Mrs. Conception

Mr. Andrews and I were brought together by movies. We met in a graduate Media Arts program and bonded over the fact that we were pretty much the only people who didn’t think “Hollywood” was a bad word. It was nice to have someone to see Ocean’s Eleven with when everybody else was claiming they couldn’t see any movies at all because it might screw up their creativity. Through the years we have seen hundreds of films together. We have a lot of the same favorites: Lost In Translation, Almost Famous, Out of Sight to name a few. We get movies. We love movies. Compatibility abounds.

I can handle and even enjoy pretty tough films, from the tiniest DV indie (try LOL) to the most sweeping epic, and all the serious Oscar contenders in between. Last year, Mr. Andrews planned an entire film festival for us and we saw The Queen, Shortbus, Little Children, Notes on a Scandal, Jesus Camp, and Shut Up and Sing in one weekend. But even with all that, I am still of the MTV generation, and I am still a woman. I enjoy the occasional chick flick or ridiculous comedy starring some SNL alum. And if the film is over two hours, it better be good. I am only human after all. This where Mr. Andrews and I differ. Greatly.

Mr. Andrews has an extensive DVD collection, over 200 titles, and I was able to find exactly one (American Pie) that did not star someone who was at least nominated for an Academy Award. My husband thinks nothing of spending an afternoon (or a whole day) viewing of Lawrence of Arabia or The Godfather trilogy. Four hour films don’t even phase him – in fact, the longer the better –  where I feel like I have just survived about 3 difficult years of my life by the time the film is over. I like Paul Thomas Anderson as much as the next guy, I just can’t watch something like Magnolia every single day.

The other day I said I was in the mood to watch something “light.” I was thinking, like Legally Blonde or perhaps my new $5 DVD bargain, Liar Liar . He came back with O Brother Where Art Thou. Which, don’t get me wrong, is really funny – and hello, George Clooney is in it. But on the other hand, it is based on The Odyssey. Don’t you think the Coen Brother would be insulted to be called “light”? It’s not like they’re the Farrelly Brothers.

Anyway, after we watched that, and Cool Hand Luke, and were about to watch Snatch, I tried to clarify my idea of a light movie: No Classics. Nothing on the AFI Top 100 list. Nothing starring Katharine Hepburn (this was in response to a suggestion to watch Bringing Up Baby). Nothing that was made before I knew how to talk (this somewhat irrationally eliminated Airplane! – but old movies make me have to think a little). Nothing starring George Clooney after he became a director. Nothing foreign. Nothing Western. Not Chinatown. Nothing black & white (the horror movie we watched on Halloween was The Birds – I think I get points for that). And nothing over 2 hours. 90 minutes would be perfect.

Mr. Andrews was very receptive to this. We actually did watch Liar Liar, and he laughed! At Jim Carrey! Not only that, he actually wanted to watch Must Love Dogs with me this Sunday. He practically suggested it himself.

So we have created a balance in our DVD world. He teaches me about the greats in film history, introducing me to pieces of cinema I would never watch in a million years (try Cradle Will Rock), getting me to watch stuff that is both black & white and funny at the same time (the aforementioned Bringing Up Baby) and even introduced me to some of my favorite movies. And I teach him about the wonder that is John Cusack and the glory that is Amanda Bynes.

Are we the perfect couple or what?