I was just explaining why I love SPY GAME so much, and I remembered that it came out in 2001, the same year as VANILLA SKY, another film I love-- and I realize there's an emotional connection there that links my love for both movies. I'll explain. 🧵 - ThreadSky

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social • 106 days ago

I was just explaining why I love SPY GAME so much, and I remembered that it came out in 2001, the same year as VANILLA SKY, another film I love-- and I realize there's an emotional connection there that links my love for both movies.

I'll explain. 🧵

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gfeltner.bsky.social•11 days ago

Great thread!

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

The thing about both films is that, even though they are very different on the surface, both leads are plagued by remorse and regret. There are personal reasons why this resonated with me in 2001, but this emotional core is as effective for me now as it was back then.

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

Whereas in VANILLA SKY, Tom Cruise's character is forced to reevaluate his actions 150 years too late, in SPY GAME, Robert Redford is given the same chance a single day before the outcome of his past actions become irreversible.

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

But the connection, for me, comes in the way both Redford and Cruise acknowledge it. Both performances are understated and, dare I say, elegant, but equally powerful. Both face a moment when they realize that, yeah, they fucked up.

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

In SPY GAME, Redford's character, Nathan Muir, is forced to retell the story of an agent he handled many years ago (Brad Pitt), how he used him for "the greater good" and disregarded him as a person. And it isn't until he hears himself telling the story that he realizes how he fucked up.

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

Cruise's character, David Aames, has a similar moment in the elevator sequence in VANILLA SKY. But unlike Muir, Aames has to accept that his actions took place 150 years ago. There's nothing left for him to do but to accept it and wake up from his lucid dream.

turkishmeatchugger.bsky.social•106 days ago

Muir, on the other hand, realizes that he still has a few hours to fix things. And whereas Aames chooses to start anew in a different world, Muir chooses to fix things *now*, at great personal cost. While painful, both outcomes have always felt very cathartic to me.

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