We had a long-overdue and much needed opportunity to have a few hours away from Lucy Saturday night. Grandpa Ken came over and Sharon & I headed off to catch a movie at the Uptown Theater. While the main draw to that area are the films you can't see anywhere else in town, there's also this other sort of cultural draw there. Or at least, there has been. I think it's some combination of memories I have of the area (I was there a lot more often in my early 20s) and some sort of expectation I have in leaving my neighborhood (& neighbors) behind for awhile and being in an area where I have some vague notion of feeling more at home. The reality is that every time we go down there, we are reminded of the tension between the Uptown purists, and the various weekenders, interlopers, and posers that outnumber them greatly and are drawn more by the idea that "something's happening" than anything else. The fact that a Famous Dave's now anchors Calhoun Village tells you everything you need to know.
And when we do go down there, we have always had this idea that there's going to be eateries suitable for us on every corner and in between. But it's just not the case. Most of the restaurants now are (like F.D.'s) chain crap, or else way too trendy and "chic" (& expensive) for our tastes. So, like this last weekend, we got there about 45 minutes before the show and then wandered around not finding anything that would be modest enough, quick enough, or tasty. Finally, with 20 minutes to go, we swung into a Panera's. Sharon got a half portabello to go and I got a PB&J with milk. It took them an unbelievable amount of time to make the order, and then we ended up chowing down everything, en-route to the theater, with about a minute to go before the movie started. As I gazed about at the various groups of frat kids, divas, and 20-something socialites on the way, it struck me as suddenly quite hilarious how (in this place where I was presumably "at home") how out of place I really was in my wind-pants and tee shirt, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at 7 pm at the corner of Lake & Hennepin. But I guess that kind of diversity is what Uptown is historically all about, right? Anyway, next time we eat somewhere else in town then drive straight to the theater.
Anyway, we saw the movie "Thumbsucker," about a boy who is 17 years old and has an issue of sucking his thumb. While the movie definitely has a comedic tone to it, it was faced with the challenge of not letting the premise send it into the realm of ridiculous. It was a character film and you had to get engaged with the people in it; not dismiss them. It took me awhile to warm up to what was happening, but I ended up thinking it was really, really good. Some great performances and characters. Keanu Reaves & Vince Vaughan actually found their way into this little indie film (neither in particularly big roles); probably good career & personal moves for both of them.
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9 comments:
Dan, destined to wander the Earth in a determined quest to find somewhere where he fits in. Will he ever find it?
Inevitably all places like Uptown are more illusion than reality. Like pseudo-Goths haunting schools and neighborhoods everywhere, they claim to be outsiders, but of course look like everyone else like them, and return to their comfortable middle class homes at the end of the day.
There's probably someplace that is 'authentically' unique and that has supplanted Uptown for the truly hip, but as soon as it's found out, it will be destroyed by the huddled masses yearning to join the club.
Truly unique places are like quantum mechanics. They seem like aglorious mist of possibilities when your thinking about them, but as soon as you actually check them out, they become uninteresting points.
*Sigh* I am the subject of some yet-unmade independent film.
From a real geographic standpoint, I would say that the truly unique, great places in the cities of this country need to have some businesses in order to be vibrant & vital, but that the business district has to be small enough that it is not of interest to the big money of the world (either developers or retailers). Of course, places like these have become known to the liberal elite, and you are now paying unbelievable costs for the opportunity to live in that sort of world.
Linden Hills and Bryn Mawr would be two Twin Cities examples.
I have a great idea for an independent film. Dan, while you and I are at Ingawanis, we can make a short film inwhich we are the same character. I will be in part of it and you will be in part of it. We will try to dress alike and act alike. What is funny is that it will be obvious that we are the same character. Like Batman, but in the same film. Keaton and Kilmer meets Dan and T-clog.
That's actually not a bad idea. But we should really keep our film ideas under our hats, so the two Boston guys won't know what we're a-brewin.
The only way you two clowns are going to be the same guy is while you're joined back to front by the thin thread of Dan's lingam.
We may ALL be an independent movie waiting to be made, though Mighty Tom may have already been done.
I think you are refering to Tom Thumb, and the porn version, Tom with his Thumb up his Ass.
Flatulence again?
Of course I am referring to Napoleon Dynamite - you dufus.
Eye No!
Looks like somebody either
a) newly has access to a computer at work
b) is impersonating Mighty Tom
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