This is Dr. J, not a beauty queen, but she AH! She is on this level of joy. The sweetest but truly the sweetest most selfless person on earth, hysterically.
It’s pretty much time-appropriate. Mid-90s. It’s on the earlier side, but we basically end up here. These are comedic characters that demonstrate a range of emotions. They really fight, flip out. “Whatever happens, we’re family…” EEK, I can see this Brazilian mother going…and also, when they get the dead body out of the hospital, I thought, yeah, they could totally bust MARIA out of some very uncomfortable scenario. And they are taking on foster care. UM? Sorry?
Like, you think, just taking what I’ve heard about foster care, “no offense,” this family scenario is scary, now, when they bring “these people” in, then it might get scarier. I mean, I imagine that they have houses where they put foster care kids…? Or those in this in-between space? Pedal to the metal. Sports stars. Louis has a soccer ball — I assure you Michele is basically a black belt — blond — and JOSE is number 1 at tennis in the USA. Nicole has the astrology knowledge to predict people’s movements. Air. She knows your sign. Probably your moon and ascendant as well. This is my prediction.
There’s something satisfying about that. Just all of them backing her up on stage in the end. That guy clapping who signed her up. The guy losing it. And then, the cops, and that lady’s hair, her talking to him with precise hand gestures.
But this is great, it’s realistic and relatable…It’s such a great cast. And it’s a simple setup, in a sense, they just gotta get to the goddamn contest, as one, and all this dark humor goes down too, which was more of the “couche” in French, the layer, I was thinking of, but Dr. J is Heavenly Creatures, some weird cartoon villain. That remains. A total other. Where you can picture Steve Carrell watching her in some courtroom…making up some crazy shit.
The thing is, when Carrell, just so good, they all are, picks up that paper with that Proust scholar on it. DR. J was actually a high-powered attorney at the time which makes her really interesting. I don’t know the specifics, but she was…in the paper and on TV. I never really got what she did… I don’t think anyone did…except that she was an expert of some kind. So this isn’t a housewife, which doesn’t mean anything, by the way, I just mean she isn’t a stay-at-home Mom… she’s an executive. A businesswoman. A super well-dressed person. It’s interesting in thinking about appearances. A dazzling smile. So she could show up on TV, in a paper, do you know what I mean? The thing is she was bankrupt at the end of this, but I could maybe try to imagine what her strategy might be, but lady, she was at the police station a touch too many times… in any case, she wouldn’t fight for me in any capacity, why? That’s a good question. This was 100% — see a Brazilian woman say it to YOU — artifice.
So this girl is 7? That’s how old Nicole was…when I cruised up. This was how old I was when I got dropped off for this…weird Christmas party, okay? I am AMAZED at how small 7 is. It’s actually a serious scenario — she cries, right? Did I ever cry? No, I don’t think so. My rage, I think, was pretty real. But at least this movie gives me some permission to play with serious topics. I mean, suicide is a pretty serious subject and his pink shirt lol, truly hilarious. The comic dimension indeed has range.
It’s such an affecting movie. I’ve seen it before, obviously, but it’s a different world because the debut for Once Upon a Time on Miracle Mile is this debut. She picks up a baby…and brings her home…and she turns the house upside down.
And then, in the end, my roommate knocked on my door for real, as they were pushing that van one more time…
“Am I interrupting your creative process?”
“No…”
“Can I ask you a favor?” Innocently…
“Sure…”
“I’m getting a tattoo on Monday of my cat…can you take some pictures?”
So we just did a photo shoot of his cat — getting the right position, “like he’s sitting like a person?”
“Yeah…”
Life is funny like that, you know?
I mean, perfect timing.
It’s so cathartic. Him flipping out — I hate you, I hate all of you — it’s sort of heartbreaking when she just hugs him. Something they can’t do. I was also thinking, this Brazilian-Jewish family are…an affectionate group of people. Or, I suppose they are hot-headed, except for three, but still — they’re an affecting group of people. I’m glad I watched that one. I don’t know what to say about the process of bringing an idea to life…since I went through drafts…but I’m just going to use, only, family film references. That goes without saying, but then, I’m cleaning up clutter. I think Barbara Harris is a solid reference actually…but I’m not sure if I’m going to point her out though I think “comedy” appreciates her, if not drama. But she could be in this movie in some capacity. Even as her Brazilian cousin lol, one of them. Just the chorus of cousins, I thought that was funny.
Unleash the Brazilian women, no? Can’t you picture this?
I was seeing a desire to have some epic save Maria scene, and then, I saw them taking the body out of the hospital… just because, wow, you hear about some of these statistics… and it’s so scary. Sure, I have a friend in mind who might just call social services, but thankfully, on some level, people actually really care, she had a terrible time with that…even if all that got dark, there were moments. And in real life, it’s over. It didn’t go down that way… and I was lucky because of it. So sure, they’re getting her the fuck out. I follow that, I could see that being rather satisfying. Heartbreaking, hilarious… just the team athleticism of them… “I’m coming for you,” this Brazilian mother.
Just totally shocked. Since she was just hilarious.
I’m going to watch a couple more movies…and take out all references that aren’t family-specific, with Heavenly Creatures being her parents. At least, for me, comedy was such a healing genre, approach, and I got FLACK for that shit, I could, but then, I guess I had to learn context…but it’s a legitimate approach…and this is a drama? Too. It’s a comedy/drama. I might flip those words, but it’s pretty much that… where they take off…to Sufjan Stevens, there’s something about that moment that struck me as the end… you know, we did it, and we’re dancing… yeah, instead of having a scene after that… but people cry, you can hear how a song could carry the lot of them in their sports gear…back to Miracle Mile. People love sports. It’s true.
That’s a better note. I suppose I could flip out — Jesus — I mean I did, but for real, I thought about that too, so I’ll sit with that. So I’m going to have to use the dance to get more involved with this family? I probably did that anyway… where you’re going to have to see a bit of Joy there, touching, Steve Carrell. I’m not depressed? It’s another expression of someone who comes out of a serious event. But it all fits in that culture make up. That’s what I think is wise about that. You know in Mary Poppins, when the canons go off — it’s not always like that, but this family, I think, has to understand her, so maybe they do know. She’s flipping out again. I’m not sure, but that’s gotta be more like how we became 7. Or 9. Plus…the three cousins and grandkids. And coaches. A true party. That’s a lot of people.
I’m going to watch one more family movie before returning to the drawing board. I’m going to just edit my photos for a moment… that pink shirt though, when he appears in a pink shirt. Perfect. It’s just such a serious problem that something in that drama comedy universe might be cathartic. A group of people who make it through…I imagine I make more sense now. If that makes sense. I was thinking about this as I cruising through Portici this bustling Saturday morning — the people were out. Cacao in cappuccinos. I came from a world. There are many. Lots of understandings of mine had to change, I suppose we have a choice… I didn’t want to come from that. I didn’t want to deal with the bullshit of coming from that, too.
I don’t know what to say about trauma, or those types of traumas, or whatever — I really don’t know how to describe it, but it’s almost like I remember things at different times at once? Like Nicole and Jose did start getting physical, really, it was Nicole who started losing it, because Jose could really get on people’s nerves, but I blink…because…she couldn’t have been 7. But Gabriela did come into the room that day and dispel an argument to call me upstairs to tell me this…so I don’t know what to say about that. Maybe that was later? But she got pushed past the point of conscious behavior… where she started punching him, and it’s like, I can’t quite figure that out. Did I see the future? lol. She called me up to her room at that moment, “what did I do?” It happened. She told me enough times at the tennis club, later, since I had to ask her many many questions — the same ones — I made sure of it — over and over again, so I could have a ground beneath my feet. At least. I got her story. That’s all I was trying to do. It’s just, they moved, but he picked me up on Miracle Mile that day, didn’t he? The day I went home…officially…in real life…so I got that undercover investigation just to settle those facts. For myself.
I get spatially confused though. I wonder if that means anything… it’s its own construction. I remember the screaming on the phone — since Dr. J did disappear. No more money. And also, I ain’t picking up my kid. So awkward. And yes, the JOKE, here’s two hands by the mouth, is — where’s the father? That became the biggest joke. I mean, the LOOK from Parenthood is about right, just make it Louise and Jose. “She can stay here…” pat pat “until I figure this out…” Just picturing them running into the room. HELL NO. WHAT? She’s in some guilt spiral.
But I remember walking back into the house that day…and my father picking me up that day…but then, hold on, I think that was the day that she told me that she told my father…that my mother lied about my father… I was too traumatized at the time. Um, I already went home for that “Christmas party” no? None of that was in my GRASP. That’s not the day I left, I’m pretty sure, I was going to stay there…longer. It just goes to show that, I mean, I don’t know, a seven-year-old flipping out is funny, but I remember her being older… maybe she wasn’t, I don’t know. It was so shocking to me, just that point of losing conscious behavior, to then see her come into the room… and telling me to come upstairs. Because that’s where we were, I guess.
Maybe I can put that in? Just someone a bit traumatized. Not sure. Maybe that’s something else for a later time. In the story, I already adjusted the order, and all that, now that I can…
I can just use these years.
Looking at Greg Kinnear (lol) — I go, oh, he could play my father, “nothing wrong here,” but he’s too alive… my father would knock on the door. And she would just open it…and hardly any words were exchanged…I don’t even think he said anything. He just stood at the door. It’s not even a part. Hello! Maybe that phone call. But like, her script says it all, since she’s doing this performance for me, ohhhhhh how nice, New Jersey and Italy, like what the fuck is this person doing? Cool. That’s it. Then he gets some door slammed in his face. He changes nothing about his operation. Nada. It’s all innocent and normal. With this wife.
So it’s not even, I mean, when she…tells him…what has been said…his response…I mean…I’m just going to let that float…a moment. I know there’s a father, at least, in this set up, that would go apeshit. Stay here…until he figures this out? Until he figures this out? It’s so awkward. That’s the point of no return. But I have it that she drops me off then, again, these steps, since this going to get a bit looney, with the elements involved, it’s just that was a terrible situation. Again temporary insanity exists. It’s true. Everybody knows…sure, 12,000 dollars a month, thinking you’re protecting some child…? Then everything is so crazy you have no idea what you’re looking at.
That makes sense.
We’re making it through. Because you can, for one, and I didn’t have to end up — how people thought I would????? Interesting. But that’s another story. OH, hahaha, an alcohol problem, sure, in Naples, Italy, with my cousins, they don’t know why I’m comedic, SURRRRRREEEE. SURE, I’m angry that my mother is an alcoholic lol. Laughing. Just I cannot stop laughing…but I’m trying to connect, receive their empathy, so thanks. I just — it’s a disease. But I had to get in touch with my anger, so I’ll give it to him on that one… so all’s well that ends well. Make the movie! Sell the movie! It’s a no brainer to me. And the style is coming together. So I have some editing to do…and some specific moments to reference…for that intro page.