how socially skilled or maladept, it never undercuts them. What's at issue is the protagonists' ability to evolve an awareness of contexts and applications to go with their pure research, which is one hundred percent differentiated from socially normative behavior. There are no apologies or excuses made for Jordan and her breathless, sleepless, hyperkinetic intensity; her technical competence is apparently unlimited (absentminded knitting is one thing, late-night floor-sanding is another, on-the-fly dentistry is something else again) and her romance with Mitch is incredibly sweet and doesn't require any alterations to either of their personalities. They bond over beta-testing her rebreather at a pool party. Mitch himself is a believable fifteen-year-old, shy and studious as he enters CalPacific Tech, but not the point of caricature—of course his emotional maturity isn't as far along as his intellect, but he still knows to flee from the woman who's been collecting the top ten minds in America. I adore Chris' habit of identifying his defense mechanisms ("It's yet another in a long series of diversions in an attempt to avoid responsibility") and then cheerfully continuing with them, partly because it's an early tip to the way in which his situation will blindside him—even knowing the cautionary tale of Lazlo and having dedicated himself to trolling the concept of higher education in general, he's still never stopped to wonder what anyone wants a five-megawatt laser for—but partly because it is just a lovely defining trait: even when he wises up, he doesn't stop being a wiseass. And Ick is a guy with perfectly normal social skills who just happens to be able to make instantly sublimating ice that probably won't explode. Even the villain isn't stupid. Hathaway could have averted the students' entire revenge if his ego had allowed him to admit to a problem, but to call the test off on suspicion of tampering is more challenge to his authority than he can tolerate. And so the spectacular finale. It is always a pleasure to see a movie or read a book that's actually as smart as its characters; Real Genius' title means it.
For dinner tonight,derspatchel and I made: steaks with two different kinds of dry rub, rare-seared in the skillet; creamed spinach with garlic and Dubliner cheese; baked potatoes with two more kinds of cheese; and apple pie with maple syrup and cinnamon sugar glazed on top. All items from scratch except for the spinach, which came already sautéed with garlic, and the pie crust, which we bought from the healthy crunchy aisle at Shaw's. Did we just accidentally celebrate Thanksgiving? Canadian Thanksgiving? Help?
This afternoon I watched Real Genius (1985) with
rushthatspeaks for the first time since a party in high school when I suspect I read through most of it, because all I remembered was a couple of lines and the house exploding with popcorn. It is an actual science fiction comedy. It has repartee as fast as screwball and with the same deadpan slant sensibility. ("I want to see more of you around the lab."—"Fine. I'll gain weight.") The plot is not idiot and the plans aren't foolproof. I love how the name "Pacific Tech" is mentioned exactly once near the beginning of the film and then gotten out of the way so that it won't distract from the viewer's observation of Caltech architecture and graffiti. But what I really love, and I suspect the reason the movie has the cult following it does, is that unlike almost every other movie with brilliant characters, no matter how socially skilled or maladept, it never undercuts them. What's at issue is the protagonists' ability to evolve an awareness of contexts and applications to go with their pure research, which is one hundred percent differentiated from socially normative behavior. There are no apologies or excuses made for Jordan and her breathless, sleepless, hyperkinetic intensity; her technical competence is apparently unlimited (absentminded knitting is one thing, late-night floor-sanding is another, on-the-fly dentistry is something else again) and her romance with Mitch is incredibly sweet and doesn't require any alterations to either of their personalities. They bond over beta-testing her rebreather at a pool party. Mitch himself is a believable fifteen-year-old, shy and studious as he enters For dinner tonight,
derspatchel and I made: steaks with two different kinds of dry rub, rare-seared in the skillet; creamed spinach with garlic and Dubliner cheese; baked potatoes with two more kinds of cheese; and apple pie with maple syrup and cinnamon sugar glazed on top. All items from scratch except for the spinach, which came already sautéed with garlic, and the pie crust, which we bought from the healthy crunchy aisle at Shaw's. Did we just accidentally celebrate Thanksgiving? Canadian Thanksgiving? Help?
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(It's up there with Galaxy Quest and The Princess Bride in my canon of quotable movies, too.)
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"Drain Experts, Inc."
(It's up there with Galaxy Quest and The Princess Bride in my canon of quotable movies, too.)
(It is a stupidly quotable movie. "Why am I the only one who has that dream?")
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Nine
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It didn't make me more rested, but it was an excellent way to divide a day.
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(Though I remain disturbed that there is broken glass in the popcorn.)
No sleep is awful. Maybe you should try American Thanksgiving dinner as well?
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(Though I remain disturbed that there is broken glass in the popcorn.)
(It's from the stained glass window! The kids will see it and pick it out!)
Maybe you should try American Thanksgiving dinner as well?
The kitchen may need to recover first . . .
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Thank you! It is a movie I am very glad to have seen under circumstances where I could pay attention and appreciate it, because I foresee wanting to do so again.
(I like cooking.)
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If it weren't for you, my film life would be much, much poorer.
Also your music sounds interesting. Going to investigate.
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I want it to get a Criterion release with interviews and commentary. If they can do it for Armageddon . . .
Also your music sounds interesting. Going to investigate.
I've mentioned them before: they're the two-person post-punk band currently writing a song cyle for the complete run of The Prisoner (1967–68). I really like them. I just haven't been able to make any of their live shows for the last year!
(They have terrific videos and you should watch them.)
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---L.
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You don't ever see onscreen romances between incredibly intelligent people where it's just a fact, not a source of conflict or quirkiness: I treasure them wherever I find them. Real Genius' example is particularly great because it's so low-key. Other college movies are about Getting the Girl; this one is more, "Yeah, mutual attraction between budding mad scientists is awesome."
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I believe it will hold up.
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Anyway, I hope against hope that you have since slept.
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So mote October 18th be!
Anyway, I hope against hope that you have since slept.
Last night, actually, a bit! Even if I had to get up this morning for a meeting.
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That is entirely smugworthy.
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Accidental Canadian Thanksgiving or not, the dinner sounds lovely. Glad ye had a good meal.
And I hope sleep will soon be yours as well.
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It has a cult reputation, but I truly don't understand why it's not wider known.
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It's so much better!