The Midlife Crisis That Changed His Life
When I love a movie, I’ll watch it many, many times. Fargo is one of those movies. I’ve probably seen it 15 times.
William H. Macy starred in Fargo as the nerdy and desperate car salesman Jerry Lundegaard.
But Macy didn’t want to go to his grave known for that role alone. At age 50, he suffered a midlife crisis, and consequently took control of his movie career and started writing again. Macy, now 57, has two new films coming out, Keep Coming Back, which is Macy’s directorial debut, and The Deal, which he co-wrote.
See? You can reinvent yourself.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I like Fargo a lot, too… especially What’s-Her-Face (how’s THAT for a memory!), and the look on her face during the wood chipper scene. Made me really, really want a wood chipper.
As for reinventing oneself… I’ve got to stop reinventing and start being someone/something soon. I’ve confused even myself, now.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I just loved Fargo, especially since I have worked so much with “perps.” The glamorous criminal is a complete figment of the imagination. Real felons are more like the ones in that movie. Dangerous and dopey.
April 11th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I’ve just tagged you for a Thinking Blog Award. Come check out my post.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Frances McDormand.
Fargo, with its snowy imagery (that scene with Macy and the ice scraper!) and idiotic criminals, is almost hypnotically downbeat–but I don’t mean that as a negative. I love Coen Brothers movies.
Living where I do, I hear a lot of upper midwest accents during the wintertime, so am constantly reminded of Fargo.
Macy’s reinvention is inspiring; I’d like to do the same.
April 12th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Les: Wood chippers scare me. You scare me. I think folks can reinvent themselves many times, but it’s true: they should stop at some point.
Hattie: Interesting! I didn’t know you worked with criminals. And it somehow gives me some solace knowing they are jerks.
Vancouver: Too sweet!
Cilicious: I would love to hear those accents more; you’re lucky. “Thanks a bunch,” as they say. Hey, let’s all reinvent ourselves.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Rhea,
Thanks so much for visiting me at Murphy’s Law. This is a fabulous post. When we grew up, our parents worked for a company until retirement, and they didn’t teach us self-actualization or the concept of life chapters. They were dealing with different issues.
Our generation has progressed technologically, socio-economically, and intellectually far beyond what our parents dreamed. They did not have a television or know what a computer was. We stand on their shoulders.
Therefore, some of us come to a place where we recognize material and financial trappings do not satisfy our soul.
When you hit the age of 50 or so, you realize all that really matters is the difference you make in the world. How have you changed the world? Have you left it a better place?
This is not a mission for all. Only for the few that have the courage to stand alone. And we live in a world of conformists. And one must stand naked before the world and be immune to hatred and ugliness.
The other reality is we get stale as human beings. If we do not feed our brains with new challenges every 8-10 years, we die a slow death. Our brains atrophy. Our spirit is crushed and we don’t even know what happened. We must face our fear head on and have the courage to fail. Fear is the most overwhelming feeling one can experience, yet if can face it head on…we can overcome it.
Yet it is how the soul is broken that I see in my work on Wall Street. You see emptiness and loss. And it is frightening. The reality is if you don’t reinvent yourself, your spirit dies.
April 13th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
classic! I love most of what the Coen Brothers have done. Fargo, Raising Arizona and O Brother Where Art Thou are all tops in my book.