I Found the ONE

And the winner of Rachna's favorite film of 2007 is...


ONCE. Now let me clarify by saying that A. I have not finished viewing all of the films I am supposed to from 2007 but I am ready to make this declaration and B. when I say Rachna's favorite film I mean Rachna's -- not the Academy's or A.O Scott's or Roger Ebert's, it is my personal favorite and you may choose to feel the same way or not.


That being said, this simple tale of a struggling singer/songwriter and the girl he meets is beautiful. It is described by the writer/director as a tale of friendship, but to me the romantic, it is of course a love story -- a love story with music as a bonus! The two meet and begin to create music together which in turn inspires each to make changes and take chances in their lives and this simple tale becomes genius. The music is fantastic, of course and I have already bought the DVD and the CD. The main characters are not actors, but they are actually two musicians who are friends. (Of course I watched the extras in secret hopes that the two are a couple in real life, but so far, that doesn't seem to be the case). Regardless, they do an amazing job telling this tale and I guarantee if you see it, you will be swept away as well.

It is not the most original film, or the best cinematography or whatever else the critics hail films for -- what it is is this perfectly told story (from the writing to the acting to the filming, etc) that will get right into your heart and make you feel without question. And that is why it is my favorite film of the year.

I also saw Juno and I think Ellen Page is so fresh and fun. She is a bundle of energy and I am eager to see what she will do next -- I'm not sure if she can play something different, but I am definitely intrigued. Maybe my theme for the year is musical couples, because that end scene where she and Michael Cera duet on that dippy song is so great!

And now for my "Did you notice this too?" moment, I bring you to Atonement. This is a visually stunning film and that James McAvoy is a star and I even like Keira Knightley in it. But I have to say this. Keira Knightley is trying to be Kate Winslet.

Here is the situation. Even if you haven't seen the film, you have probably heard the commercial a zillion times and there is a line in the film where Keira croaks "Come back to me." On New Year's Day I was celebrating the 10th anniversary of my favorite film of all time, TITANIC, with my 20th or so viewing of the movie from my couch, and the scene came on from the end where Kate's Rose is lying on the piece of wood and the rowboat is coming back to try to save people and she croaks "Come back, come back" because she promised Leo's Jack she would go on and then she has to tearfully dump Leo's frozen body into the water so she can get off the raft and grab the dead officer's whistle so the rowboat can hear her and goddamn it the rowboat does hear her and comes back and she does go on and even learns to ride a horse like a man and (okay I will stop retelling every detail of Titanic now).

The point is, Keira is totally trying to copy Kate's epic "come back" with her croak and I just have to say, croak away Keira, but you are no Kate Winslet. There, I said it.

Okay, now I have to thank NBC for the new episode of FNL that was all about Tim Riggins. It opened with Tim Riggins playing with Baby Gracie and then standing up for his team against the opposing team who peed in his locker and then saving Julie from drinking too much at a party. But alas, poor Tim Riggins -- no one will ever have faith in him despite all his good intentions. Not even the great Eric Taylor (although Coach Taylor did let the coach of the opposing team HAVE IT for messing with his boys!) I feel for you Tim -- I'm here for you and most of all, I believe in you.

And here is a tip for those of you (like me) who feel maybe they should watch some real football during this time of year but have not quite found the magic in the game. While you watch you can play a game called voice the dialogue of the players on the field even though you really don't know what they are saying. So for instance, when a player scores a touchdown and does that macho dance thing? You say out loud "Yeah, I'm the man!" and when a player fumbles and looks like he is about to commit suicide, "Aww man, I had that ball in my hands -- I tell you!" And when a player slaps a fellow player's butt, "What up my brother?" And I guarantee that this game will liven up the post season.

So now I wish you all a Happy New Year and remind you of my resolution...

Don't be shamed of your obsessions...