pasted from an earlier failed attempt...

Willie, running on a little more...

Scene 1, between Amanda the waitress and Caroline,oops, Belinda the mommy-might-still-be-a-lawyer. Amanda doesn't want to talk about the guy(s) in her life. She says that having some guys flirt with her is fun, but hates to think about the wives of the married guys who hit on her. Says B is lucky to have such a good provider in Buddy.

Belinda wonders aloud about the cats-and-dogs differences between lawyers and doctors. Maybe their father ( or mother) was a doctor. One or the other? Both? Did Mom sacrifice a shot at greatness to be a mommy? Or did she just push pop because it was easier.

Amanda points out that Belinda is pushing her now about finishing school, taking the GREs, M CATS, what ever...

Amanda goes to work, chats with Arthur the bartender. Tells him her sister is riding her. Suddenly admits that her bro in law was in the other day and she "forgot" to mention it to her sister. Arthur wants to be her sweetie, but she won't date at work. And she won't date people she meets at work. Arthur points out that since all she ever does is work, she can't date anybody.

Caroline the cop comes in. She became an investigator to help children, but admits she just can't stand to think about it- instead, she works ( I don't know- robberies? white collar crimes? something that has NOTHING to do with children) and she really is glad. She hears the bio clock ticktick ticking, being gosh 29 and all, but knows she doesn't want to marry a cop- sure they are often quiet and loyal, but she also sees a lot of jerks AND she sees how many women throw themselves at cops and uniforms- and how few of them seem to be able to resist... Says to Arthur "I'm sorry. I didn't even order a drink. I am just waiting for somebody. I guess people talk to you a lot, hunh? People talk to me a lot, too, but sometimes I just have to flip the switch and flush the system or whatever. I take and take and take. I listen and nod and encourage and now and then these guys will just start crying. Most people aren't really bad. Even most of the people I work around. I mean, sure, I wouldn't trust them with my retirement fund, but they aren't usually bad people. They just don't understand what you have to give up to have a lot of money. And in the end, I think they give up the same thing as honest people- their freedom and the respect of their friends."

Arthur just nods, but later, he repeats the first half of this speech to HIS listener. In fact, that might be the point of the movie- that everyone feels as if they are constantly accumulating misery. Many of them feel as if it is their job- either as a doctor or as a parent or spouse, or just as a human being, and whether they see it as a burden or just what they do, they recognize that now and then they have to stop taking on more misery because they will explode..


Well? Too pat? Too many people to ALL be the listener? At least one of them will be a HORRIBLE listener and will talk talk talk and talk about being a good listener, but will never actually allow the other person to get a word in, despite apparently asking all of the right questions...

I think some comedy is important, even in a serious movie. I think cell phones are an easy way to connect characters. I think it is very east to write a movie that becomes too talky. And have you ever watched one of those movies that was clearly originally a play? where there is almost no real action, just people sitting on one set or another, talking? And the action seldom strays from within a box? (Glengarry, Glenross; Hurlyburly ) These are good movies, too, but now and then it might be useful to imagine how much of the movie you could follow if the sound were muted.

Or is all of this too much like an episode of FRIENDS or THIRTYSOMETHING?

Let's just try to ignore the non-neurotypical train wreck over at our beloved Eye.


willie