Meatballs (1979) [1] was always a favorite of mine, although this will date me slightly (!). As a geek and an introvert facing many of the same social challenges as the main character Rudy (Chris Makepeace) it was incredibly reassuring to see someone as edgy and cool (at the time) as Bill Murray in a sort of gentle, yet fun loving and supportive, mentoring role. I didn't have much of that encouragement in my early life, which was filled with basically the opposite ... adults (esp in my school) chumming up to the cool kids and publicly humiliating the tentative ones. Bill's character in the movie, and how he played it on screen, still today serve as a role model for how I try to deal with other people. For me personally, connecting with and supporting the more fragile people around me still is way more appealing, fulfilling, and meaningful for me than just constantly trying to prop up my own status by latching on to the cool, popular crowd.
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Meatballs (1979) [1] was always a favorite of mine, although this will date me slightly (!). As a geek and an introvert facing many of the same social challenges as the main character Rudy (Chris Makepeace) it was incredibly reassuring to see someone as edgy and cool (at the time) as Bill Murray in a sort of gentle, yet fun loving and supportive, mentoring role. I didn't have much of that encouragement in my early life, which was filled with basically the opposite ... adults (esp in my school) chumming up to the cool kids and publicly humiliating the tentative ones. Bill's character in the movie, and how he played it on screen, still today serve as a role model for how I try to deal with other people. For me personally, connecting with and supporting the more fragile people around me still is way more appealing, fulfilling, and meaningful for me than just constantly trying to prop up my own status by latching on to the cool, popular crowd.
[1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079540/
Randomly, my wife and I watched it for the first time a couple of hours ago. Really enjoyable film - 35 years ago but he really owns the role.
Also watched Rushmore for the first time last week - brilliant film. I don't know how I'd never heard of it before.
Classic Murray
"How's the leg? Okay. Yeah, for now, but if you don't win, we'll cut it off." [1]
"Because all the good looking girls would still go out with the guys from Mowhawk because they have all the money." [2]
[1] http://movieclips.com/YhDo-meatballs-movie-rudy-the-rabbit/
[2] http://movieclips.com/nFguU-meatballs-movie-it-just-doesnt-m...