Chasing Liberty

Planning to watch the flick chasing liberty few weeks ago, I finally did. I almost thought of not buying a DVD and just save my money in my coin bank because it may disappoint me and regret watching just as I did to How To Deal. But thank God! It didn't fail me. It's a feel good and enjoyable movie- I, reviewing it is evident enough.

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The movie, actually, has a very familiar tale. You know boy meets girl falling in love with each other, a daughter who's craving for freedom, and a father who is very protective to his daughter- very usual one. But what this hit appeals to me is the fact that it's a light romantic-comedy.
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I prefer watching this kind of photoplay because lessons that can be taken here are very common yet, we do not learn and notice them in real life. These lessons are things we need to be reminded of. We already knew some of these, they only need to be reinvigorated in our mind so we'll know how to deal with life. Or if we don't know these, the movie does the job of evoking us the truth that they are apparently present within us. We only need to find them from our midst by the deepest understanding.
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The story evolves around the daughter of the US President, Anna Foster played by Mandy Moore, who wants to experience total freedom even for just few days, since secret servicemen are surrounding her always for protection. Until one night, she had the chance to evade her annoying bodyguards taking a ride with an unknown English guy named Ben Calder (Matthew Goode)- without her knowledge that he's one of the secret service agents. Thus, with two other agents queuing them slyly, she's into a controlled freedom.
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Along her taste of liberty, she experienced many a happy moments- having the time of her life in Prague, Venice, Austria, and Berlin- with the ruggedly handsome Ben. Along their adventure, they earned a lot of things about love and life. And accidentally, yet romantically, they gained little attraction which Anna fondly called little thing. Finally realizing that they have fallen in love with each other.
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Anna is fond of living her life in theory. Among her theories that I kind agree are: if lying isn't always bad then telling the truth isn't always good, and if it's meant to be then it's going to be. Then there's one that really moves me oftentimes scary things are the most worthwhile in life. I couldn't agree more, there are a lot of things in life that we are so scared to do because we are afraid that they won't work or the results may not be the same as we expected. Yet, if only we try them we will see that they're worth it.
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Ben, on the other hand, as he tells the story for his life, taught the valuable lesson of making the big gesture. At one point in our lives, we need to make major decision so as not to regret later on. We need to make a big gesture in favor of the persons dear to us or things that matter most in our heart if we don't want to lose a hold of them, forever.
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Moreover, I learned the most valuable insight in this movie. Remember the two other agents following them? The guy agent invited the lady agent to take a peek at the wonderful Venice architecture, it looked like a mosque, and told her you need to take a peek at this so you can appreciate its beauty. With that statement, I learned that we worry too much about life that we forget to appreciate its beauty and wonder. We are too consumed by mundane problems that we fail to assess how much we have achieved and conquered. We remember not to count our blessings and how beautiful the life God endowed us.
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At one point or the other, we are all connected. And this connection, if handled properly, will become a valuable relationship or moment that enables us to move on and sail our ship smoothly and safely even if adversities and hurdles try to clash us.

The Trip

"I never got the chance to say how much I love you."

-Alan Oakley (Larry Sullivan, Jr.)

Lack of effective communication has been and will remain to be the conspicuous impediment to any amazing and fruitful relationship. How many strenuous or even blossoming love stories have been profoundly damaged for even just a simple lie, inexpressed feeling or unsaid truth. And the only way to mend the broken arrow of the heart is to, probably, be true to oneself (cliche but utterly steadfast) with the acceptance that we have wronged someone we dearly love.

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The romantic saga of Alan, a closeted young Republican, and liberal gay rights activist Tommy began in 1973 when they first met at the place of Peter, a very influential also closeted filthy rich man who secretly had an eye for Alan and later on the culprit of the couple's break up.

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Things fell apart between them when, unknown to Alan, his book entitled The Straight Truth was published with Peter's persistence. The book doesn't tackle solely on the life of homosexuals rather the controversial issues of the evils of homosexuality. It didn't only hurt Tommy and the gay community but all the effort and rights he fought for were squandered; and it as well put into a halt their four year relationship.

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The God of love played on them once again after seven years of hiatus. Tommy asked Alan to see him before he moves from Mexico to Texas. He is sick of AIDS and he'd like to spend the rest of his days at his parents'. They were unable to take the plane due to his obvious illness so it led them to take the road trip he was dying to take with Alan when they were still together.

On the road a lot of things happened and it gave them the chance to bond and savour all the moment they have together; after all it's a long long trip. Few hours before they enter Texas Tommy finally went into eternal slumber.

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The film was amazing. Brilliant story, quirky casts and hillarious storylines. Albeit the weird hairstyles the casts donned were a bit disturbing it's rather forgivable since it is coherent to the time period the movie is depicting. The film overall exhibited a good job in all aspects like the editing, cinematography, story, most especially the direction and the acting was superb. Larry Sullivan shined like a germane actor considering that he's a down to the ground novice. Yet, it was Sirena Irwin who truly sparkled like diamonds in the film what with her funny one liners and witty outrageous acting. Moreover, the film is filled with witty humor and dialogues that will keep you rolling to the floor. And the moving love story will inspire you enormously and devastate you at the same time - you will cry and smile along with the characters.

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Although the movie tackled politics specifically on homosexual controversies and the gay and lesbian rights, it is a complete departure from a stereotypical gay flicks that I've seen. It picturesquely illustrated its audience that life ain't a pen and paper that you can write whatever you want your life to go about; that in a relationship, even in a homosexual one, there will always be hurdles that need to be surmounted. Unexpected occurences and character differences will somehow challenge successful relationship. What you only have to remember is to always keep your cool, talk whatever misconstructions you have, face uncowardly all problem that may come, and accept whatever errs or pain you have or will have.

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Surely, a homosexual romance is unlikely (or is it?) but like any heterosexual love stories we know of it is never disparate only the orientation is. If you ask me what is my stand on this controversy, I'll be telling you that I'm battling between my spiritual belief and emotional character. However, looking on the human perspective I'll be telling you that each individual has his own right to do whatever he wants to do so long as he keeps his feet touching the ground and not illicitly crossing on someone else's border.

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Like in the case of Alan, if something or someone you like is right in front of you then don't let go of it anymore or you'll be sorry. If you have something important to tell to someone then hit it right at once before it's too late. Whatever flaws that may have run through your actions as long as you have soberly regretted it, apologized for it and given your love unconditionally to that person you have wronged then you'll be in tranquility and felicity.