Saturday, November 19, 2005

Zelig

It is amazing to me that there are so many of them, that there is an even a term for this type of film, mockumentary. This one, I believe, but of course, am not a film historian, is a pretty early one, 1983, and so it gets some points for that. Not to say that it is in need of points. It is a really funny, touching movie that talks about loneliness in a more earnest manner than Woody Allen does in most of this other movies, even though, the specter of it is always there, driving characters into each other spouse's arms.

It also seems to me, perhaps also because I am reading John Updike right now, to explicitly try to talk about the idea of America and what our culture is, the things we like, our tabloid culture and why that is. This movie is so fantastical - parts of it amazed me thinking of Woody Allen's mind that produced this - that he created this mythical tale to explore our desire to be loved in this world and what we will do just for that to happen. This is defintely one of my favorites that I have seen so far during this marathon.

Again, our building is without hot water and heat and so forgive me for not saying more, for not trying to say it better because I am in a grumpy mood and cold. I am drinking wine, listening to the Smashing Pumpkins and thinking about Updike, and when I am in a better mood, or maybe when I finish the book, I am going to try to put down these thoughts.

PS - Susan Sontag and Saul Bellow are in the film. Lit geek out time! Aaah!

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