The past couple weeks, I've had a couple things on my mind. I've always had a sentimental spot for popular culture that's a little outdated. I'm always amazed by how, a few years down the line, something that seemed so cutting edge and cool can look so completely different. I also tend to get too attached to a specific actor or show and try to watch everything that is related to it. The past several months, my obsession has been with James Garner.
Introduced to him when watching the remake of Maverick in grade school, I quickly developed an attachment. In college I realized they were showing reruns of the Rockford Files at night so I would watch them when I could but with my random schedule, it was kind of difficult. After college things got even more ridiculous, working crazy hours and spending little time at home.
And yet my thirst is still unquenched. I was happy when I was able to rent Support Your Local Gunfighter from Hollywood Video (which after watching Support Your Local Sheriff last night, seems like exactly the same movie). It has now even escalated into renting movies online, and have recently received movies like A Man Called Sledge, Sunset (James Garner and Bruce Willis together in one movie ... it will blow your MIND), and The Fan.
The thing about all of this that seems most strange to me though, is that as you make your way backwards through an actor's films—especially one that is as old as Garner is now—you it hits you that it's a finite endeavor. As you see more movies and become more familiar with the person it's always with an end overshadowing everything, knowing that every film or episode is a step towards that finale.
I'm sure there is some lesson about mortality or keeping a dream diary or something in this. Screw that though, I suck at learning lessons. All I know is that I'm getting closer to the end with one of my favorite actors and it really feels kind of weird.
posted by dontEATnachos @ 7:37 AM
