sometimes i wish i had a thousand lifetimes
There’s a song by Queen in the movie Highlander with the lyrics “who wants to live forever when love must die?” There’s more to life than love, obviously. But, I think sometimes love, or simply passion, not just for another person but for a thing, for an idea, for a hobby… for a movie even—that’s what makes life great. I’m actually tempted to side with Claire Bacha for a moment, to agree with the idea that it’s Phil’s love for Rita that drives him to make himself better. But, I don’t think it’s that specific. I think that the night Rita actually stays with him isn’t about Phil connecting with Rita, per se—and, this despite his speech to her as she sleeps—but about Phil connecting with anyone. On screen, this is the first time Phil is genuine and honest with anybody. I don’t think it’s vital that it be with Rita and be linked to the romantic plotline—I think that’s just part of the film ultimately being structured and sold as a romantic comedy—but rather that it could have been with a...