While I'm reviewing movies, I can't stop without mentioning some of Daniel Day-Lewis's
movies. He's always been one of my favorite actors. I think I watched Last of the Mohicans 500 times. For a long time I didn't try his other films because I thought they were too adult for me... I guess I'm a grown up now, so I decided it was time to become a Day-Lewis connoisseur. To be honest, it was Gangs of New York that pushed me into watching everything he ever made. Have you seen that man's crazy moustache?
Did you know there are fan groups dedicated to his moustache alone? I am now in that fan group. The man is amazing. I would read a book about him if it ever comes out. The brilliant thing is that he seems so private, his bio will probably always be a thing of legend. I read his wikipedia page in full and then decided to follow all his pages on facebook. There are so many stories about him online since he's such an intense method actor. (My personal favorite poke at him is the tumblr page dedicated to Day-Lewisisms- so much funnier than the Chuck Norrisisms that kept us amused a couple years ago.) He gives me a little bit of hope in his craziness.... the fact that he would learn to butcher meat in order to play the Butcher....
that he would learn to shoot and skin animals and basically BECOME Natty Bumppo (yes, I know the film was COMPLETELY untrue to the book, but really, who cares? In this case, and maybe the only case in my experience, the book loses and I cheer loudly)... that he would train like a boxer to play the boxer.... yeaaahhhh..... I think that's neat. Who knows if these tales are true of him, but- wikipedia isn't always wrong, right? There are so many things I want to learn how to do and I'm working towards that. He inspires me because he is dedicated and disciplined and because he is actually GOOD at what he does. I don't want to be an actor, but I do want to vigorously apply myself to my chosen fields. I want to excel. Who doesn't? I guess we can't all go on vacation in Florence for a couple years and learn how to be a cobbler and live in anonymity... or can I? I am well past my adolescence- when these things get cooked up in our heads-- but I am not past dreaming and pursuing my dreams.
This brings me to my thoughts concerning his films in the order in which I viewed them thus far:
1. Last of the Mohicans: one of my "all time favorite" films. I unabashedly love everything about it, especially the music, especially the first 5 minutes of deer hunting in hair-flying slow-mo, especially all the shooting and fast running. Yes, there is romance, but it doesn't all end up happy, and for some reason I like that a lot. DD-L, you made me wish I was adopted into a running, shooting, tracking, smarty pants Indian family in the same way I wished I had red hair like Anne of Green Gables.
2. Gangs of New York: I remember when I first saw the trailer- I got chills watching the characters parade around in their tall hats. Cameron Diaz and at that time, Leonardo DiCaprio, were two of my least favorite actors.... but it didn't matter, it was a gloriously costumed extravaganza with Natty Bumppo. It took me 9 years to finally see it and I can't help but think of it as a masterpiece. I don't recommend this movie to you... I don't want to watch it with you... but I want to frame shots of it all over my house. Maybe in my future kitchen- beside a painting of a pig that wears a top hat. I also want to read the book which inspired the film- what a fascinating history lesson. Herbert Ashbury also wrote about other cities, including my beloved San Francisco... I can't wait.
3. The Ballad of Jack and Rose: This one had many disturbing themes. I "enjoyed" watching it because I think it did a great job of dealing with those taboo items that we don't really dwell on much more than briefly during a history or ethics lecture. It's the kind of story they make kids read in high school. Not really surprising since Rebecca Miller, DD-L's wife, daughter of Arthur Miller, was the director. What must that lady's life be like? She was the DAUGHTER of Arthur Miller- the guy who wrote the Crucible. Man, did I have some serious issues with that story when I was in 11th grade. It all makes sense. She must have been exposed to so many dysfunctional ideas growing up- and she tried to twist it all into something beautiful. I don't know that she was glorifying the issues or just pointing them out. It's hard to tell-- but it was such a tragedy, such a waste of beauty. Thinking back to how horrified Jack was by what his daughter had become, how devastated he was by the things he failed her in, and by his apology to Rose at his death, maybe it wasn't a glorification of dysfunction
after all. It was just a sad story. I never want to watch another of her films. This one may be very "TRUE" but it does not add to the beauty.
The only thing I actually loved..... was the house they lived in, the free greenery, and his amazing tattoo.
4. A Room With A View: Ookkkk. I need to take a moment and mentally gather myself after seeing DD-L's character... WHOA. I love that he played such a horribly wimpy, dispassionate, pathetic excuse for a MAN. I found this picture that describes him as "upper class twit." That's pretty accurate. I found the "bathing in the creek" scene to be incredibly disturbing. Viewer Discretion Advised. How completely unnecessary was that 10 minute run around the creek?!? I know it was making a brief point that George was better suited to the family than Cecil, but.... that was ridiculous. And WHY did the priest have to get in on it as well? Apart from that, their tour in Italy vividly reminds me of some of my European adventures, and I love Helena Bonham Carter's amazing crazy hair.
5. The Boxer: Most surprising to me was how much I liked this movie. It wasn't really the story or the characters.... apart from contrasting DDL's wimpy Cecil with manly boxer Danny Boy... I just loved the lighting. I love the blue. I actually took a bunch of screen captures because I want to paint them. The colors. The intensity. The dedication to do what is right (apart from the adulterous relationship between the main characters. I really feel Maggie's pain, but.... that doesn't make it right. A little oxymoron there.) So, I think I will choose to paint these scenes in the future. They're beautiful. And I also want to learn how to jump rope like DD-L. I hated it in high school, but I think if I had seen clips of this guy jumping rope, it would have all made sense to me. I would have picked up my rope and commanded it to obey me- instead of awkwardly lumbering over the rope, giving pathetic hops here and there only to be tangled and defeated. No. I can learn to jump rope.
6. My Left Foot: Can you handle this? I could write a long essay about this film. DD-L did a killer job showing the world Christy Brown. Irish Brown was born with cerebral palsy and his parents didn't realize how brilliant he was until he was a teenager. He went on to learn to paint and write a number of novels and volumes of poetry. DD-Lhad to contort his body and play a very troubled character. This movie was so uplifting and so hopeful-I was in tears a few times for the poor guy who had to battle his prison of a body and who finally found love and an outlet- writing and painting with his left foot. This was such a striking story, (it reminded me of a book that formed a heart of compassion in me during my early years- Bright Valley of Love), I had to read all about Christy Brown afterwards. It turns out, he was a really manipulative man. That definitely came through in the movie, but when I found out the extent of it- that he had an affair with a married woman BEFORE he met the lady portrayed at the end of the story, I was disgusted. He really was such a terrible guy. Turns out he was the heartbroken AND the heartbreaker. Sadness. He died at 49 with an amazing life story, a mediocre artistic ability that he could have improved. Wikipedia says he choked on his meat and that perhaps his wife didn't bother trying to save him. I was so sad when I read about this man who really needed the Lord. Now I want to read Bright Valley of Love again for a more edifying understanding of this theme. 
So, that is all for now. There's still a number of films to see. I can't wait for There Will Be Blood. Daniel Day-Lewis has effectively worked his way to being an inspirational person in my life- despite the sadness of some of his films. I can't really blame him for taking any of the roles he has.... sometimes stories just need to be told. He's an amazing story teller. I am listening.
