A Love Letter to Mr. Rochester

How do you begin a love letter to a fictional character? It's funny; not funny as in LOL funny but simply interesting-funny to consider how real a character can become… how they almost take their first breaths when you open the pages of the book and then linger in the back of your mind for days or even years after you set that book aside. And so it is with Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester.

For any self-respecting bookworm, it's almost a natural event. It happens every once in a while. You kind of hold your breath the first moment said character arrives on the page; even after a thousand times of reading Jane Eyre it is always the same. This time around, I even rushed to her first wanderings in the woods where she trips up his horse to hear his thundering, swearing voice. I suppose my somewhat wayward affections began because he is a completely singular character. He is neither handsome nor perfect nor even very young. He is no Mr. Darcy or even an Edward Cullen (i.e a sensitive man to the emotions of his lady love). In fact he is quite the opposite of almost any other male character in literature.

He is allowed to be ugly and cool; brooding at times. The kind of character whom you're not sure is being totally honest in his affections or merely sarcastic. He keeps Jane guessing from the very beginning…and I ask you ladies, what man hasn't?  Sometimes, your girl friends or family members pointed out all his flaws; yet  all you could see was the inner beauty of the man. And somehow you knew he felt the same way… thus it is with Mr. Rochester. He loves Jane in all her forms; she is neither too plain for him or too smart. Too independent or too needy. He simply loves her as she is, he never asks her to be more or less that what she is. I think that is what we all want in the end.

And so I find myself in this Conundrum. I have been for several months as I tried to figure out a way to write this letter in honor of him. I even started hunting down every film adaptation; trying to find the answer in each actors' interpretation of his harsh lines and imperfect personality. My favorite being the most recent version starring Michael Fassbender (and that sparked a whole other infatuation). I truly felt he is the most physically attractive of all the Rochester actors; allowing the inner ugliness of the character to shine through. At the same time I couldn't ignore the sexiness he brought to the role, that sense of mischievousness that sparkled in his eye.

There were moments that Jane's (Waskiowska) retorts to his probing questions nearly made him look like he was about to laugh, before he looked away into the flames of the fire. It's felt like I rediscovered the character; hence making this movie my favorite version of all the adaptations. It was beautiful and haunting; it high lightened the sacrifice one makes when they choose to love a person. But most of all, it was realistic. We can all agree love is messy and cruel and painful at times; it isn't a fairytale. And sometimes, as in Jane Eyre, the man that you fear might destroy is the very person that needs to be saved.

Sigh… I'm afraid i'm no closer to writing that pesky love letter. Maybe I should just read the book again..

The Golden Apple Awards: 2013 Season

       No, this is not another Oscar tribute. In fact, the Golden Apple pictured above holds a very special place in feminine history. You see, this glittery fruit got it's start in mythology, most notably in the tale of the Judgement of Paris. Eris, the goddess of discord, was denied an invitation to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. To stir up a bit of drama, she scrawled across a golden apple the now infamous words: "To the Fairest". Three goddess claimed the apple: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite-- with each bearing a different claim towards what that phrase actually meant. With no resolution in sight, these three mavens turned to the judgement of a mortal named Paris... literally causing a war in their wake.

In cinematic history, the Golden Apple held a slightly less controversial role. From 1941 to about the mid-1980's, this small token was awarded in honor of those actors/actresses that were considered easy to work with. The Sour Apple happens to be it's counter-part, of course.

So, what's the point you ask--scratching your head against all this information? Well, the point is simple: to honor female-driven movies that may have been overlooked by the Academy in the wake of the current award season. There is no discord intended here, with each movie listed below bearing equal merit as the one below it.

Here they are, the very first Golden Apple Awards. Spoilers! You have been warned.

Frozen 

There are few studios, I think, that have such an impressive line up of strong female characters, not only in animation, but basically anywhere! But I digress (perhaps I should do a top 10 of female Disney characters in the future). 

No where is this example more present than in this completely female driven, animated movie. It's a movie about sisters, and for once the romance portion is put on the back burner in favor of showing a positive, if not, complicated relationship between two sisters. The story is uncluttered and easy to follow, the music is outstanding and the visuals are intricate enough to feel real. Not since Beauty and the Beast have I really felt that a movie deserved an Oscar more. (and no, not just for best animated feature) Or, at least a Best Actress in an Animated Movie for Idina Menzel. Mostly, I just loved the overall message, showcased in the flagship song Let it Go, the fact that you should just be who you are and embrace whatever perceived "flaws" you might have…because in reality, there is no sense of normal anyway! I just love the strong female leads, the fact that sisterly bonds can be totally unconditional and fulfilling in their own way. And the fact that there is no clear cut love interest for the title character. Elsa learns to love herself and her gifts; she becomes a great queen and a great big sister. She discovers that's all she really needs in the end. A great message for young girls (and the not so young girls for that matter). 

Gravity

The plot is simple: the ultimate isolation movie, a person lost in space. It's not a new plot by any stretch, being pretty overused in the last five years alone. This one stood out for one big reason;  Sandra Bullock, who made it real for all of us. I, at least, was there with her and found my breathing getting labored as she tumbled aimlessly out into the black abyss of space. 

The metaphors for this movie and the struggles of women in general are endless; just simply the idea of a woman being out in a forum that she is not familiar with, a world or career populated mostly by men only to be left deserted and alone out there with only your fears of failure to keep you company. Then, she eventually calms down and find her way out of the situation feeling both empowered and alive at the same time. Most of all, it transcended the whole, gimmicky 3D thing, to be a really good movie all on it's own. The kind that once your pulse slows down, you just want to go right back in there….just maybe not in 3D this time… that was just too real for me. 

Catching Fire

In a world dominated by adaptations like The Twilight Saga; that basically teaches young girls that it's ok to change your basic biology to fit into the general needs of your dead-eyed boyfriend (and birth his demon spawn), it was a breath of fresh air to enter the world of The Hunger Games. Now I know it's the fan girl in me talking here…in a big way, but I really do feel the story is quite strong. I know it's hard to talk about the movie without going into the book, but the movie itself deserves kudos. Yes some things were added that weren't in the book itself but, seriously, get over it. Jennifer Lawrence is amazing. Period. The cast roundup is a bulls eye in my opinion, with every actor and actress really getting the essence of their characters. 

But beyond all of that, I just think it's about damn time that a woman get credit for being a girl and still kicking some major ass. Katniss is just that; as stated in my pervious post but, hell, I'll just dive in again. She is a woman trapped between two sides of herself, trying to find her way in a  complicated world. Looking out for everyone because she can't just turn her back on her family, or Peeta or Haymitch without feeling that she's failed in some way. She has her own fears and insecurities; as well as a passion to survive and live…not exist but truly live her life. In all it's forms, Catching Fire truly expands on all this subject matter to bring you Katniss; to make us feel for her and root for her because you want her to find out what it is she wants. It's not about whether she chooses Peeta or not (ok fine, it is a little bit) but it's about her finding herself and fighting for her right to exist, for better or for worse. That, in my opinion anyway, is what makes the movies so great. And allowing the general public (not just the reading public) to experience that in the visual feast, which are the essence of the book trilogy. 

Now, these three are my choices. Are there any that I missed? Or anything you'd care to add? Please let me know!