Reader of the Day: Cory

Today's Reader of the Day is the first in the series that I've actually met. We sat down for coffee last year while Cory from Canada was in town having a meeting about something so secret I couldn't even begin to tell you what it was. Perhaps he works for the CIA? But he was chatty about movies and that's what we love best!

Nathaniel: Hey Cory. Good to "see" you again. Do you remember the first movie or first movie obsession?
CORY: I feel like I’m on ‘Inside The Actor’s Studio’ right now.  This is awesome! The Great Mouse Detective.  I think I was about 3 years old, and it was for sure my first movie theatre experience.  We got ¾ of the way through it when my little sister regurgitated a bag full of Nibs all over my father.  So I guess I just remember the first movie that I got ¾ through.

My first movie obsession, which birthed the entire concept of out-of-control obsessions for me, was The Shaggy Dog.  It was in no way a healthy one.  I think I watched it every single day for about 6 years.  In second grade I actually managed to convince myself that the recess bell was my own personal trigger to transform into a sheep dog.  I spent every single recess for a full year absolutely convinced that I was indeed a dog.  Needless to say I had a very lonely year.

When did you start reading The Film Experience?
I can separate my teen to adult years by what my favourite film website was in each section of my life.  Mrshowbiz.com was most of my teens.  I was devastated when that stopped existing. Thankfully I managed to find Sasha Stone after that which led me to you. TFE is easily my most visited site on the interweb and I hope I never have to go hunting for a new favourite again. 

What's your filmgoing diet like these days?
These days, i.e. the last few weeks, my film diet is an anorexic one.  Not one movie has been watched and it feels great.  I LOVE not watching movies.  It’s the best!  Every February, like yourself I imagine, I end up waking up and watching movies until it’s time to go back to sleep.  On repeat.  For 28 days.  By the end I hate the entire concept of filmmaking and wish that I was sane enough to JUST MAKE MYSELF STOP!!!  I’m not.  It will happen again next year.  But I guess I should probably rewatch Mildred Pierce (1947) pretty soon.  

Three favorite actresses. Go!
The most difficult question on Earth.  Ok.  Just do it Cory.  First to enter your mind: Liv Tyler, Grace Kelly, and Michelle Williams.  Damn!  Is that even close to right???  I think so.  But what about Rachel Weisz...  I ask myself?  And Penélope Cruz...  reads my next thought bubble?   You can’t leave out Diane Keaton...   says a very logical part of my brain.  Yes!  I fit in six.  Get me away from this awful question.

 

Biopic of your life. Who plays you? Etcetera.
I’d have to cast by era here and my movie might as well be called, ‘Eras’.  (No that’s dumb.)  My teen years need to be portrayed by Ewan McGregor...  and it will be easy for him to do so as he can just play Christian from ‘Moulin Rouge!’.  I was an overboard romantic, a naive and passionate romantic.  I still am.  I’ve just learned to internalize it.  I even wrapped myself in a box for a girl once and got someone to drop me off in front of her locker.  I hid in it for 40 minutes with chocolates and flowers.  There was a crowd surrounding her when she opened it and I popped out.  She dumped me three days later.  Lesson learned.  Movies don’t necessarily reflect real life.  I believe this was considered to be ‘creepy’. 

My early 20s could be played by Ethan Hawke.  The way he conveyed his curiosity and excitement about life in, ‘Before Sunrise’ has always moved me and felt very much like a reflection of my precise existence.  I felt the very same way about his performance in ‘Great Expectations’.  Passionate.  Sensitive.  Passionate.  Passionate.  Passionate.  I adore his aura.  The last 5 years of my life...  maybe John Krasinski??  I don’t know.  He’d have to up the intense factor.  But he performs very matter-of-factly and gives off a very logical aura.  I speak a lot about auras.  Maybe the film should be called ‘Auras’.  Anyhow...  Krasinski seems to be able to convey ‘keeping it cool’ while in very intense situations.  I think that’s what I’ve mostly been doing for the last five crazy years.  Finally, I feel like I am slipping into a Hanksian era of my life.  I’ve always felt an attachment to Tom Hanks.  Passionate and funny.  I think that’s what I am right now.  I’ve turned into Tom Hanks. I’ll take it!