Christmas evening, 1997. Austintown, Ohio. With my two best female friends to my right, my two best male friends to my left, and a giant bucket of popcorn on my lap for all of us to share (annoying idea), I waited in eager anticipation for the film of a lifetime: Titanic. Little did I know the transformative impact this movie would have on my life. I suppose that my acutely painful dry eyes throughout the film from lack of blinking in fear of missing a crucial image proved the movie's power over me. Moreover, though, my gasping and gushing which prompted annoyed nudges to my midsection indicated my overwhelming love of this film. But most importantly, that night I fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio. How much love did I feel for him that fateful Christmas night? Enough to cause endless sobs leaving me in a heap in the theater's restroom after the film's conclusion. Enough for me to emphatically repeat, "She said she would never let go. But she did! She. Let. Go!" Enough to cause sustained silence on the drive home, even with all of my friends reminding me: "We knew the ship would sink! Stop sulking!" My constant questioning of the death of Leo's character continues on, even to this day, fifteen (what?!) years later. Unlike Kate Winslet, I will never let go. In fact, just this past spring, I organized a weekend-long Titanic 100-year-anniversary tribute in which we participated in a Titanic-themed anniversary dinner at a local restaurant, complete with the music the quartet played on the ship that night and the food the chefs served for dinner. The next evening we found ourselves in front of the big screen again, and again I smiled from ear-to-ear with Leo on the screen. Until that Winslet lady let him go. I ask, why did she not hoist him up onto her wooden raft? So uncool. At any rate, since that weekend last spring, I have not seen Leo much--until I played The Great Gatsby trailer in class on Monday. And when his face first appeared, that same old feeling came back, which I can only describe as akin to going over the hill of a roller coaster. What euphoria! Have I watched the movie trailer since then? You bet! Do I see Leo in my mind's eye when I read the novel? I sure do! Have I downloaded the two songs from the soundtrack that the trailer features? Of course! Do I feel bad about any of this? Not at all! Part of the fun of living lies in embracing our passions. One of my passions just happens to stem from a movie star whom I may likely meet on an airplane at some point in my life. However, I will actually call the number he gives me instead of blurting out one random number from it in solitude just to comfort myself.
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| The Great Gatsby opens in theaters on May 10, 2013. My "restlessness approaches hysteria." |
First of all, I just had a laugh attack imagining you rolling into school with "No Church in the Wild" bumping in the Hummer. Secondly, I find your awe in DiCaprio similar to that of the characters in Gatsby. You probably hate me for comparing you to the disgusting party goers, but your admiration seems quite alike. I think that obsessions with hollywood stars can entertain, but your fascination will ultimately give you nothing but disappointment. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Leonardo DiCaprio's acting too. For once I watched an award show from start to finish and yelled at my t.v. screen when George Clooney won DiCarpio's award for best actor. Yeah Right! His other performances such as, "Romeo + Juliet" rival Clooney's acting any day. I also agree with your opinion of Winslet as "uncool" for literally letting go. By the end of the movie I always find myself shouting at her too, she doesn't deserve DiCaprio if she cannot uphold a promise to a man who froze to death for her life. I always thought DiCaprio and Winslet should live out the relationships they portray on screen but maybe she deserves Clonney instead!
ReplyDeleteI feel obligated to inform you that I, Elizabeth "October Student of the Month" Williams, have never made it through the entire movie "Titanic" (halfway suffices, right?). Despite my friends vexing insistence, I did not fall for DiCaprio; in fact, I found the whole tragic tale utterly boring. His greatness, in my eyes, has yet to prove itself. So, on the fateful day that you receive his coveted phone number on an airplane, do give him a ring and encourage him to try and act a bit more like Johnny Depp, Colin Firth, or even Fred Astaire.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I must admit that the thought of commenting on one of your blog posts has always terrified me. However, after reading this paragraph, I found the strength to overcome my inexplicable fear of communicating with you through the blogosphere because I too have a possibly unhealthy obsession with an actor. My film star of choice, Jesse Williams of Grey's Anatomy fame, has held the key to my heart ever since I watched Their Eyes Were Watching God in sophomore year English. Perhaps our infatuation with larger-then-life movie stars stems from the fact that their popularity obscures all flaws; unlike other men, they appear completely perfect.
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