The Fugue

I try to avoid reviewing too many movies, because movie reviews are a dime a dozen and why should you care what movies I like or don't like? But this is not a movie review. It's a cultural observation with a movie review piggy-backed onto it.

Ladder 49 is one long cliché. To be more precise, it is a cliché flashback movie (you know, like the bad MacGyver episodes) containing a montage of cliché "life of a firefighter" clips. It's boring, sappy drama. This in itself is not extraordinary. There are a lot of boring sappy dramas.

What I wish to comment on is the fact that the preceding paragraph would no doubt send some people into a fiery rage about how I'm an insensitive clod that doesn't understand or respect what firefighters do for me and how dare I speak that way about firefighters, and I hope your house burns down some day... I know this is the case because while I was bored watching this movie I decided to try and figure out if that was the actor's cleft lip or if it was special makeup for the character (the actor's scar, although not from a cleft lip). In the process I ended up on the IMDb site for the movie and read a few threads that started with a negative review (two words permeated: "boring" and "cliché") and ended with a whole slew of replies along the vein I already described.

A lot of firefighters commented in those threads. They say it's the most accurate movie about firefighters' lives that they've seen. I don't doubt they're right. And if I were a firefighter I'd love to see an accurate portrayal of my lifestyle on the big screen. Of course they like the movie. (I would find an accurate movie about lifeguards (no, not baywatch) or an accurate movie about computer scientists (ha!) interesting for that reason but I have no delusions that it would be anything but very very boring for the masses) It was somewhat more interesting than a documentary in some ways, although probably somewhat less accurate as well.

Since 9/11 firefighters are sacred, and therefore movies about firefighters can't be criticized without hordes of email-forwarding people calling the critic an insensitive clod. I'm here to tell you that that is ridiculous. I, and every other person who thought this movie was boring, can think and say that without the least bit of disrespect for firefighters. I do respect them and what they do. I've been in the rescue business. Although I'd never compare lifeguarding to firefighting (at least not uneventful poolside lifeguarding), I've been in the culture which includes lifeguards, firefighters, and paramedics/EMTs. I know these people, and I respect and honor them and count some of them as my friends.

If you were previously inclined to label someone a firefighter-hater (publically or not) just because they don't like a boring movie about the life of a firefighter, then grow up. You would do far better to honor these people by calling a spade a spade, instead of rolling over and applauding whatever firefighter-themed drivel Hollywood throws your way while fishing for the email-forwarder's dollar.

If you like science fiction--I mean real science fiction, not just a movie that happens to have a robot or a spaceship in it--then you want to go out and get Primer this week. You want to get it, watch it, watch it again, then watch the director commentary.

I can't possibly do justice to the movie here. It's an amazing, intelligent, thought-provoking movie. You should watch it. Trust me.

That said, it's not for everyone. People who read this blog should like it. People who liked Monster-in-Law almost certainly will not enjoy it. But it can be fun to watch them squirm so invite them anyway.

Sometimes even the best of us can't avoid a chick flick. That's why it's important to pass it on when we find one worth watching.

There was nothing good in the theater (that we could agree on), so we went to the video store. Although I wanted to get Proof, my wife prevailed with Just Like Heaven.

What's to like about Just Like Heaven? Jon Heder, The Cure, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, a story that isn't lame, and Jon Heder.

The story is no Lord of the Rings, but it's fun and not inconsistent. Inconsistency is a plague of the silver screen these days, and it's nice to see an unblemished specimen.

Mark Ruffalo is refreshingly Not Tom Cruise. I was forced to watch 13 Going On 30 once, and he saved my sanity, so I owe him a debt of gratitude.

Reese Witherspoon is delightful as ever. I loved her in The Importance of Being Earnest (an even better chick flick), and I loved her here.

The closing titles roll to The Cure's song of the same name. I wasn't familiar with the song, but it's now on the list of "The Cure songs I really like." Some of the other music was deliciously alternative, too.

The real reason to get this film is Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). This is his first flick since Napoleon Dynamite, and although his role is minor (IDIOTs), he's freakin' awesome.

So next time your S.O. wants to rent a chick flick, be proactive and pick up Just Like Heaven.