Little Miss Open Heart

Photo courtesy of janoid on Flickr

Sometimes this thing just happens...
Ben Harper uses a description that I can relate to:

it's kind of like love and it's kind of like being tired and also kind of like when you first meet someone- your heart does this thing.... (it makes room.)

That's how I've been feeling.

Sometimes all it takes is letting your heart make a little room.

Last night I was at the video store looking for something mellow to watch and fall asleep to. I was beyond excited to discover that there is a movie version of my favourite book, The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke. I first read this book years ago, I think I was about 15. I have since read it over and over and over again. This poignant novel changed me somehow. It touched me. It also made me fall even more madly in love with Ethan Hawke. Yes, he has been my Hollywood dream man since Reality Bites and Before Sunrise. The thought of him still makes me weak in the knees.

Photo courtesy of Blog Decine

The film version of his book was actually adapted, and directed by Mr. Hawke himself. In all honesty, I was disappointed. I liked this story in my imagination much more. I always find that when you read a book, and see the movie- one is going to hit you harder than the other. It's inevitable. I always like the book better. And if you see the movie first, then your imagination isn't free to run wild while you're reading the book.
On a positive note for this film: it has a sweet soundtrack and I have a total crush on Mark Webber, who plays the lead role. He's in babe in all the right ways. For me, this story just didn't translate as well in film, even though Ethan wrote the screenplay.

Novel- highly recommended.
Film- take it or leave it.

I also recommend Ethan Hawke's second novel Ash Wednesday.

My heart is gold. What will you give me for it?