Watched it in it's entirety for the first time last night....

i'd only seen about 15 minutes of it once before and didn't get a chance to watch the whole thing because, unfortunately, they pretty much never air it on tv... and then, back when we still had a blockbuster, i went looking for it only to find that it had been lost by a customer so there wasn't a copy to rent anymore. i could have bought it, but i didn't want to buy a movie if i didn't know i was going to even like it.

So finally last night ,on new years eve, comedy central airs it. maybe it was the champagne and the festivites, but i absolutely loved it! there were so many parts in it that i could sort of relate to myself and other moments that reminded me of things i had witnessed or heard of from friends'experiences. though i don't think i could have watched this at the age of 16 or 17 and still been able to watch it and fully appreciate it. there are some things you just won't be able to understand until you go through college or even just going through your 20s. yes...there were some younger characters in the movie, but even so...a high schooler isn't really able to look at something as it's happening and laugh it like you do when you are older and look back on it. I felt so bad for our hostess monica who goes through all that trouble doing her hair, putting on makeup and dress, doing a little cooking, cleaning, decorating, buying the booze and then
she ends up running into her ex,who she of course just invited to the party to be polite, who ends up showing up alone appearing to be possibly the only guest they will receive. seeing that her party is probably as good as dead, she ends up drinking almost a whole bottle of champagne and passing out and of course all the guests show up right at midnight when she was completely zonked. Then everything that could go possibly right for the party, Elvis Costello and all, ends up happening with her having no memory of it! The truth is, that is usually what happens to the people who throw parties on new years eve, except this was taken probably to an extreme with Elvis costello, but I guess that part might not be as unusual of an occurance in Manhatten.

I like also how they fit in the whole thing about 200 cigarettes and how cigarettes are used by people who smoke it to avoid awkwardness with social interaction. i see this as true because many of the people i know or have dated who smoked were always sort of anxious/nervous types of people who were usually shy, but then when they got their cigarettes out they suddenly talked a blue streak or at least seemed to look more comfortable at a party or gathering. it helps avoid those awkward silent pauses where you feel like you don't know what to say. you just grab your cigarette light up and start smoking. and whammo! awkward silences seem to to disappear. it gives you an excuse to be quiet because your engaged in smoking. some people see smoking as a way to make friends. the smokers go outside and there is that little secret club that not everyone knows about. someone might forget a lighter or their pack of cigs and they can ask the person next to them if they have a spare and they exchange it and smoke together. for the first couple minutes it's just pure beautiful silence in a smokey haze as if each puff is actually a word you are exchanging with the person or person(s) around you. then suddenly you start opening up and next thing you know you are exchanging numbers or going back inside together where you end up having a 4 hour conversation learning everything about them.

it's amazing to me that i just wrote this almost allegorical description of smoking when i myself happen to not be a smoker! no this wasn't brought to you by phillip morris. i think it comes from the fact that i somehow always end up following the smokers outside because i just find it fascinating to watch this almost ceremonial ritual.