'Titanic' Changed My Life

The title of this post isn't really an exaggeration.

When James Cameron's Titanic came out in 1997, I was 16. I saw it in the theaters with my friends. Then I saw it again with my family. Then I saw it one more time with some more friends.

Let's not even talk about how much I desperately coveted Kate Winslet's wardrobe.

It was the first movie that made me go back to the theater for repeat viewings. It also opened my eyes to the amazing shared experience that a global phenomenon could be. People everywhere were talking about. Everyone I knew had seen it. This included many of my relatives in Iran. The film wasn't released in theaters there but they got a hold of it. They saw it; they loved it.

I have to admit, even as a 16-year-old I could see some of the flaws in the movie, particularly in the writing of the dialogue (I was, admittedly, a geeky, writerly 16-year-old). But it honestly didn't matter. The love story, the acting, the costumes, the spectacle, the fact that I'd had a monster Leo crush since his Growing Pains days (true story): the movie as a whole transcended that for me and it did for most people too (whether or not their Leo crush was as longstanding as mine). That's why it was the #1 movie for so long, the best-selling movie of all time for so long too.

I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be part of an industry that had the power to infiltrate so wholly and completely, to tell a story that touched so many people's hearts and minds.

So, a year later, I was applying to film school. And then I was in film school and writing scripts. Screenwriting eventually led me to novel-writing, which eventually led me to a published book.

I will, naturally, be going to see Titanic in 3D. I'm excited about getting to experience it on the big screen one more time. I'm also excited to be led back to something that started a huge journey for me: a story that made me want to tell stories professionally. Sometimes -- I think -- it's important to be naive and starry-eyed or at least to be reminded of what that felt like.

Will you be seeing Titanic 3D?

Movies I Love: Being Elmo

Here's something unusual about me: I almost never, ever cry at fictional movies or books. This is especially odd because, in real life, I'm a crier. I mean, I'm not in tears every day or anything, but there's usually a leaky face involved if I'm really upset.

But with a movie or book, no matter how wrapped up I get in the story, there's something that keeps me from crossing that line. I'm talking like the beginning of Up didn't even bring on the waterworks. That's kinda messed up, people.

I can only assume that either I am the kind of cold-hearted being that moves Paula Abdul to song or that there's a part of my subconscious that is hearing the story but also peeking behind the curtain and studying the craft. A part of me just knows it's not real.

Which means that as soon as my synapses are convinced that something is real, all bets are off. Show me the old people choir from Young at Heart, an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition or even a mildly decent audition on The X-Factor and I. am. a. hot. mess. It basically takes next to nothing for there to be liquid dripping down my face. (Yeah, I'm not a pretty crier either.)

This is all a very convoluted segue into talking about the documentary I got an advanced screening of last night: Being Elmo. It tells the story of Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind (you guessed it) Elmo and how he literally turned his lifelong dream into reality.

Just like 99% of the human population, I have a very soft spot in my heart for the Muppets. I was five when we moved to America and I went into Kindergarten not speaking any English. My uncle's girlfriend advised my parents that I should watch The Muppet Show and Sesame Street (and soon after Muppet Babies). And I did. I ask of you, who better to learn English from than Fozzie Bear and Animal? Wocka, wocka, wocka is an American idiom I have found thoroughly useful in many-a scenario.

I also have an extremely soft spot for any real-life stories having to do with following impossible dreams, perseverance, determination, hard-won success, and anything of that ilk.

Add to all of that...Kevin Clash is a very nice man. A very humble, compelling, talented man with the most incredibly supportive (and adorable) parents I've ever seen.

I actually interned at Sesame Workshop when I was in college and I got to see a lot of the Muppeteers first hand (I even helped Big Bird put on his costume once!). It was a surreal experience. But the best part of it was, they were all so nice. And so genuinely happy to do the job they'd been doing for years at that point.

All this to say...Being Elmo is an outstanding, uplifting, wonderful film.

And I cried like a baby.

See if the trailer alone doesn't get ya!

Movies for Writers: Midnight in Paris

Last week, I went on vacation with four of my favorite people. We went to Bar Harbor, Maine. I'd actually never been to Maine before but two of my friends on the trip go every year. I can see why: it is GORGEOUS.

And there are wild goldenrod everywhere:

(Goldenrod happens to also be the name of the mapmaker in The Mapkmaker and the Ghost.)

We did a lot of hiking, eating, swimming in the lake, eating, kayaking and eating. Our Maine experts Billy and Julie also took us to one of their favorite Bar Harbor locations: a movie theater called Reel Pizza.

Why the pun, you might ask? Why because Reel Pizza serves you pizza in the middle of your movie. That's right. You order it right before the movie starts and then you sit down at a seat that has a table in front of it (the front two rows are couches and Barcaloungers). At some point in the middle of your movie, a giant bingo board lights up with your number, and you go and grab your pizza. There's even an intermission in the middle of every movie in case you need more.

The pizza itself wasn't bad (sorry, I'm a New Yorker! We're very picky about/proud of our own pizza), but the novelty was awesome. And the most awesome thing was that we happened to catch two great movies there.

One of which was Woody Allen's latest, Midnight in Paris. (Trailer can be found below.)



Because, unlike a lot of Hollywood fare, this trailer actually does a great job of not spoiling the movie, I won't either. But what I will say is that I think writers in particular will get a huge kick out of it.

For one thing. Woody Allen is definitely a writer's filmmaker and he always has been. The dialogue is as witty as expected. But there are also a lot of writerly jokes and characters that I think will resonate (especially for this screenwriter turned novelist, just like the movie's protagonist).

Check it out if you get a chance: I think you'll enjoy it!

Movies I Love: Pillow Talk

My dad is somewhat of a classic film buff and I grew up watching a lot of old movies (and an inordinate amount of musicals). There are some truly delightful films out there that I think are a bit under the radar for people of my generation. Sure, most everyone has seen or at least knows of The Wizard of Oz, or Gone With the Wind, or Citizen Kane. But have you seen...Pillow Talk?

This 1959 comedy centers on two people who share a party line. What the heck is a party line, you might ask. Apparently, there was a time when there weren't enough telephone numbers to go around and people were forced to share them. In this day and age of multiple personal communication devices, this concept appears horrifying, I know. Surprisingly, Pillow Talk is not a horror movie.

Ghostface is not on the other line.

Here's what happens. You have Jan, an uptight interior designer, sharing a party line with Brad, the consummate ladies man. They've never physically met but they basically want to strangle each other. That is until one day when Brad catches sight of the lovely Jan and disguises himself (and his voice) as gentlemanly Texan, Rex, in order to seduce her. Yes, Rex is the name he actually chooses.

Here are three vital reasons to see this movie (if you haven't already):

3) Brad and Jan? They're played by Rock Hudson and Doris Day. I dare you to find two more attractive people than 1959-era Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

2) The WARDROBE. Anyone who's ever drooled over an outfit in Mad Men has got to see Jan Morrow's closet.

1) The Big Reason: this film's got some of the funniest, wittiest, most layered dialogue I've ever heard. I still find new nuances every time I watch it (and I'm a repeated viewer, believe me). Plus the cheeky sight gags are grade-A fun.

Have you seen this gem? If not, would you consider giving it a go?

Have You Met Miss Jones?

Tomorrow, I'll be co-leading a writing workshop for Girls Write Now, the volunteer program I'm a part of that pairs pro women writers with teen mentees. The workshop is on screenplay adaptation which means I've spent a lot of this past week thinking about them.

As I've mentioned before, it's very rare for me not to come out of a movie and think "the book was better." But there ARE some exceptions to that. One of which is the great and powerful...Bridget Jones's Diary.

I happen to love the book and the movie equally (and a lot). AND the two are very different from each other. So, how can that be?

First of all...the book. Bridget was a groundbreaking character, a really unique voice, and she helped usher in a certain genre of British chick lit for sure. She was also hilarious. That's one of those books that makes me laugh out loud every time.

But if you think about it, the book is literally a diary and almost all of its humor comes from Bridget's internal voice. Not so easy to adapt into a visual medium.

So the screenwriters Andrew Davies (of BBC Pride and Prejudice fame), Richard Curtis (of Love Actually fame) and Helen Fielding (the author herself) had to change some things around to make it work. One of the biggest changes, I think, was in Daniel Cleaver's character. In the adaptation, Daniel is much more of a cad than he comes across as in the book. He's also set up as much more of a rival to Mark Darcy. Making an archetypal character and conflict like that are great for screen adaptations (when they're done well, of course).

And then there's the casting. Could there be any two people more perfect to play Daniel and Mark than Hugh Grant and Colin Firth? I also know that Renee Zellweger's casting was highly controversial (especially for Brits). But I actually think she did an excellent job of conveying Bridget's lovable loopiness. Plus, I think the film uses its soundtrack to excellent effect.

The main thing is the film is just as funny as the book, even if it uses some different jokes and set ups, and it gets across the same tone and themes.

An excellent week's progress, Bridget. Or, er, you know, however long it took Fielding, Curtis and Davies to write that screenplay!

More 'Bad' Movies I Love: The Cutting Edge

This weekend, I unpacked a box of DVDs into my new apartment, and I got a little jolt of happiness when I came across my copy of The Cutting Edge.

That's right: I love The Cutting Edge. The original The Cutting Edge, mind. I'm not sure what's going on with those ABC Family remakes that feature fake Doug Dorseys and Kate Moseleys.

My boyfriend already makes fun of me for this. In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, I'd like to point out that his DVD collection includes Freddy Got Fingered and Troy.

But here's the thing: I think The Cutting Edge is well-written. And to prove my point, I'd like to mention that it's written by the OSCAR-nominated Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, The Bourne Identity, Dolores Claiborne). It's his first movie actually. Secondly, I'm a sucker for chemistry, especially the I-hate-you-so-much-I-love-you-chemistry. And Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney have this in spades. Or should I say toe picks.

Speaking of D.B. Sweeney, he also goes on my list of underrated actors I dearly love. Once, on an early date, I scared my boyfriend because he mentioned D.B. and I breathed out something like "OhmygodyouknowwhoDBSweeneyis?!" There may also have been a shriek involved.

It turns out D.B. is also in some baseball movie or other (Okay, okay, I know it's Eight Men Out. You can't date someone who does this for a living and NOT know that, I guess). Hockey and baseball and figure skating?! So athletic.

I'd just like to point out that the early D.B.-discovery date has turned into us being together five years later, Graig. Not saying The Cutting Edge is entirely responsible for that but, you know, just putting that out there.

Doug can read!

It's a Helluva Day at Sea, Sir!

Everyone has them: movies you love that don't seem to get the credit you feel they deserve. The underrated gems. The cult classics or even the should-be-cult classics.

Here is one of mine: Overboard. This 1987 romantic comedy paired Hollywood dream couple (they are STILL together, people) Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Playing against type, Hawn is a rich not-nice-person-that-rhymes-with-witch who hires a "sweaty carpenter" to build a closet on her yacht. She ends up insulting the carpenter and then promptly falls off her boat and gets amnesia, and he ends up tricking her into thinking she's his hicktown wife and mother to this four hellraiser boys.

It was the 80s. Plots could be like this. In other words, weird, original, and hilarious.

First of all, Overboard is FUNNY. I could, and sometimes do, quote lines from it all day long ("I think I [hack] just swallowed a bug," "I was short AND fat?" "Normally, you look real pretty. You just don't now."). Second of all, the chemistry between Hawn and Russell is undeniably sizzling. Also, Kurt Russell manages to look dreamy donning a mullet and overalls. A cinematic feat if there ever was one.

If you haven't seen this fabulous comedy, I highly recommend it. And if you have seen it, then I need to ask: "No Boom Boom?"

What are some of your favorite underrated films?