Doesn't Mean Forever

Finally watched The Goodbye Girl last night. I wanted to see the movie that won Richard Dreyfuss an Oscar nod.

RJ called it a "chick flick" right away. I didn't let that remark taint my assessment. It was a charming piece, however detached from reality. How did Neil Simon know every divorced single parent's fantasy?

The feminist in me couldn't help but see all the socioeconomic implications, though. Paula, at age 32*, struggles to make a comeback as a dancer, faced with the harsh fact that she's out of shape and past her prime. Elliot, on the other hand, age 30*, is just starting out in his acting career. When one opportunity lets him down, another presents itself, without much time lapse, which ultimately leads to yet another better deal (without his active pursuit of one).

Whereas Paula lives with the realization that she is not self-sufficient at all. When Tony abandons her, she could have easily wound up on the streets - the apartment wasn't in her name. When street thugs rob her of a bag full of groceries, she is instantly fucked - it was all that she owned. She had absolutely nothing to fall back on. Toward the end of the film, she exclaims in epiphany, "Finally I'm not broken into pieces just cuz a man is walking out on me!"* While I was touched by that emotionally triumphant moment, I was very aware that, should Elliot not return in four weeks, as promised, she would have a hard time supporting herself and her 10-year-old in NYC (there was no mention of ANY prospects, job-wise for her, long-term or otherwise, after that car show stint with Subaru).

Back to real life: even though Dreyfuss' acting career arguably peaked in the 70's, he never disappeared from the silver screen (or other arenas). My personal favorite is Mr Holland's Opus. That movie, albeit also detached from reality, to me is heartfelt and impactful. The acting of the cast was superb, the chemistry very believable (and Rowena was hot). Dreyfuss is in good company of aging male actors who can still make a respectable living in Hollywood.

Marsha Mason, on the other hand, has not topped her presence in The Goodbye Girl. Meryl Streep is about the only American female actor in her age group who still has a career to speak of. The choice of roles she's had to play is unprecedented and unparalleled.

I am painfully observant that, these facts, which are very blatant to me, are not always so to men - even intelligent men. Which makes speaking out really important, even if it is pointing out the obvious.


*I'm going by memory so bear with me