Movie discussion: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stands out among other major motion pictures with its nuanced and realistic view of aging. The tendency in our society, especially in popular culture, is to privilege youth and view aging as tragedy. While this movie had deeply poignant moments and did not gloss over the sorrow of loss, it also showed the experiences and relationships at every stage that make life into the rich thing that it is.

Expressed by several characters in the film is the perception that life is somehow over, that you’ve finished achieving and growing as a person, when you’re no longer young. Daisy (Cate Blanchett) felt that her life was over after a car accident ended her career as a ballerina, but she went on to open her own ballet studio, have loving and meaningful relationships, and raise a daughter. Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton) regretted that she did not achieve more in her youth, then years later went on to achieve her dreams. Caroline (Julia Ormond) expressed regret in a belief that she did not turn out the way she wanted to be, but as a letter from Benjamin expressed, there was still time, and you can always change.

Even the more sorrowful moments, such as the final days of Benjamin’s and Daisy’s lives, had overtones of love and caring, which, though painful when loss is near, is what makes life worthwhile.

References

Fincher, D. (2009). The curious case of Benjamin Button [motion picture]. Hollywood, CA: Paramount Home Entertainment.

Movie discussion: Rory O'Shea Was Here

Rory O’Shea Was Here centers on Michael (Steven Robertson) and Rory (James McAvoy), two young men with mobility disabilities who leave an assisted living facility to live on their own terms. The challenges they encounter are numerous, from having to petition to be granted their own right to live as they chose (and, in Rory’s case, being refused) to being limited in their choice of home by the absence of a wheelchair ramp. This film gives an enlightening depiction of the challenges of navigating a society that was not designed for your needs.

I do wish they had taken the opportunity to cast actual people with mobility disabilities in the roles of Rory and Michael. Although neither man’s performance came off as disrespectful or caricature-like, but casting physically abled actors in the roles of people with disabilities detracts from the empowering message the movie is meant to convey.

Overall, though, I thought this was an excellent movie with an eye-opening depiction of the struggles of living with a disability in an ableist society.

References

O’Donnell, D. (Director). (2004). Rory O’Shea was here [Motion picture]. Universal Studios.

Media representations

For this assignment, I have reviewed some popular media sources for their portrayals of older people and people with disabilities. The source I would like to focus on for this exercise, however, is a comedy show on FOX called Raising Hope. I have focused on the episode “Mrs. Smartypants” (Kirschenbaum, Mariano, & Gordin, 2012).

The most prominent representation of an older individual is the character of “Maw Maw,” played by Cloris Leachman, age 85. Maw Maw shares a home with her granddaughter Virginia, her grandson-in-law Burt, her great-grandson Jimmy, and her infant great-great-granddaughter Hope.

The main source of comedy for the character of Maw Maw is her dementia. She spends a great deal of her time in the background, with the comedy springing from her strange behaviors, obliviousness to the world around her, and flashes to the past. During the opening scene of this
episode, she is seen in the background of the shot, wearing her panties and bra on the outside of her clothing. The other characters, for the most part, ignore her.

She has temporary periods of “lucidity” where she takes a somewhat more active role in the plot. In this episode, for example, Virginia attempts to “catch Maw Maw while she’s lucid” to have Maw Maw tutor her in history. Maw Maw, accompanying on the piano, teaches her in song about the major wars of the United States. When Maw Maw is not in her “lucid” state, however, she is dismissed by the other characters. At one point, Virginia, Jimmy and Burt ask her to give them a math problem. When they do not understand the (legitimate) problem she recites, Burt asks, “Is she even lucid right now?

It is worth saying that Leachman’s performance as Maw Maw is genuinely funny. She is a supremely skilled comedic actor, and she appears to have a great deal of fun in the role. However, her character is seldom utilized as more than a joke or prop. The other characters ordinarily dismiss her, and occasionally use her, and I perceive no evidence of the show’s writers and directors having any level of self-awareness regarding this treatment.

Maw Maw’s dementia, too, is treated as a gag. The narratives I have heard of people with dementia and their loved ones, as well as my own experiences with my grandfather, paint a different picture. It can be deeply painful and frustrating both for the person with the condition and their loved ones. This is absent from the show.

I am not saying that they should paint Maw Maw as a tragic figure, or show only the difficulty and pain of living with dementia. After all, it is a comedy show. I’m not saying they should not feature a character with dementia, either. There is humor to be found in any situation in life. I would, however, like to see a more nuanced treatment of Maw Maw, one that does not completely brush aside the reality of her life, while still finding genuine humor in it. One that engages her more fully in the show instead of relegating her to the background until they need a gag. I think the show would be stronger for it.

References

Kirschenbaum, A. (Writer), Mariano, M. (Writer), & Gordin, E. (Director). (2012). Mrs. Smartypants [Television series episode]. In G. Garcia (Producer), Raising Hope. Beverly Hills, CA: FOX Broadcasting Company. Retrieved from http://www.hulu.com/watch/319434/raising-hope-mrs-smartypants