The Writer's Block

It's 1.33 am from where I am sitting and I finished watching Casablanca for the 1st time about 20 or so minutes ago. I'm tempted to write a review, but maybe when I'm feeling less sentimental. All I have to say is this, Casablanca is one gem of a movie that no one, young or old, should miss. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman make an electrifying onscreen pair, and the supporting cast was equally impressive. The scriptwriting was awesome, and I could very well go until the wee hours of the morning and quote lines from the movie, but I am tired.

However, what I came online to talk about has less to do with the movie and more to do with Hollywood gentlemen in general.

I have crushes on older men, which is no surprise to anyone who does know me. I find the maturity and the self-confidence (read: self-confidence, not arrogance) sexy and admirable, and those that I do crush on really look good even though they could be old enough to be my father.

But my older male crushes are not just old as in could-be-a-cousin or your friend's-brother old. They're of the uncle, father, and grandfather-old level. For instance, take Paul Newman. When I was born, his great movies have all been made. He had a solid reputation. He was respected. He was old, if we're being ageist about this. But the moment I saw this picture, I immediately had a big-time, old Hollywood type of crush.




That's not even his sexiest picture. I personally think that Paul Newman was at his personal drop-dead handsome best when he starred in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a movie I watched just because I saw a still of it and thought he looked hot.

And then there's Rock Hudson, who's reportedly gay but still handsome as well. I even liked Captain von Trapp from Julie Andrews' The Sound of Music. Now, thanks to Casablanca, I like Humphrey Bogart as well.

So here's what I think. Old Hollywood men, like Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and even Steve McQueen, are drop dead gorgeous not only because of their features, but also because of the grace, dignity, poise, intelligence, and maturity that just ooze out of them the same way cheese oozes out of a bite of a KFC Meltz.

(Hah. As though advertising would get me a year's supply. But hey, KFC, all I want is a lifetime supply of fries.)

Which sadly, can be lacking in the young men my age.

(Young men my age. I sound like a spinster.)

Well, whoever he is, wherever he is, I don't need to wait for him like some damsel in distress. Because first of all, that wasn't what I was born to do, and second of all, I'm kind of a pseudo-feminist. If I need help, I'll ask for it. Until then, do not feel obliged. Lastly, I'll be wasting my life if all I had to do was wait for the guy and the next guy and the next guy and the next guy... when I could meet people by freelancing, pig out without having to face criticism, and dress the way I want to dress. Because I am not changing the thread count on my clothes to suit you. Also, I feel sexier with my long sleeves and ballet flats in a Miranda Priestly way.

(By now I should have digressed, but I've digressed so much, I believe it's amounting to a car spinning off-road. Again with the macabre metaphors. What is wrong with me?)

But here's what I want to say. Whoever you are, "Here's looking at you, kid."


The Movie Geek, signing off.