Movies and Musings

So, a few weeks ago here in Belfast we were having a heat wave.  Which was great, don’t get me wrong, but it did mean that tasks I usually love became somewhat of a chore because I didn’t want to miss out on the good weather.  So when a scorching Thursday afternoon rolled around and with it my plans of heading to the cinema with a friend, I was less than enthused to say the least.  But I had made arrangements, so I dragged myself out to the cinema and I’m so glad I did.

Kiera Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in Begin Again

We went to see Begin Again, a quirky, romantic film with equal amounts of comedic and moving moments and a great soundtrack to boot.  I know I’m going against what most reviews have said but personally I absolutely loved it.  Kiera Knightley is definitely the star of the show as Gretta, the feisty singer-songwriter searching for her place in New York City.  The actress learned to play guitar for the role and sang all of the songs herself.  I must admit, when I first heard this I was quite apprehensive.  After all, previous films which feature A-list stars singing have turned out… interesting to say the least (Les Miserables, anyone?)  But Ms Knightley definitely impressed. Her voice is soft and sweet, with an almost vulnerable quality that perfectly encapsulates the emotions needed to make the songs so poignant.  Coupled with her acting skills and the delightful script, she captivates the audience in a way I’ve rarely seen in her films.

The other actors were also great.  Mark Ruffalo - unsurprisingly it could be argued – plays a down on his luck record producer juggling a failing career, an estranged wife and a not insignificant drinking habit.  Despite this, Ruffalo is as lovable as ever and throughout the film you really find yourself rooting for him.  James Corden provides comic relief as Gretta’s best friend, Hailee Steinfeld is youthful and talented as ever and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine impresses in his film acting debut.

All in all, it’s a really enjoyable, happy Summer film, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  Or, as Knightley herself describes it, “a proper, feel good film”.  Unfortunately, that heat wave has ended now and we are, in fact, now enduring the end of Hurricane Bertha.  Oh well, such is the Northern Irish weather, I suppose.  Still, here’s hoping some of that happy summery spirit can stay with us through this gloomy weather.

In other news, I was recently asked a pretty interesting question – at the age of ninety, would you rather have the mind or the body of a thirty year old.  After considering this for only a moment, I answered definitively that I would rather have the body of a thirty year old, maintaining the mind of a ninety year old.  My thinking behind this was that over the years, as the body ages, the mind stays bright, learning more and more and becoming wiser as life goes on.  My sister’s boyfriend, on the other hand, said that he would want the mind of a thirty year old because he would hate to have to endure suffering through dementia etc.

The mind-body connection is widely discussed 
both psychological and paranormal circles

This got me to wondering about the oft questioned mind-body connection.  It strikes me that the difference between the physical body, including the brain and the spiritual thing that is the mind is similar to that of the difference between time and the passage of time.  By that, I mean that whilst time exists as a concept created by humanity, and the passage of time definitely exists, time itself as a tangible object does not.  As the saying goes, “Time doesn’t exist – clocks do.”  In this vein of thought, the brain exists as a tangible object but the mind does not.  Thus, I have to question whether conditions such as Alzheimer’s affect the mind  or the brain and which of these need to be examined further to work towards finding a cure for these conditions.  Perhaps this is something to look into when I start studying Psychology in September. After all, one of the professors specialises in Alzheimer’s research…

Either way, it’s definitely an interesting question and I would love to hear and of your thoughts on this matter.