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Inflicting a film on those you love
As a film critic, I still get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside when a friend/listener/relative/etc tells me that they viewed a film based on my recommendation. It’s even better when they agree with my opinion of the film (Yes, I’ve heard plenty of people say aggressively “Hey, I saw that film you liked…”).
Then there are moments like last night/this morning. I must acknowledge the love and affection I have for Jeff and Alicia Marker. Jeff is a film critic for the Gainesville Times and teaches film and literature at Gainesville State College inGeorgia. Alicia has the patience of Job (with me, especially). I went to college with these two, so we have had plenty of film viewing experiences.
Then there’s THE ROOM.
Jeff and I have an annual bet (a subject for another column another time…). This time, I was victorious and the Markers had to view the Tommy Wiseau “masterpiece.” I have shared/inflicted this film to several people, all with the same “WTF” reaction as the film kept going and going and going. My only regret was not being able to view THE ROOM with Jeff and Alicia in person. I would have done what I’ve done before. As the filmgoer/victim asks questions out of frustration (“Who is Denny?” “How old is he?” “Who is that?” “Where’s Johnny from?” “Why are they all going outside?” Why are they throwing a football while wearing tuxes?” “WHAT IS THIS?”), I sit and grin and say nothing until the film ends.
My favorite reaction was from another dear friend from college, Laura Jansen, who said “Every time he (Wiseau) laughs, I want to punch him in the face. Then I want to punch YOU in the face for making me watch this!”
Yes, my own family has also seen THE ROOM. Emma closed her eyes during the way-too-long sex scenes and Lynne asked “Who wrote this crap” right before asking me to turn it off after a half-hour. Emma later finished the film, solely on the basis of “you talk about this film all the time.” That’s my girl.
Recently, FILM SOCEYOLOGY Main Man Coby Slagle shared this cinematic experience with FILM SOCEYOLOGY’s TWILIGHT Correspondent Bianca Dreyer. I’ll let Coby take it from here…
Coby, here. It was a solid year into our relationship before I acutally carried out showing The Room to fair, sweet Bianca. I had attempted and failed twice last summer- the midnight showing at Keystone never worked out. Finally, a couple weeks ago, we watched it. I tried to keep my crowd participation parts to a minimum so she could actually see the movie and consume its badness completely. She got some of the funny parts without having to have them pointed out, which was cool, but she misunderstood ‘the best worst movie ever made.’ Bianca was under the impression that there are some people out there that actually like the movie for its cinematic value; be it acting or directing or cinematography, which isn’t the case. Once I clarified that, she got it and now realizes everything in the movie is just awful; it’s even gotten to the point where she’ll sometimes say, ‘Oh, hi, Coby (Tommy Wiseau laugh).’ Overall, I think it was a winning experience for everyone involved and now I can’t wait for this summer’s midnight showings so we can go throw spoons, count the best friends and say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ to Denny.
FILM SOCEYOLOGY would love to hear your tales of sharing/inflicting a film on a friend/relative/loved one/ex/etc. E-mail them to msocey@wfyi and please put in the Subject Line “Film Infliction” We’ll read yours on the air and the best response could win that person a WFYI prize pack and a certificate for a free half-gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Good luck and happy viewing!
