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Last picture show
In a recent Boston Globe, Meredith Goldstein described how, when she heard that her grandmother had less than three months to live, she started orchestrating Grandma Lorraine's Netflix queue--demoting some movies, adding others--so that her grandmother's final movie(s) would be meaningful and suited to her tastes. She says "When I got the phone call about my grandmother's fatal condition, I felt powerless. Her last movie was about the only thing I could control. I was like God. God of the Netflix queue."
What a beautiful thought, especially for a movie-loving family like mine. I've often wished I could wield an Rx pad to prescribe certain movies for loved ones. There would be the break-up prescription, the new parent prescription, the flu-ridden prescription, the life roadblock one. Books could be used in the same way but the beauty of a movie is that it can be enjoyed, simultaneously, by several people and it engages so many senses: the imagery, the music, the emotions, the story.
Grandma Lorraine's last full movie was Penelope, the quirky and delightful movie about a girl with a pig's nose. (She knew her grandma loved movies about women transcending some kind of obstacle: "women rising up." She tried to stock the queue with ones that would fit that description.) I think I would want a transcending kind of movie, too. I'd want to cry. I'd want to marvel about life and relationships and triumphs. I'd want to laugh. I'd want to look across the room and exchange a glance with a loved one at the right moment, squeeze a hand and telegraph my delight and love.
Short list: To Kill a Mockingbird. Pride and Prejudice. An Affair to Remember. Once. Out of Africa. It's a Wonderful Life. All seasons of Friday Night Lights. Cinema Paradiso. Room with a View. West Side Story. Hopefully something new that I hadn't seen that fits the bill.
What movie (or kind of movie) would you want to see if it were your last? Or show to others?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Reader Comments (9)
Excellent last flicks. I think to your list I'd add: Love Actually, Casablanca, Saving Private Ryan (but really, only the last 10 minutes), and every broadway muscial ever made into a movie.
Now all I want to do is sit and watch movies. Crap...
Jane is getting Penelope for her birthday this weekend from Grandma Tallmadge. Yeah! I love it.
My list:
Gone With The Wind, P&P, Anne of Green Gables, Pretty much anything that is a period piece. Love them all. Masterpiece Theater junkie, here.
Love your list and I would add Charade, Pillow Talk, Sound of Music. I want to sing at the top of my lungs a little off key and giggle.
I will think about this all weekend...
Oh, I love this idea. When Harry Met Sally. Shawshank Redemption. A Few Good Men. Hello Dolly. Beaches. Miracle on 34th Street.
We watched a great movie the other night and I thought to myself, "Annie would like this".. Its called The Brothers Bloom. Try it out and let me know what you think (good or bad). My list also includes Cinema Paradiso, West SIde, P & P & Once. I also love Enchanted April, Last of the Mohicans, Aliens (I know, a bit odd considering the company), The Iron Giant (I need one animated), Ground Hog Day (BIll Murray is genius) & The Natural. I loved this post-very cool!
I enjoyed my visit to your new site. A belated Happy Birthday to Maddy.
Thanks for sharing your great list of last movies. Jessica's would be The Titanic, mine would be The Holiday.
Up.
The Five People you Meet in Heaven.
Plus some of the ones mentioned above.
This was a timely post for me. My 30 year old neighbor is finally at home, dying of cancer. She leaves behind a husband and 2 young boys. It is heartbreaking. I have been wondering what I can do to help, I think I will take some movies over. Movies from this list. Thanks Annie.
I really liked Penolope. I'm glad your grandmother go to see that.