So what about these stars of the show? They’re worth discussing, their ideas and actions in today’s world and the previous, how people repeat themselves, what they hide and what they present. All of it mishmashed in the changing times of young adulthood. Sure, sometimes they feel like 90’s era folks time-warped back to the early 80’s, but that’s half the point. None of the generations are particularly special, they all disappear and are replaced with a new movement that will suffer the same fate.
Oh, and spoilers, minor ones. This isn’t exactly a movie worth noting spoilers, but I’ll do it anyways because there‘s nothing quite like a first impression.
The book, supposedly the account of the Dalai Lama’s brother, is ushered in as she is to the hot NYC club (exclusive to a certain type of people). Accepted as brilliant, the book is approved and sent to the presses. Alice, as well, the jewel of Des, Jimmy, and Josh’s eyes, and a point of jealousy for her completely unselfish (of course!) friend Charlotte. Charlotte, the same one who passed on it earlier, but we’ll come back to that.
Bam. The book’s a fake. The publisher still loves it, it’s just no longer concealed under a false identity. Alice breaks out of her shell, taking on the ‘lunatic’ (per Des) Josh, the one already practicing individualism proudly, addressing the clap maturely, and sitting in the dark alone because she’s resting (that‘s why, Jimmy!). The lady who stays at home and doesn‘t need to roll with the sea of crowds at the disco, the lady of the new era. And she’s awarded with a promotion, the only character employed by the film’s end. Jimmy runs off to Spain, Des retreats with Charlotte to a life of falsehood and big ideas without the means to execute them, and Tom (Alice’s one-night stand) gets to hang onto his gonorrhea and herpes.
Her turning point? Lady and the Tramp. She stands with Josh, for the scottie, the nice guy who doesn’t get what he wants, but doesn’t change. Something better suited will come along. It does for Alice, her last kiss with Des, nothing more than a draining of her transitory personality that was never hers’ to begin with, merely an extension of Charlotte (who of course Des will fall for, post-film). Scottie, also Josh in canine form, the traditional loyalist who stands by his morals, rather than the morals of the time.
Not quite. The phrase Jimmy takes as a recognition of loyalty from Caesar (the man who asked for change if change was necessary) to Brutus, a meaning Des (trying to follow Jimmy’s escape at the time, before being pulled back into reality by Josh) can’t seem to wrap his head around, his own attacks cocky, calculated, and sarcastic. He’s like most of the people in the movie, and in life, taking on new ages as if they were their own, changing without any real reason.
Yes, I’m going to wind this back to Alice (Brutus in better hands) and Josh (Anthony, stubborn, as is). Two of the most respectable characters in the film (along with the consistently less ignorant Departmental Dan). Of course, Alice doesn’t resort to violence or any other grave measure to bring upon change. She is similar to Julius’ slayer in her conviction to her ways as a person unfit to live in her time thanks to her accelerated progression. Josh, as Anthony, fits the mold. The man who stands by what he knows, but accepts what he’s given (like ’no’ for example). Note: This is not a recommendation for a sequel of Julius Caesar in which Anthony and Brutus hook-up.
It would be unjust to wrap this up without giving Alice’s counterpart Charlotte her due. The bitchy, ignorantly self-aware roommate dangerously accustomed with her public persona, so much so, that it has taken over her private life (remember her admittance earlier that she had no privacy anymore?). She begins on the same level as the still Departmental Dan, but as he comes to accept his mistakes and the fact that he lives outside his justifications (dating Holly for her accepted beauty (fiction), before discovering Alice’s concealed wit (non-fiction)), she follows them stronger than ever. Her reward? Des. Congratulations!
A little selfish, somewhat fleeting, no clear thesis statement. Pretty sure this qualifies as a blog post. Sleep well dames and gents.
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