Every person who knows me knows I was “that girl” that loved high school. And yes, I was a homecoming attendant, semi-popular and did all the music/drama/v-show that I could. I was that annoying girl who loved pep rallies, lived for after-school events, to the point that my parents sighed with relief when I could drive myself everywhere, so they didn’t have to. I wholeheartedly know that high school changed my path in life, that without it–without the memories and photographs, without the trials and tribulations of high school dances and crushes, without the pain and happiness that being a teenager brought– I would not be who I am today.
Having said that, Glenbrook South High School did an amazing thing for their 50th anniversary…they filmed an 11-minute “lip sync” featurette showcasing THE ENTIRE STUDENT POPULATION. It’s long, but very entertaining, and it brought back all the high school memories of the different crowds that hung out in the hallway or “the pit”, how every one was different, but every one was a community. And it’s nice to see that GBS hasn’t lost it’s “Pleasant-ville”-esque view of society. It’s nice to see that in this generation of cynics and technology-driven teenagers, for two days at least, kids from all different background, from all different walks of life, can come together to produce an 11 minute short that will live on for future generations.
In 50 years, Glenbrook South has changed dramatically–the student population has increased, favorite teachers have come and gone, the fashion has changed and the building has expanded. But even with all the changes that have happened in the last 50 years…their mission remains the same–dedicated to their students, and changing their lives.
And for that, I will always be a grateful and proud Titan.
It’s funny. Sometimes I have writer’s block for days…weeks. Other times, it just flows out of me like water. I have no idea where this came from, because everything in my life is not really that complicated. My life is fine, good, actually, but there must be something deep within, or a subconscious that I am not aware of that makes words like these flow out of me. I get my inspiration from everywhere, and half the time it has nothing to do with my life, everything to do with what I just watched on TV, a song I just heard, or a problem someone else in my life is having. Geez, I can get inspiration from a door knob. It’s ridiculous. I get ideas in the most inappropriate places, like an obit or a crazy news story.
But my favorite part is when people that I know think I am writing about them. Think that my over-analytical prose are about them, or someone they know, or affect them in some way where they think I am writing about them. It cracks me up. If only I spent as much time thinking about other people as I do me!
So here is another prose for you. Has nothing to do with anything. Or does it? (Have fun over-analyzing that one…for I’m the only one who knows the truth!—and PS—I am usually making it all up in my head!)
Not gonna over analyze the situation
Just gonna live my life the way I can while I’m young
Not gonna mess around
Cause clarity is found
Not gonna over analyze the situation
The time has come for me to take a step back
to stop analyzing the truth that comes from telling lies
to you I owe nothing
to me I owe everything
take a beat
and breathe it in.
Complicate is easy to do
A simple concept in all that is new
the mind, she flows
with false impressions of you
Obscure the truth in order to enjoy this life
Is not a way out it seems
Tempted by the words you make
Motivated by the hearts you take
We’re more alike than you claim
It’s curious how we’re one in the same.
Not gonna over analyze the situation
Just gonna live my life the way I can while I’m young
Not gonna mess around
Cause clarity is found
Not gonna over analyze the situation
Gattaca meets The Island with a little bit of Bonnie and Clyde thrown in
Stars You’d Know:
Lots, actually: Justin Timberlake, Big Love’sAmanda Seyfried, White Collar’s Matt Bomer, House’s Olivia Wilde, Mad Men’s Pete Campbell (sorry, fella, you’ll always be know by that name and not your own), Big Bang Theory’s Johnny Galecki, America’s Next Top Model contestantYaya DaCosta (whose crying scene was way better than JT’s) and an always impressive Cillian Murphy.
The Good:
The concept. The idea that once you turn 25, you live on borrowed time. You have to steal time, or work for time, and the concept of supply and demand, that the rich keep getting richer (by having the most time) and the poor keep getting poorer is a great contemporary societal notion. Little scenes, like watching the price of coffee go up (from 3 minutes to 4 minutes) and constantly watching you clock to make sure you have enough hours to make it to the next day is a very interesting idea to me. Very sci-fi and very cool.
JT and Amanda’s chemistry. Yeah. Two hot actors have chemistry. Big surprise there. But I’m surprised at how well they didn’t pound it over the head with their chemistry. Sure, of course, there is a kinda-love story and Justin’s abs, and Amanda’s boobs, but it could’ve been really bad. It wasn’t. It was very equal on both their parts, and they’re Bonnie and Clyde routine was believable.
Amanda Seyfried actually didn’t bother me as much as I thought. It must have been her hair. I think she was more believable than JT, but we’ll get to that later. The only thing I cannot get over is that she ran for way too long in way too high of heels. Sorry guys, but in the future, girl’s feet will not be made of plastic so they can run around in 5 inch heels. Just.not.happening.
Justin and Matt’s bonding scene in an abandoned warehouse. I like this scene. I liked the way it was shot (two shots in shadows, singles, etc.) I like the exchange. It seemed like there was a little too much expository, but I felt like Matt elevate Justin’s acting. It was a nice scene.
Cillian Murphy can do no wrong. He just oozes coolness, and as “The Timekeeper”, you could just see the amount of depth he brought to this what could have been one-dimensional character. Murphy is the type of actor that, even if the dialogue is horrid (which it was), he still brings the backstory to every single sentence that he utters. He needs to get better roles than just the villain. He is THAT good.
The Bad:
Oh, where to begin? I love me some Justin, but he was so miscast in this role. His “crying” scene in the beginning…so not believable. He gets beat up so many times, but he’s always WAY TOO PRETTY afterward. He has potential, he’s just not there yet. He can take his shirt off as many times as he wants (yes, please!) but a 6-pack does not, in fact, make you an actor.
The death scenes of certain main characters are just too quick, almost comically leaving abruptly just so that JT and Amanda can start running again.
Oh, and the running…I get that if you run, you waste less time, but at every plot turn, they are running. EVERY. SINGLE. PLOT. TWIST. It’s almost like being in a film scriptwriting class, and saying, ok, at page 40, we’re going to have them run, and then at page 100, we’re going to have this huge conflict, so let’s have them run again…so annoying.
The dialogue: very one-dimensional. They almost always talked in soundbytes. Like they were in a music video or a trailer. It was comical at times, annoying at other times.
The Verdict:
In Time is a strong concept in theory, but like most theories, fell short. It lacked in plot structure, powerful dialogue and in-depth acting. When the theatre audience is laughing at the dialogue delivery (and not in a good way) you know there is something wrong with the execution. While Justin Timberlake’s performance seemed like an Acting 101 exercise, he’s got potential. Just needs a few more Chekov’s under his belt. And while I did, in fact, enjoy In Time, I would recommend this: save yourself some time and wait for it on DVD.
