JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Say Anything (1989)-Footage Included
Say Anything
DVD Cover
“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.”-Llyod
Like chunks of road kill, 80’s cinema was littered with lifeless, uninventive romantic comedies that consisted of the mangled remains of over used formulaic devices. In an era when sugary sweet was taken to hyperglycaemic levels, Say Anything offered intelligence, sincerity and genuine laughs.
A mature coming of age story about more than just a simple quest for love, it’s about finding a purpose, balancing professional and personal desires and taking necessary risks in order to move forward.
“How many of them really know what they want, though? I mean, a lot of them think they have to know, right? But inside they don't really know, so... I don't know ,but I know that I don't know.”-Llyod
Llyod Dobbler (John Cusack) is an introspective, aspiring kick boxer who sets his sights on the smartest girl in school, the reclusive Diane Court (Ione Skye).
Diane is focused on her goals, destined to achieve great things but has sacrificed a social life in order to live up to her destiny.
Starting with graduation, life in the real world is a daunting and confusing prospect. In limbo between school and career the pair have their first date at the end of year party.
Awkward, wearing his heart on his sleeve Llyod dotes on Diane, while she tries to fit in at her first social event.
“Nobody knew me before tonight.”-Diane
Over the next few dates the relationship develops but forces are fated to constantly challenge them. Diane’s best friend and father James (John Mahoney) is over protective and sees Llyod as a distraction to his daughter success.
Diane is riddled with self doubt and insecurities, Llyod is only certain of one thing, his love for Diane.
“She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.”-Llyod
Confused and risking emotional destruction, the trials and tribulations of youth, the pressure to succeed and fit in, all these issues are addressed and just like life, not all problems are resolved in a simple exchange.
“You used to be fun. You used to be warped and twisted and hilarious... and I mean that in the best way - I mean it as a compliment!”- Llyod
Why are you laughing, one day you will marry a Beastie Boy.
John Doe says:
Well acted and wisely scripted, treating its audience like adults, refusing to fall into the trap of predictability this is smart entertainment that you can relate to.
Director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Singles) started in the industry with the screenplay for Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Showing promise with his big screen debut, Say Anything, sadly he has now fallen victim to making revolting, sentimental films that make you gag. (Jerry Maguire)
Helming with an innate understanding of growing pains, raising the emotion with his eclectic musical sense the screenplay is a masterful balance of soul searching and take home with you dialogue.
All characters are fully rendered on the page and no one is faultless. The complexities of first love, pier pressure and parental relations all get equal billing and make for comedy with depth.
The ever reliable John Cusack (Grosse Point Blank, The Grifters, High Fidelity, Better off Dead, Max, Being John Malkovich, The Sure Thing) becomes the character he will forever be associated with.
He manages to play likeable and sympathetic without ever making you puke. I see a lot of myself in Llyod and maybe that’s why his performance seems so real to me.
Beautiful to look at, Ione Skye (Gas Food Lodging, Zodiac, Size of Watermelons) pulls off the difficult task of playing a stifled intellectual without having to don glasses or going to extremes when showing worldly ignorance. The chemistry between the two leads ensures they are one of the great cinema couples of all time.
The rest of the cast are equally dedicated to making every scene all it can be. John Mahoney (Frasier, Iron Giant), Jeremy Piven (Singles, Entourage) and Lili Taylor (DogFight, High Fidelity, Pecker, I Shot Andy Warhol, The Addiction) all dominate when they are onscreen.
Romantic comedies are my kryptonite with their fairy tale realities and insulting lack of character independence. Often they are ridiculous stories that work on the premise that a single woman is useless till she finds some dick. (When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman etc)
Say Anything is an exception because it contains real people with faults, who don’t need love to define them. Where companionship is about complimenting personalities and an unwavering belief in yourself, as well as your partner does not cement happiness, just lets you move forward in the journey through life.
The DVD:
Transfer:Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras:A Trailer
If like me this is a sentimental favourite, then pick up the US edition DVD which contains deleted scenes, commentary and a making of feature.
Click below to see the trailer
This is a clip of one of many memorable conversations from the film.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD
He really does shine with the right script, you are correct Cib. And Say Anything is defiently a worthy screenplay.
He also manages to be the best thing about the bad films he has been in.
Have you seen Say Anything?
Every frickin interview I went to, I could hear that line about buying, selling, processing in the back of my head whenever I was asked about my 'five year plan.'
LaurenD
Film & TV on DVD
Totally get what you mean about the job interviews. (made me laugh)
Correct you are, this film has stayed with me ever since I first saw it back in the day. Back then it was like the Breakfast Club and served as an in-house shrink.
Intuitive dialogue that is vastly quotable, I often find myself using lines from this film in real life.
Glad to know Im not the only Orbler with a Say Anything past.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD
Horrorphile
Which Beastie did she marry? Still with him??
Film & TV on DVD
So are you a fan of Say Anything, or just the delectable Ione?
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
The last role I enjoyed Cusack in was Identity. Not a great film but a fun reworking of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians.
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
Directed by James Mangold (Walk The Line, Heavy, Copland) with Ray Liotta, Alfred Molina and John C McGinley.