(no subject)

[electricland]

So I now have another* potential DVD double bill: Movies With Characters That Remind Other People Of Me.

Occasionally, moonlightjoy mentions that the title character in Kissing Jessica Stein reminds her of me. And today, raithen told me that the Toni Collette character in In Her Shoes reminded both her and her mother, independently, of me. I think this probably means I need to see them.

DISCLAIMER to moonlightjoy and raithen: the following is not meant to imply that you freaked me out, or that I don't appreciate being thought of, or was actually especially disturbed or anything, because that is not the case -- I just thought it was funny, and my brain being what it is, this is the direction it headed in.

Either way, this kind of intrigues/disturbs me if I think about it hard. I like to feel that I am unique and special (just like everyone else in the world). Movie characters so rarely remind me of anyone I know, so what is it about me? Why TWO movies? No, seriously, is this a good thing or does it mean that my personality is a mere pale knockoff of a couple of figments of a screenwriter's imagination? Please, share your thoughts! Has anyone ever told you that the main character in Alien, or Four Weddings and a Funeral, or Run Lola Run, or any other movie reminded them of you? And how did you take the news? And did you see the movie, and were they right? And am I just crazy?

*To go with my Summer of '05 Never Get On A Plane Again Ever double bill of Red Eye and Flight Plan.

Comments

a response in 4 -or so - parts

[raithen.livejournal.com]

1. She reminded us of you partly because of her looks, partly because of her intensity, partly because of her propensity for a good romance novel. NOT because you are Exactly Like Her. In fact, there are many differences, too. It is an impression, not a statement of one-to-oneness that strips you of your individuality.

1a. When you watch the movie - it is the POSITIVE character traits that reminded us of you. They suggest, at the beginning, she is fat. This is NOT at all teh similarity in question ;). You=stick. And the actress? Never. Fat. Silly reductionist writers where anorexic CD = fat TC....

2. Everyone thinks my Dad is looks like Richard Dreyfuss (personally, Dad is WAY more handsome, but anyway).

3. People say "are you sure I don't know you" to me ALL the time because I am Just. Generic. Enough.

4. the fact that people in movies remind me in people IRL is actually a sign of a good movie with well drawn and acted characters; I see facets of people I know, and that interests me; I am intrigued to see how that plays out in fantasy. I read myself or others into roles to make the story fit. If those roles have depth, I am happy.

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[electricland.livejournal.com]

waitasecond, I just got stuck on 3. YOU? Generic? Hahahahahahaha! *sporfle*

No, come on, seriously?

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[raithen.livejournal.com]

you have NO idea how many people tell me I look like someone they know or who are SURE we have met, when I know that is not possible....

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Although, for 2, I guess I can vaguely see the resemblance.

And for 4, hm!

And for 1: aw. (Thank you for explaining. I tend to get stuck and not move past the "reminds them of me? really? is that good or bad?" As you see.)

I haven't read the book, but I've read Jennifer Weiner's first novel (Good In Bed -- the covers are fairly similar IIRC) and liked it. Dealt with weight issues, I thought, very well.

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[electricland.livejournal.com]

that is very strange.

Perhaps you set them at ease very quickly?

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[raithen.livejournal.com]

Love you ;).

hate my boss. sorry, fixated right now.

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[raithen.livejournal.com]

the weight issues WERE well dealt with, I found. It's just that the actress was Not. Really. Fat. Just healthy.

< possible non-spoilery spoiler > they show a growing fitness and healthiness which is cool.

But the "I'm fat" comments just boggled me, enought to say aloud "how is she fat?"

Re: a response in 4 -or so - parts

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Huh. So, kind of the opposite of Bridget Jones's Diary, where in the book she was CLEARLY a perfectly normal weight but obsessed about five measly pounds (in fact, when she got down to her goal weight, lots of people said "You look so tired!"), and in the movie Renee Zellwegger became extremely, um, zaftig.

Hollywood is odd. Incidentally I am learning ever so much more about body image/disordered eating behaviour/obesity/stuff, also...

[swestrup]

Nope, I've never been told that I reminded them of anyone from a movie. I've once been told that I looked like a local chef, but as its only happened once, I have my doubts.

On the other hand, I can count how many times I've had THIS conversation:

me: "Well, you see, my experience is ---"
them: "You don't count. You're not normal."

[monkeycommando.livejournal.com]

Physically: Montgomery Clift

Dancing: Rick Astley

Personality: Pauley Shore. From Encino Man. The character's name, I believe, is "Weasel"

All from days when I was much less chronologically achieved.

[monkeycommando.livejournal.com]

Forgot to add:

Lifestyle: Kramer. (Reaction in response to my statement "I can't I'm working at the toy shop tomorrow.")

[nellisir.livejournal.com]

Now I'm really curious to see a picture.

[bryghtboy.livejournal.com]

Well, just to add more to the list... I'm pretty sure we have told you this... but whenever Karyn and I sit down to watch a movie with Joan Cusack in it we invariably end up saying that she reminds us of you.

Partly cause she is pretty... partly because she is tall, slim and long legged... partly something about the way she moves her face... not her face itself but sort of the expressions a tiny bit if that doesn't sound too loopy.

I could come up with some specific movies if you like but mostly its just an overall thing with bunch of Joan Cusack movies.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

ha!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

O_o

Pauly SHORE?

OK...

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I dunno if it was a physical resemblance or just personality. Probably the latter.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

huh! Cool. I like Joan Cusack. Especially in Grosse Pointe Blank.

[nellisir.livejournal.com]

First reply to your post: "She reminded us of you partly because of her looks..."

I know, I know, it's creepy...I'll lay off. The whole faceless entity on the internet just feels very unright to me - ironic, since I've only posted 2 or 3 pictures of myself, none within the last 2(?) years, and one was from when I was 7 or 8.

I'm going to stop before I sound like a completely insane person.

[nellisir.livejournal.com]

Joan Cusack is cool, though.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I can see more of a resemblance between me and Kate Winslet, if that helps.

[nellisir.livejournal.com]

Only if by "help", you mean puzzle out what Kate Winslet, Joan Cusack, and Toni Collette would look like as one person.

I do get that you're tall, though. :)

I'm going to lay off this topic for awhile now.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

hee! that might be odd.

Yes, I am tall and blondish. Having looked up Hayley Wickenheiser's stats, I can also tell you that we are roughly the same height and weight (although I bet she has more muscle than I do).