The internet is an empowering weapon. In just minutes, the surreal song has a name and a face--Mad World by Gary Jules. I listen to the original on YouTube and everything falls into place. This song I know. Hairs stand on end and bumps spiral down my arms. How I remember it. But from where? It takes a millisecond before my weary tired eyes cross the picture to the right of the YouTube page. Frank, the rabbit.
There it was. I was falling down the rabbit hole from hearing the enchanting cover of Mad World to the writing of this very prose, grasping what I can on the way down. What did I see on my journey to the center of the earth? Cinematic memories.
Frank's terrifying image burned on that YouTube page desperately calling me to remember its connection to cinema. Donnie Darko.
I find myself away from the Mad World video to another that fully explains the plot of Donnie Darko. It has been several years since I watched the film, maybe even when in high school. Nevertheless, the memory of the dark, strange, and wonderful that is Donnie Darko came back to me. While the narrator of the video explanation spoke, Mad World in context of Donnie Darko runs through my churning mind.
On minute, I'm engulfed in the dark world of Donnie and Gary Jules and the next I find myself watching a video that smacks me right across the face. It only takes an image of Heath Ledger as the Joker to get me to click on the next phase of the rabbit hole. A video compilation of the best films ever.
The user who uploaded this video outlined several classic worthy films, most having a heavy dose of violence. Of course the compilation wasn't perfect being it missed several key films, in my opinion, as well as added some questionable selections. Moreover the video was solid and had many great films that I have never watched.
I questioned myself. Where have I been? What have I been doing? There are powerful films out there and I only scratched the surface of the tempered glass.
Then the epiphany...a mission. A mission to understand and absorb. A mission learn and grow from. A mission I need to undertake in order to even consider myself a film critic or later on as a film maker. I need to stop wasting time and watch some epic films. But where to start?
Without the guided hand of Roger Ebert (May he rest in peace) for current movies and beyond, I have to find a new trustworthy starting point for my endeavors. How about the Oscars?
It has always been my secret desire to embark on this journey but I never had the courage or time to do so. Now I do. I will watch best picture nominees starting from most recent and work my way backwards. Hopefully I can uncover some of the truth and expectations that have changed through the years and decades in cinema.
Let my Academy Awards adventure begin.
