Daniel Day-Lewis and Me

As I was lamenting over the meaning of my life, I was watching Nine, the movie version of the stage musical directed by Rob Marshall.  It was fine; some good moments, some yawners.   It stars Daniel Day-Lewis as a famous Italian movie director of the 1960's who has lost his way and is trying to figure out who he is.  So it was a perfect film for me, as I too, am trying to figure out who I am.  Of course, I'm not a famous Italian director who is cheating on my wife with Penelope Cruz (although if she knocked on my door...).  And, Nicole Kidman is not my muse, which is totally fine because I'm not a fan.  Oh yeah, I'm definitely not Daniel Day-Lewis.

He's delicious isn't he?  I would not kick him out of bed for eating crackers.  Not only that, ladies and gentlemen, he acts too!  Sure, he does some schmaltzy stuff but I'm there anytime he wants to tell me:  No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you.  Dude, you had me at the waterfall.

Even better, in his off hours, he makes shoes!  What a great life - acting and making shoes.  I guess he never questions the meaning of his life, huh?

I heard a story about him a long time ago.  Round about the time he was breaking into our consciousness as an "eat crackers in bed" kinda guy.  Now, I doubt this story is true, in fact there are so many holes in it that it's probably not.  But I want it to be true.  I want him to be that guy.

I heard this from the cousin of the friend of the woman that it happened to.  So we're close to the source, hmm?

Anyway, he did My Left Foot in 1988.  This woman, who worked for Miramax at the time, saw the film and told her bosses that they MUST get the distribution rights to this film.  According to the story, she risked her entire career on the film.  Well, Miramax got the rights and the film, as we know, went on to be nominated for several Academy Awards.  As a distributor of the film, Miramax got a couple of seats to the awards ceremony.  But does this woman, who risked her career for the film, get a seat?  Oh no, they go to some executives instead.

It's Oscar day in Los Angeles and the poor woman is hanging out with nothing to do (apparently), when she receives a phone call from none other than Daniel Day-Lewis.  He says, "I heard what you did for our film and I appreciate it.  Would you be my date for the Oscars this evening?"

How she got a dress, I have no idea.  BUT I guess more importantly is that while her bosses were sitting in the nose-bleeds, she was the "plus one" of the guy who just happened to take home the Best Actor Oscar.  She wasn't sitting in no nose bleeds, am I right?

Wouldn't it be great if that story were true?  Sure, he may already be an incredibly nice guy but still it'd be fun if it were true.

And, now, I think I know what I should do in my free time.  I'm going to become a cobbler.

Go Phillies!