0
0
Rating: 5 out of 5
I speak with my grandma every week, and there is one question she always asks me. Do you have a guess of what that question is?? It’s always, “you haven’t run off and gotten married?” Yep, my 94-year-old grandma asks me that question every week. Now my other family members, like my aunts, are starting to ask the same question. Now one of my co-workers asks when I am going to be in a relationship as she thinks I need one. I’m like, I’ll get there eventually. As time has gone on, I have been thinking about it. I tell this story because I just watched the movie Marty starring Ernest Borgnine. The film made me laugh and hit me pretty hard as I felt the same as the main character did.
I want to say that it took me a while to watch this film. I rented it, and then when my two weeks were up, I would return it. I would do this process quite a few times. When I finally watched the film, I was surprised at how good it was, along with the fact that I and many others might relate to the main character and his situation.
Marty Piletti (Borgnine) is a 34-year-old Italian-American butcher who lives in The Bronx with his mother and is the youngest of six children. Marty is the only one who is unmarried and considers himself socially awkward, and believes there are no prospects in the world for him. Marty decides the best thing for him to do is be a bachelor for the rest of his life. When his mother persuades him to go to the Stardust Ballroom one Saturday night, Marty meets Clara Snyder (Blair), a lonely and quiet person abandoned at the ballroom by her blind date. As they strike up a conversation, the night officially becomes a date, and the world seems brighter for Marty. The only problem is, will his family approve of Clara?
The story of this film is relatable to many people who think they will be single forever or not good enough. Marty struggles with his mother’s demands to find someone as his brothers and sisters are already married, with many of them with children. Marty is not averse to getting married but is disheartened about the lack of prospects. I find this so important and telling because, like myself, I have been single for a very long time, and you get really used to your own company. You start finding all the excuses in the world not to date but long for companionship. Don’t be a bachelor or bachelorette and hang out with other single-minded people because you will never get out of a rut.
What I like about the film is that Marty’s mom forces him to go to the dance where he meets Clare. Something magical happens. They freakin hit it off. I like how the film showed how different they were but enjoyed each other’s company. The date is amusing because Marty talk’s so freakin much, and you feel like you can relate to him. You finally have someone to listen to you and actually enjoy your company. Now what I didn’t like was when Marty wanted to get a kiss scene. That violated Clare’s personal space, and there was no reason to rush things. He already had her with the heart-shape-eyes.
The movie also shows what happens when Marty enjoys someone and family becomes involved. I love how EVERYONE was like, Marty, you need to find someone. Marty, you don’t need to be lonely. Marty this and Marty that. When he finally finds someone, everyone shits on this girl. Marty’s mom said she’s plain and ugly because she doesn’t want to move out of the house. Marty’s friends tell him he could do better. Clara is too plain and blah, blah, blah. This puts Marty in a sad state, and he doesn’t call homegirl back.
The ending is where everyone should strive for, as I like Marty’s realization and resolve to tell off EVERYONE. It shouldn’t matter if someone is hot, intelligent, rich, or whatever. If you like them and you had a great time around them, freak what others say and go after it. Marty spoke from his heart, and everyone needs to take a lesson from it. Side note: Dear Ms. Eva Green, I am still available to take you out.
Ernest Borgnine needs to be given some major props as the title character. He plays Marty as a lovable guy who wants to find love and be happy but has given up on it. Borgnine did a great job showing the emotions of Marty. When he was sad, you saw that he was unhappy. His body language told it all. When he was happy, boy was he happy. Also, Betsy Blair as Clara Snyder was equally good. She was the complete opposite of Marty as she was a quiet person, with everyone saying she needed meat on her bones. She was also one who didn’t know love. You saw the sparks fly between them because both of them were in their elements.
Marty is one of those films that will surprise you. A film where you see a homeboy sad because his family wants him to find someone, and when he does, they disapprove. It is a story that many people can relate to. Side Note: Dear Ms. Eva Green, I would love to take you to dinner sometime. Marty is a great movie that everyone can enjoy.
