YO-Mail

(Young Orthodox Mail)

Vol. III No. 7

In this issue:

From the Office: Our Summer Movie Review Issue!

Orthodox Look: Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Signs, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and the Austin Powers Trilogy

From the Office: Our Summer Orthodox Look at the Movies Issue

We received so much positive feed back from last year’s summer issue dedicated to taking an Orthodox look at various movies, we decided to do it again. Be sure to let us know if we missed something or if there is another movie at which you would like us to take an “Orthodox Look.”

An Orthodox Look: Ya Ya Sisterhood, Signs, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and the Austin Powers Trilogy

The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood

The Divine Secrets explores the intricate, often confusing, relationship between mothers and daughters. The movie also examines the friendships women share and how they are often the first line of defense in troubled times.

Ellen Burstyn and Sandra Bullock play well off each other, and are readily convincing as mother and daughter. The Sisterhood members also play well off each other, although only for humor. The film fails to offer any real insight into the nature of friendship. The movie itself often falls into obvious clichés and fake sentimentality. Despite the clichés, Divine Secrets does entertain and often pulls at the heartstrings.

On the upside:

• Neither Vivi (Burstyn) nor Sidda (Bullock) are about to relent and apologize; Teensy, Necie, and Caro need to step in, knowing that Vivi would be furious, and “kidnap” Sidda, knowing that she would never come home willingly. Out of love for both women, the other Sisterhood members are unable to stay on the sidelines and act, demonstrating the role of friends. Both Vivi and Sidda must accept their help, demonstrating the need to let others shoulder your burdens when you are unable.

• The movie emphasizes our need to understand and accept the failings of our loved ones. When those we love hurt us, we need to recognize that they are not perfect and keep loving them. The Sisterhood explains to Sidda that she needs to know her mother’s history to understand and accept her actions. As Sidda comes to know more about her mother, she is able to let go of her anger and offer Vivi the opportunity to let go of years of guilt.

• Instead of a romantic notion of love, the movie shows that love often demands sacrifice. Sidda asks her father, played by James Garner, if he was loved enough. He responds by saying that the real question is: Were you loved enough? He was concerned about her, not himself.

• Although more could have been done, the movie does speak out against racism. The African-American characters are often shown as the moral center, but are always in subordinate roles. The Sisterhood often turned to the African-American maid for advice (and she is always right) and defends her when she is demeaned, but never fully treat her as an equal.

On the downside:

• The movie opens with what could only be called a pagan ritual. The four girls pray to various spirits and cut themselves to become “blood sisters.” Ellen Burstyn prays to the Virgin Mary, but her prayer seems more like a prayer to a goddess rather than to the Mother of God.

• The role of men is severely diminished. Vivi (the “young” Vivi, played by Ashley Judd) found true love, but he died in the war, suggesting that true love may be found but is not attainable. Instead, she settled for Shep, who realizes that he is playing second fiddle but hopes that he can love enough for both of them. The husbands of the other Sisters are never seen or mentioned. Sidda’s fiancée learns quickly that he should stay out of the way.

• The Sisterhood lives life to the fullest, but uses alcohol and smoking to do it. The consequences are shown (one member quits drinking, the other needs an oxygen tank) but there isn’t a sense of needing to live moderately.

Signs

Signs tells two stories: the first story is about an alien invasion and the second story is about Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) finding the faith he had lost. Although the preview highlights the first story, the real strength of the film is the second story. Graham’s wife was killed in a car accident and he (who, apparently, is an Episcopal priest) left the priesthood since he could not cope with the loss of his wife. The movie draws attention to the crop circles and aliens while quietly and subtlety building the “coincidences” that point to God working within His creation. These “coincidences” eventually restore Graham’s faith.

On the Upside:

• Merrill Hess (Joaquin Phoenix) turns to his brother, Graham, for guidance during the early stages of the invasion. Graham tells him that there are two types of people: those who see God’s providence and His presence, and those who see random chance, mere luck, and feel utterly alone. Graham asks Merrill which kind of person he is, and we can ask ourselves the same question.

• Knowing that Graham would need him after his wife died, Merrill moves into an apartment above the garage to help out with the two children. Although we do not know what kind of life Merrill led before his sister-in-law died, he makes quite a sacrifice to put his own life on hold to help Graham and the children.

• As Morgan (Rory Culkin) suffers through an asthma attack in the basement, Graham realizes that the inhaler is upstairs. Since going upstairs means fending off aliens, going upstairs is not really an option at that point. Fearing that he will lose Morgan, Graham looks up and cries out, “I hate you!” Only after he realizes that Morgan’s inability to breath saved him from the alien’s poison gas does he see God’s hand working.

On the Downside:

• Graham tries to carry his burden by himself, without really turning to his family or friends for help. He, apparently, does not even try to reconcile with God by praying or seeking spiritual counsel to resolve his anger over the loss of his wife.

• Outside of Graham being called Father and a spot on the wall where a Cross obviously once was, the movie does not assert any religious position. God could be virtually anyone’s god. We need to remind ourselves that God is not some vague force or unknowable entity that influences human affairs. We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Written by and starring Nia Vardalos, My Big Fat Greek Wedding tells the story of Toula Portokalos’ dating and marrying a non-Greek. Toula, who works at her father’s restaurant, is thirty and without any dating prospects. Her mother and father lament that she is not married but do not seem particularly interested in finding her a husband. One day, Ian Miller (played by John Corbett) meets a friend at the restaurant and Toula finds herself infatuated with him. Inspired by just seeing Ian, Toula enrolls in college and starts working at Aunt Voula’s (Andrea Martin) travel agency. Ian happens to stroll by the travel agency and he and Toula finally meet. The couple has to face the cultural and religious differences between their two families and convince Toula’s father that he should give his permission for them to marry. Mr. Portokalos begrudgingly gives his blessing and the meshing of the two families begins.

On the Upside:

• The film portrays the need to overcome ethnic differences while not diminishing the beauty of ethnic tradition. Mr. Portokalos explains that “Miller” has its roots in the Greek word for apple and portokalos means orange in Greek. He notes that “apples” and “oranges” sound as if they cannot mix, but since they are really all “fruit,” the families should mix freely.

• Toula does not sacrifice her faith to marry Ian, who admitted to not having a strong religious background. The priest baptized Ian to bring him into the church and allow for Ian and Toula to be married in the Church.

On the Downside:

• Toula and Ian consummate their relationship before marriage. They apparently feel no remorse over their actions. While this issue is addressed quite frequently, Hollywood seems determined to loosen moral restrictions.

• We may not know exactly what causes Ian to ask to be baptized, but one might come to the conclusion that he does it for convenience and not out of sincere commitment to Christ. His motivations seem genuine, but leave much open to debate.

• The film may cause non-Orthodox viewers to perceive the Orthodox faith as an “ethnic thing,” and not as the Church. In the movie, the services are done entirely in Greek, which does not accurately represent the Orthodox Church in North America, even in the Greek Archdiocese.

The Austin Powers “Trilogy”

In the Austin Powers series, Mike Myers’ name appears frequently in the cast list. He plays Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat (cough) Person-born-out-of-wedlock, and, in the newest installment, Goldmember. The cast list also boasts Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham, Beyonce Knowles, Michael York, Michael Caine, Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe, Seth Green, and Verne Troyer.

The plots in the three movies are largely the same: Austin has to prevent Dr. Evil from destroying the world. Fans of the series, however, do not watch the movies for the intricacies of the plot. Rather, they watch them for the over-the-top characters Myers created. The level of humor never really goes beyond elementary school bathroom jokes, but the audience still finds itself laughing. The enthusiasm of the cast members for their characters overpowers the maturity level of the script.

On the Upside:

• In the first movie, Austin learns that monogamy is the best option. He forgets the lesson by the second movie, but for a moment Austin understands that promiscuity is not the better option.

• In the second movie, Austin learns to accept himself, even when he thinks he has lost his “mojo.” What makes him special isn’t his prowess but rather who he is inside.

• In the third movie, Austin discovers that Dr. Evil is his brother and accepts him immediately, forgiving him for the atrocities that he committed.

On the Downside:

• Austin Powers, while very funny, never rises above elementary-school-level humor. Most of the humor revolves around bodily excretions, fat jokes, racial jokes, and obscene words and gestures. The humor does not offer any insight into the world around us.

• Although Austin, at times, seems to “behave,” he and the other characters in the movie do suggest that sexual relations outside of marriage are acceptable.

• One might argue that the Mini-me character and the portrayal of little people in general in the films (especially the previews for the third film) are demeaning and dehumanizing to little people.

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