Like Crazy
Union Square Regal, November 7, 2011
Movie #80 for 2011
Despite the unfortunate title (which evokes for me young-people-madly-in-love-movies like Crazy/Beautiful and Vomit Like Crazy) there is very little actual craziness in Like Crazy. Thank goodness for that.
What there is, instead, are good performances (from ANTON YELCHIN, Star Trek, Fright Night and FELICITY JONES, The Tempest, both pictured); a nuanced, naturalistic script; and a story more focused on the falling apartness of a long distance relationship - on the hard part - than on the shiny bits. It’s far more interesting that way.
Refreshingly, there is no Grand Romantic Gesture - no mad dash to the airport or skywriting or roses and a marching band. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of drama, though, deep in the minutiae of a complicated relationship. Although there is plenty of golden-glow-looking-loving-into-each-other’s-deep-soulful-eyes, there’s also naturalistic play, exhaustion, beaten down fights where they can’t stand to look at each other and a passionate shouting match.
To be interesting, every romance needs conflict. Central here is the idea that in a long distance relationship one half (of the couple? of the person?) is always in a place that is not home. It resonates so much more than the regular fantasy-fodder of mainstream romantic comedies. I really liked the film for that, despite the title.
