First off, one of the few remaining "Classic Scene" articles from "Premiere Magazine" that I haven't done is from Say Anything (or Say Anything..., I've seen it both ways), Cameron Crowe's 1989 directorial debut. I'd never seen it. It wasn't in my demographic and I wasn't all that interested in "teen-angst" movies (having narrowly survived my own and not wanting to get nostalgic about it), even if they were comedies, or even if they were filmed in my hometown of Seattle (which this genuinely was).
So, I watched it. And that published "Premiere" scene left me unimpressed—I found it a little self-congratulatory*—but I did find two scenes (neither involving a boom-box—which is the film's most iconic image), which I did want to do, both of which I found interesting and relevant.
The one we're doing today was prompted by a recent discussion (I believe we were talking about Barbie, of all things) with a conservative-leaning acquaintance who as a defense mechanism came up with "I'm just worried about what's happening to our young men." I decided not to reflexively play the smallest violin in the world. I know that this is nothing to make light of. The impulse is to say "man-up", "grow-a-pair" or wax stupidly that "they're just slackers" which is an excuse both sides use when they want to dismiss or demonize a slice, and usually a disadvantaged slice, of the populace. That's not helpful.
But, then, I could've pointed out (all things being unequal) that women still make 84% of what a man would make in the same position (in 1963, it was 56%, so progress has been made, but still...). Women, in their careers, have to consider the effect of their home-life (especially in the instance of pregnancy) more than a male does (and I'm sure that pops up in the minds of recruiters even if they don't admit it). Systemically, that's a disadvantage women have always had, career-wise. And although things may appear to be changing, they do so slowly. And change hurts. Change takes adjustments. And...change is the one constant. No matter how much one complains about it (that never changes, either).
But, I've held up as a basic truth one phrase that always manages to raise hackles (and that I've amended slightly because the word "privileged" is a "red flag" these days): "to the advantaged, equality feels like oppression."
So, with that in mind, here's this scene from Say Anything, which is admittedly, a bit of a cheap shot, but still feels real. And is funny as hell.
The Set-Up: Nice Guy Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), has fallen in love—so much that he's even SAID the word—with his High School class valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye), even if she IS going to be going overseas for college. Despite the limited time and his limited prospects in the eyes of her father (John Mahoney), things have been going alright in the romance department. Until Diane's dad gets investigated by the IRS, and then things get serious. Lloyd and Diane break up. Although his closest friends have been girls in his class, Lloyd has never sought advice from guys. But, he knows where he can find them. Drinking in the parking lot of a convenience store on Saturday night.
Action.
A note: Crowe's screenplay is a bit simpler in construction. But, the four dudes ("like magpies" Crowe says in the commentary) added their own comments beyond the lines, dramatically as a way to bolster each others' confidence, but also because the main lines in isolation would have sounded staged and unnatural. They beef up each other and the scene. Those additions are (in italics).
EXT. GAS 'N' SIP - NIGHT
All of the guys are sitting against a wire fence drinking and
eating crisps. As each of them talks, the rest agree with him.
They all say goodbye.
Words by Cameron Crowe
Pictures by László Kovács and Cameron Crowe
Say Anything is available on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
* I will do it eventually because...I don't want it undone.
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