Feel Good Fo Reel

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist- completely refreshing.

I'm a fan of most teen fare- especially when it comes to movies. There are so many different perspectives being explored: What filmmakers imagine teenagers are like, concieving of what teenagers want or wish for. Sometimes you get autobiographical experiences, set as a period piece, full of nostalgia, hope and general distain. You get the indie take, the outlaw take, the glittered up never-gonna-happen fantasy where everyone is played by 30 year-olds. Geek vs. popular, asshole vs. goodhearted artist, outlaw vs. parents, teachers and authority. Sidekicks galore: flaming gays, tomboys who never turn out ot be lesbos (just closeted femmes), token blacks, tokin' bastards, loveable simpletons, fat people and on and on and on. It's just plain compelling. It's compelling watching these flicks as a teenager: "This is how they think we are?" "I'm supposed to swoon over that dude?" "She a badass! Why doesn't he like her?" And then in your 20's: "Oh my god, I was just like that." "I had that sweater." "It's so true though..."

I tend to go for the smart, artsy and witty indie outlaw/outcast perspective, cause I think that's where I was in high school. I want some bite in the bark- some grungey realism in my teen movies. I like my female characters strong, with a raunchy sense of humour and unpredictable (perhaps obscure)musical and literary hereos. I like my male characters sensitive, well read, passionate, down to earth. Above all else the characters must have insecurities, be addled by them, impossible to hide. It is the vulnerability and fragility of spirit and emotion that create a truthful teen/young (hell, even adult) character.

I miss sarcastic, awkward, anything-can-happen nights of hijinx with friends or possible new friends or complete strangers. At the time, maybe I was a little uptight... scared of getting caught.. getting in trouble. Feeling like no one and everyone was smarter than me.

Things that ring true in Nick and Norah:
straight edge
venturing into the city
the presence of a queercore band (check out Limp Wrist- awesome band from my youth)
touring around in a crappy "band van"
all about the shows
mix tapes/cds
pathetic messages
completely unsure of where we stand
being called a "mom"
searching for drunken friend
wanting what you can't have
actual foreplay (ignoring movie cleiche of moving right to sex)
most realistic before and after "O" scenes seen