In probably the best ever get-well gift I’ve ever received, I just finished two films from the Netflix On- Demand Directory. Enjoyed the 2009 remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3” and a documentary on the real “Donnie Brasco”. Besides being distracted for a few hours (which was needed on a stressful day like this one), I’m learning the land of make-believe that we learned about in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood might be more real than we think.
Take John Travolta and Denzel Washington’s performances in the 2009 Version of “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3. Two perfectly astonishing performances, by two accomplished actors despite a mediocre script. A look under the cover however brings me to my point. Neither actor really needed this film for money, or prestige, so why did they do it? Because make-believe can be addicting, that’s why. John and Denzel are two middle aged men, with families, with problems, with issues and troubles just like most of us. These guys are good, and get better with every film because being not themselves is fun, probably exhilarating. Hell, it’s even better to get paid top dollar to do it!
What’s bad about knowing today that you’re portraying a “normal” train dispatcher, who in a few hours will save nearly 20 lives and the theft of $10 million dollars at the end of the movie? Even if you were cast for the “bad guy” role like John, life’s still good knowing you’re the mastermind of a major criminal enterprise that stops New York City, and for that matter, the world for just a few moments of revenge.
Bringing the discussion closer to real life, take the story of the “real” Donnie Brasco. He accepted a six-month undercover assignment that turned into six years. Being clear that this man is a hero for his actions, you could see in his interview that he continued the operation because of the joy of being an undercover hero who would play a big role in bringing down major organized crime figures. He now has to live undercover with his family in various locations, but imagine if he had to trade that experience for being a regular “go-home” guy. We’d all be a little less safe for it.
“It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep, ‘Cause everything is never as it seems when I fall asleep, because my dreams are bursting at the seams” go the lyrics from the Owl City song “Fireflies”. Sure, no one wants to admit that fully grown men and women like to daydream, and have vivid imaginations when they sleep. Not the adults who have mastered their careers, and personal lives, and daily challenges of life. But kids, it’s real. We all daydream; the dad that fixes everything still wants to be able to fly with both arms outstretched, over the rooftops at night. Super mom who works and cooks still dreams at night of being an envied supermodel. Even supermodels probably dream of just having a nice family to cook for and enjoy at night, instead of another four-star hotel room service meal. For the land of make believe, where all of our problems are solved, and our wishes are granted remains a real place in all of our dreams. And we’re all better for it, because as long as we have dreams, there’s always something to wish for.
a movie. The themes of the film revolved in my real life this year; the year where everything that I assumed to be reality, turned out not so much to be.
