It was only upon my fourth, maybe fifth time watching Psycho that I realized Marion was running away with all that stolen money to be with Sam, the mopey, married, hardware retailer, as inert as he is handsome. I’d somehow misinterpreted the film. For years I was certain, without really considering it, that Marion was running away from everything, Sam included, to be totally alone. Perhaps to start life wholly anew, on some private island. It seems so obvious now when I see it again that this reading I carried around with me makes no sense at all. It’s almost kind of embarrassing. But the movie took on a life of its own in my head. The movie where Marion set out to be alone was my Psycho, just one of many.
I’ve toyed with the idea for years now of building some sort of anthology of misreadings or misrememberings of movies. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll get around to this essay, or whatever it is, but I’d be curious to hear other examples. If anyone bites, I promise if I ever do write the essay you will be consulted. And furiously thanked!
Okay, a special, grammatically ridiculous focus as a way to narrow down the canon: Here’s the ten that hurt so good better than the rest (obviously leaning heavily on Blood On The Tracks):
Tangled Up In Blue
Sara
If You See Her Say Hello
It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Make You Feel My Love
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright
Simple Twist of Fate
Standing in the Doorway
Idiot Wind
Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Misreadings/misrememberings over 2 years ago
It was only upon my fourth, maybe fifth time watching Psycho that I realized Marion was running away with all that stolen money to be with Sam, the mopey, married, hardware retailer, as inert as he is handsome. I’d somehow misinterpreted the film. For years I was certain, without really considering it, that Marion was running away from everything, Sam included, to be totally alone. Perhaps to start life wholly anew, on some private island. It seems so obvious now when I see it again that this reading I carried around with me makes no sense at all. It’s almost kind of embarrassing. But the movie took on a life of its own in my head. The movie where Marion set out to be alone was my Psycho, just one of many.
I’ve toyed with the idea for years now of building some sort of anthology of misreadings or misrememberings of movies. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll get around to this essay, or whatever it is, but I’d be curious to hear other examples. If anyone bites, I promise if I ever do write the essay you will be consulted. And furiously thanked!
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10 Best Bob Dylan Songs over 2 years ago
Okay, a special, grammatically ridiculous focus as a way to narrow down the canon: Here’s the ten that hurt so good better than the rest (obviously leaning heavily on Blood On The Tracks):
Tangled Up In Blue
Sara
If You See Her Say Hello
It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Make You Feel My Love
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright
Simple Twist of Fate
Standing in the Doorway
Idiot Wind
Sad-eyed Lady of the Lowlands
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