I watched The French Dispatch the other day. Despite a previous post stating otherwise, movies are NOT something I watch regularly, even though being a “movie guy” has been my thing for a long time during an important time in my life. Not having the attention span (and having too much anxiety) has mostly ruined movies for me. I just can’t sit through something that’s 120 minutes long. Honestly it’s pathetic.
But I got through this movie and I loved it. It’s artsy and stylish and reminds me of reading The New Yorker back in the lengthy and important period of my life where reading The New Yorker was a thing I did. And so all of that art and getting through the movie to watch the New Yorker-esque end credits really almost got me to tear up because art exists and I am also here and isn’t that high-key kinda awesome? I mean what are the chances?
I want more of this. I hear there’s a medicinal plant that people with anxiety can consume to get them zoned out enough to zone in on a movie and really sit with it. I’ve never been one of those people, but I’ve been around them frequently enough to sometimes be envious of what I think they’re feeling. And I’ve experienced catharsis (not overselling it. it was truly transformative) while watching Adventure Time under the influence.
So, like, if this is what it takes to feel at peace enough to be open enough to let myself be patient and attentive enough to watch more movies and experience more art, then maybe it’s worth a try.
I hope I wrote this in a way that makes it seem like I wrote it this way on purpose.