Good morning, Tuesday. I'm back in NY after a weekend in Vegas and I'm easing into the week. More on Vegas tomorrow or the next day.
So today marks the (gulp) 30th anniversary of "Say Anything". OMG. How how how?
If you're not familiar, it's a movie that addresses that incredible summer between high school and college, when anything is possible. Directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Ione Skye and John Cusack. It's a classic, beautiful love story- underachieving but whip smart boy gets valedictorian over achieving girl. Girl leaves to start college. AThe film is a perfect depiction of that excruciatingly, achingly beautiful first love.
And speaking of love, who could forget one of Hollywood's most iconic one? The one where Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, stands outside of Skye's window, holding up a boombox, in a trench coat, playing "In Your Eyes"? Movie gold. And just like that, every woman in America wanted their very own Lloyd Dobler. And though the movie feels dated from a style point of view, the sentiment still suits. John Cusack has always been the perfect guy, for many women who like the smart, funny, sensitive type. The underdog. The wallflower at the party who makes you laugh. The scene could have been so cheesy, but through Cusack's brilliant portrayal, it was endearing and lovely. You could almost sense he didn't want to do it, and that's what made it so fantastic. He was fighting for that first love.
Incidentally, there is a scene in the movie that speaks so clearly to Generation X it hurts. When Diane's father asks Lloyd what is plans are for college and beyond, Lloyd says the following:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that".
Those words. So indicative of a generation that was apathetic about capitalism and consumer culture in general. Coming out of the 80s it was easy to see why. We saw conspicuous consumption on steroids. We saw big hair, big shoulders, big cars. We saw that greed was good for some but mostly bad for others. And then l ended up in advertising. And I sold a lot of stuff, bought a lot of stuff, and processed a a lot of stuff. If only I had listened to Lloyd...
So that movie, made way back in 1989, was a seminal one for so many. John Cusack, at least for me, was everything I ever wanted in a guy. It's true I wrote about Keanu last week, but I have been team Cusack from way back in the day. I first fell for him in 'The Sure Thing". And then think about movies like "High Fidelity" and "Grosse Pointe Blank". But back to Lloyd. Because in many ways, we were all looking for our own Lloyd Dobler. And at a time when men are feeling much in flux when it comes to their role as partners and lovers, take some notes from Lloyd. Love with wonder. And don't be afraid to be who you are.
Cause that's what's up this saying anything and meaning it kind of Tuesday in the 718. Yours, in Cusack forever. Oh, and Joe lies. XO