In a city like New York, where moving on is a fact of life, is it really possible to revisit the past? And if we do, will old friends and situations still be as dear to our hearts?
I watched the Premiere of SATC last night at Mall of Asia and really enjoyed every minute of the film. I only got disappointed with the clothes that SJP were sporting (And of Steve cheating, what the heck were you thinking Steve??) Even if I heard oohs and aahs from girls sitting beside me, I’d have to say that in my POV, Carrie’s ensembles fell below expectations.
That royal blue number with superfluous sleeves was something I would have wanted to wear 2 years ago. Not today. Since Carrie habitually wears kitschy vintage finds, the feather hairpiece worn on the wedding day is forgivable. I actually borrowed (or stole) one from my friend Kenny, that looks similar to it and I wore it during a hat party. BUT it just doesn’t jiggle with the Vivienne Westwood gown. The Christian Dior gladiator shoes are not typical wedding footwear but that’s Carrie for you. I find the touch of a blue hairpiece as a good couture-ish addition but maybe not 4-inch feathers pointing to the sky –had a feel of being costume-y. Oh well, I’ve also been fashion forward to my detrimental at times. What do I know? *Shrugs* The movie stylist, Patricia Field, is a professional and a popular one at that. Every scene is filled with enough labels to keep many fashionista salivating. And you become really attuned with the art of fashion. Overall, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte’s wardrobe better were better than Carrie’s in this film. Even, the color choices of their gowns during the wedding fit the glove.
Among the fabulous foursome, it is with Charlotte that I identified the most last night. Carrie would have been totally me when I was in college. Miranda when I was in law school and initial working years. Boring as it seems, but I identified the most with Charlotte’s expressions and habits. I still have bits and pieces of Carrie within me but that girl has definitely left the building.
With SATC characters now 40 and older, story lines no longer hinge on getting into the VIP list at the latest happening bar or obtaining the “it” bag of the moment. The movie now revolves wisely about matters of the heart. After finding true love - as all four women had in the finale of the hit HBO series - what comes next? The story definitely does not end there.
Miranda and Steve reach an impasse in their marriage as Charlotte worries over her miracle pregnancy and happy marriage. In Hollywood, Samantha can’t seem to reconcile her love for Smith with her unease at being absent from the city she drew adventure from. The lady quartet hit their stiletto-shod strides and sashayed together through thick and thin, in clubs, Mexico and abandoned moments at the wedding venue. Throughout, the four women turn in sensitive, solid performances. This does not diminish one ingredient that made the show provocative –a lot of sex talks.
(Love Charlotte and Carrie’s outfits with the Benz background)
New York writer Carrie Bradshaw and Vogue freelance contributor, who was the star of the season, follows quite a performance in the movie. From where we left off in the season finale Carrie was still very much in love with Big. The movie starts off with nostalgia as the film showed snippets of the past seasons’ highly influential events. From the early beginnings of 20s girl bonding in shopping, cocktails and men to the growing up transitions of the 30s ladies to now 40s women who face life head on and value the matters of the heart.
Carrie and Big were looking for the perfect Manhattan apartment where natural light can fill the rooms. With all the skyscrapers in NY, this really becomes a hunted treasure. Carrie breaks to friends the news of finding a model abode for her and Big that he volunteered to pay for. Miranda, being very independent minded that she is, informs Carrie that if worse comes to worst, Big can easily throw her out and she becomes a homeless person in her Manolo Blahniks. Carrie said that Miranda should stop worrying and just feel what Carrie wants her to feel… Jealousy.
I really liked that part because a girlfriend should really be upfront with a tad of jealousy and envy instead of keeping the feelings inside letting it surmount to being unhappy for her friend. Being jealous of a friend’s vacation to Paris or her successful opportunities is inevitable. But it all boils down to knowing how to handle it and being happy for her without being bitter. Bitterness eventually leads to backbiting. So be happy, happy, happy! If you’re not as successful or hasn’t been presented with certain opportunities, at least your friend is experiencing it. You have felt it close enough to make it partly yours.
Back to the story, Carrie then confronts Big surreptitiously implying that marriage should be in place. Marriage, however, never entered the equation with Big. Big wants Carrie. Carrie wants wedding. Wedding bells chimed.
Meanwhile, Miranda settled in Brooklyn with dormant husband, Steve, and 4-year old son Brady. Lawyer Miranda, struggles to balance work and being a mother, while neglecting for 6 months that she is also a wife to Steve. Funny moment (but not new since other movies had a sequence like this also) when Miranda and Steve were having sex and Miranda blurted out, “Can you just get it over with!” Later on, Steve betrays Miranda with a one-nightee, and Miranda briefly separates with Steve but in the end forgives him.
Upper East Side rich kid Charlotte is mom to adopted daughter Lily. After several years of childbearing activities and adoption, she finds out that she’s pregnant. All the while, with so much chaos around her, Charlotte is overly worried about her seemingly perfect life and wondered where it was going to go wrong. Thank heavens that the writer decided to include an almost flawless and high fidelity marriage because it is still possible to have that.
The ever lustfully empowered Samantha has relocated to glitzy LA and spends her time managing the publicity for boyfriend Smith, a hot young model making a name in Hollywood. There’s also the sexy neighbor Dante who is ready to test Samantha’s monogamous state. Their love story is also one for the books and I really liked the angle and how it played out. I remember one scene in the season where Samantha went up to the PH suite with her old ex-boyfriend and told Smith off. Samantha, “play with your friends and I’ll play with mine.” Eventually had sex with her ex, went down the lift, the lift opens and voila, Smith was waiting patiently for her. Smith then brings her home. (Choke)
Jennifer Hudson’s role as an assistant was brilliant as it brings a fresh character to the all-so-familiar drama. I just wish that her role were developed more instead of it just being sprouts of personality. Her acting seemed dry compared to her performance in Dreamgirls.
The wedding hype buzzed throughout Manhattan landing on Page 6 and getting sponsored by a highly celebrated designer. From an intended 75 guests to a whopping 201, Big’s 2 previous failed marriage woes, and getting way ahead over their heads, the Big D finally arrives. Instead of it being Carrie’s big day as a blushing bride, Carrie was dropped, took the part of a flushing bride and the wedding day became a BIG day.
The real beauty of “SATC” as a movie lies in the return of all those things that were too familiar to us… the tacit sexual moments, provocative language and wardrobe (or the lack of it…), the unabashed love of human frailty and outright feminism. CW whispers to me and tells me, like a parent lecturing a little child, “don’t emulate them okay?” Haha. I heard real concern in his voice –for himself.
I’ve always loved the snappy, verbal sparring between the girls and their men. Laughed often through the wacky behaviors of each lady and loved a few shed-a-tear moments. I was especially moved by the drama when Carrie got out of the car and ran to Big. I felt so much for her and felt so much for Charlotte as a friend. Charlotte moved me in that scene.
Similar to any great night out with girlfriends, our 6-year loved series cum movie is drenched with so much love and reality that it lingers long after the last Cosmopolitan runs dry. It is hands down the sassiest movie of the summer that gives us fabulous, fun frolic, sometimes weak, but big heart moments.
