Mirrors, masks, shadows

Why do we like movies? Sometimes it's because they take us away from here. To galaxies far, far away. And sometimes, in rare instances, they show us who we are. Or give us coordinates by which we can get our bearings. Or maybe just give us memorable lines with which we could resonate. As far as movie ending lines go, it would be tough to beat these two:

After that it got pretty late. And we both had to go, but it was great seeing Annie again, right? I realized what a terrific person she was and how much fun it was just knowing her and I thought of that old joke, you know, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, "Doc, uh, my brother's crazy. He thinks he's a chicken." And the doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" And the guy says, "I would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much how I feel about relationships. You know, they're totally irrational and crazy and absurd and ... but I guess we keep goin' through it because most of us need the eggs.

--- Annie Hall, Woody Allen

So why did I do it? I could offer a million answers, all false. The truth is that I'm a bad person, but that's going to change, I'm going to change. This is the last of this sort of thing. I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm going to be just like you: the job, the family, the fucking big television, the washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electrical tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, mortgage, starter home, leisurewear, luggage, three-piece suit, DIY, game shows, junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing the gutters, getting by, looking ahead, to the day you die.

--- Trainspotting, John Hodge (based on the novel by Irvine Welsh)

It's a variation of the inner ipod playlist, I guess. Instead of coming up with songs, it came up with movie lines from the playlist in my head. Those 2 lines are me in a nutshell. The last 10 years. It's been quite a ride.