Movie poster for ‘Say Anything’. Coutesy photo
Review by KELLY DOLEJSI
Los Alamos
Few movies capture honestly what it is like to be a teenager, but “Say Anything” is one of them. The 1989 film, rated PG-13, will show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mesa Public Library. Admission is free.
In this cult classic, senior Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) is in love with class valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye), a girl so far out of his league that on graduation day, rather than ask her to pose with him for a photo, he lurks near her while his friend surreptitiously snaps a shot. While she has a prestigious fellowship to England, he has no plans for college or a career, other than maybe kickboxing.
However, he’s an all-around decent individual. He teaches kickboxing to pre-schoolers, openly cares about his sister, and happily plays with his nephew. Further, his best friends are female, including the charmingly depressed Corey Flood (Lili Taylor).
The story is complicated by the IRS, which sends agents to the Courts’ home to investigate Diane’s father (John Mahoney), who they believe to be laundering money from patients at the nursing home he manages.
Ultimately, though, “Say Anything” goes beyond love, trust, and sussing how anyone ever manages to make major life choices. This is the film where John Cusack, as Lloyd, holds a boombox over his head blaring Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” looking very miserable.
This is also the film where he flips through Diane’s dictionary and discovers she has underlined most of the words, apparently after looking them up. While the dictionary scene is not as iconic, it has always stuck with me. Lloyd values her intelligence and ambition, and he’s not intimidated.
The free screening is part of the Mesa Public Library Free Film Series, which continues the first Thursday of each month with “Roxanne” Aug. 3, “Annie Hall” Sept. 7, “McCabe and Mrs Miller” Oct. 5, “Days of Heaven” Nov. 2, and “The Last Waltz” Dec. 7.
All movies are offered thanks to the Friends of Los Alamos County Libraries.
