Instead of watching Girls, watch these movies instead
The manufactured internet controversy about HBO’s Girls and whether it’s a vapid demonstration of nepotism run amok or the most heralded piece of television since All In The Family, the fact is everyone seems to have an opinion.
That is, except for people with real lives and jobs and who don’t have tumblrs. Luckily for me (for once) I live in a place where barely anyone tumbls and surely no one near any water cooler has any idea what this show is. So I haven’t been party to any impassioned discussions about whether or not Lena Dunham’s parents are “famous enough” to merit her inclusion into a discussion about privilege.
I found Tiny Furniture pretty insufferable despite being initially excited about it. What I didn’t find insufferable were these movies that are absolutely worth your time. What none are absolutely perfect, each comes with leads that are far from conventional. So it’s easy to complain about Tyler Perry or talk about shows that may or may not have diverse casts, but these films (except for the Swedish one) do and they’re all pretty enjoyable to boot.
Jump Tomorrow (2001)
Tunde Adebimpe is the lead singer of TV On The Radio, but is also an actor. Jump Tomorrow is a borderline campy B-movie about a guy named George who’s about to get married through an arranged marriage. He meets a super quirky girl who is probably a manic pixie dream girl but not really and they fall all over themselves. I like how neatly it all tied up, it’s quirky and not the kind of movie you’d normally see bandied about. It used to be Netflix instant, now it’s not.
Guy and Madeline On A Park Bench (2009)
This is a glorified student film. The budget was mostly spent on the Bratislava Symphony so they could score it. It’s shot in black and white. Guy meets girl. Girl and guy break up. He’s a musician and we just sort of follow them as they go along looking for love in all the wrong places. It’s not especially complex and rough around the edges. It’s a musical. It’s magical. Just watch it now.
En kärlekshistoria (1970)
A Swedish Love Story is a great movie that would never, ever get made in the modern world even in Sweden. If you live in the UK, you can get it via iTunes, otherwise you’re going to need to look for a DVD online or torrent it. It’s a beautifully shot film by Roy Andersson and I believe this was his first flick. It explores young love in the tumult of an adult world that was changing in Sweden. Even with subtitles, it’s the kind of rawness and beauty that is perfectly translated into any language.
I don’t watch many movies more than once, but this one is one that I could watch over and over again and all I ever want to do is show it to as many people as possible.
Shades of Ray (2008)
Another indie flick rom-com type with a story arch that’s unconventional. You have a main character stuck between two words trying to figure out where he lies in both love and life. Lots of quirky characters and while you’ll wonder what the premise is trying to say in the end; it’s a pretty good story to put on your iPad Netflix while you cook in the kitchen or something.
I’m Through With White Girls (2007)
This flick is about a nerdy black guy who makes cartoons and his perpetual relationships with…you guessed it. It’s a comedy, it’s a bit over the top but there are some decent character actors in it and it has the feel of a “black comedy” without ever devolving too far into Tyler Perry territory. It’s basically cotton candy fluff, but decent enough to add to your list without shame, as it does an excellent job of holding up as a story that would’ve worked with modest alterations to the characters no matter what the ‘forbidden’ ethnic group was, but did so while making everyone seem somewhat real.
Medicine For Melancholy (2008)
Probably the only movie on this list that you’ve likely heard of. Maybe. I won’t lie to you and say that I absolutely loved it when I first saw it. I just felt like it was too mumblecore. The dialogue was too sparse, the characters reminded me of those coloring books without any crayon on the pages yet. But it was shot so well. And then I got some distance and realized that I’d watched an entire movie with two black protagonists who were into each other no less; backed by a impeccably stitched indie music soundtrack. (I did read a criticism once that there was no hip-hop in it. I sympathize with that…but there wasn’t a scene in the film except maybe the club where that would’ve fit even the most indie of indie rap..)
Anyway…the point is, this film just works bee stings and all. I know it’s on Netflix now, so you really have no excuse.
Finally, I’m going to suggest something two shows that aren’t movies at all.
Luther (BBC)
I happened upon this by accident after one too many episodes of the Korean TV drama City Hunter. But it’s just so so good and I’ve hooked numerous friends on it since then. It’s just plain excellent in every possible way. Idris Elba (DCI Joh Luther) is a rock star and Ruth Wilson (Alice Morgan) is fabulous in her role. You might not be the type into the whole true crime drama thing, but you have to give this a shot if you appreciate great acting, multifaceted characters and have any shred of good taste at all.
It’s a show that would never, ever make it on American television. Even cable. It’s too good. I recalled thinking it as I rewatched it with a friend a few months ago and I don’t have a good answer for why. But it’s how I see it.
Merlin (BBC)
I know this is being broadcast in America on SyFy, but I have no idea what the ratings are like. But here’s another one of those “would never happen in an American show moments.”
Yes, it’s a revisionist show about Arthur and the Knights of Camelot. Yes, that’s Guinevere. The people who hate it most are these kids who pervade tumblr with their incessant posts about a desire to see Merlin and Arthur together. But that’s the extent of it. There’s some criticism that the actress (Angel Coulby) who plays Guinevere is too pretty to be in that spot, that she’s not an especially good actress and that she and Arthur have no chemistry together. I’ve seen little to no tweets that mirror anything that happened when a bunch of poor readers discovered Rue from the Hunger Games wasn’t how they pictured her.
I’m not sure I really see any of that, though I can at least hear it with a semi-open mind. But enough of getting mucked into the details of the show. Ultimately, it’s just a really enjoyable fantasy show that doesn’t take itself too seriously and of course, like many of the others engages in colorblind casting.
So there you go. With all of the stuff I’ve given you to watch, you’ll simply have no time to watch Girls. YOU ARE WELCOME.
I tell them, “I write this shit for you!” But a lot of writers won’t admit to that, a lot of artists won’t admit to that. They’ll get artistic, or pretentious, or, you know, talk about some “higher calling.” The fact is, I want to move rooms full of people. I want to move someone sitting alone under a reading lamp. I want to move someone sitting on a beach. I want to make them laugh and cry. I want them to see me and come running up to me and tell me how the books made them feel. I love that!
Books to make you happy. Really.
The Reading Agency’s picks for “Mood Busting Books 2012.” All via The Guardian.
Bill Bryson included, naturally.
I’d be willing to stand in as a mock-committee should you wish to practice your oral defense.
I really have little to do with them, for I mingle with my peers or no one, and since I have no peers, I mingle with no one.
