Javier Marías is right. Nowadays there is an aggrandization towards "deep-shrilled-contemplative-sublime" movies and few see comedies as a legitimate medium for anything nowadays. (By the way, don't miss James Ensor exhibition at MoMa -there is some laughing.)
On my Sunday weekend-recovery evening I watched "Moonstruck" and couldn't help recalling Marías article. Norman Jewison film left me with that "moved smile" Marías mentions after referencing "The Apartment", "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and other classic comedies. I'm adding "Moonstruck" to the list. There is a continuous intention to tell a story with grace and lightness.
I'm starting to think that I am experiencing with film the same feel I have with dance music. I'm down for fun, joy, soulful satisfaction and all-night long smiling (without pills, may be mushrooms). Like Marías, I'm not talking about comedies with Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell or Rob Schneider. In "Moonstruck", Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello and others handling that "moved smile" with their characterizations of Brooklyn's Italians.
Cher gets prettier and adorable as the movies goes on and Cage role is a creepy and silly one. But what I like the most was Dukakis's character asking, "Why do men chase women?" It is like the transcendental element of the movie. Her answer and what she would accept for an answer is: "Because they fear death."
So besides grace and relief, "Moonstruck" also has some sort of truth.
********
It is the second time, I am agreeing on something with Marías. He is the one to blame for making me a Real Madrid fan. Ala Madrid, Ala comedias.
