I’ve always been a little on the sensitive side. I don’t break into hysterical sobbing at the drop of a hat or anything, but I’ve been known to shed a tear or two over movies or songs. But, I’ve noticed that there can be a real lingering effect from film and tv if the action is intense.
Somehow, action movies don’t really freak me out. I freakin’ hate horror movies and won’t watch them. The last time I saw one, I had nightmares for a week. But, that’s not what I’m talking about here.
In a really intense drama, I get caught up. Six Feet Under is a good example. When that show is done, I often need decompression time. In some ways, I feel like I’ve been living with the characters and experiencing their craziness.
Tonight I watched Sideways for the first time. GREAT film. But, there were moments when I really felt Paul Giamatti’s pain. I could sense that punch to the stomach and it was like it hit me too.
Because this was also a comedy and had an ending with a great deal of closure, I was not nearly as affected as I could have been.
I’m not sure why it is hard for me to detach from stuff like that. It’s just a movie. I can watch a tv drama like CSI and not have a problem or a crazy action thriller and not lose a wink of sleep.
Part of it, I think, is the fact that I look for deeper meaning in most things. I have the tendency to observe and theorize. I go on instinct a lot when it comes to people. As my friends at CSI might point out, this may feel right, but feelings lie – evidence doesn’t.
But, it is who I am and I’m ok with that until I find myself pondering the meaning of it all at 2am after a particularly strong emotional performance on film.
As much as I love movies, particularly really smart and interesting films, I find myself gravitating towards bland, formulaic crap if for no other reason than to avoid the tension the smaller films create in me. Hmmmm…something to work on. It’s always something.