I often talk about authenticity. These days, that’s a special quality. If you’re lucky enough to be friendly with such people, they’re shining stars for life.
They’re the unique ones we can count on. No matter how down things are, they’re there for you in good and in bad. Keep your Inner Circle tight. It consists of your family and friends who remain loyal.
Sometimes, when I’m struggling with anxiety, I turn to music to help improve my mood. It all depends what I feel like. If it’s a tough day which Sunday was, I’ll opt for Nine Inch Nails. The genius of Trent Reznor always shines through.
I feel many of us can relate to his powerful songs that hold up well. I don’t just mean for addicts who battle unthinkable demons and must overcome the odds to survive. As someone who has my own battles, the lyrics apply.
The great thing is not every song has words. That’s what makes Reznor different from most artists. His creativity and ability to see things from a different perspective make it interesting to understand where he’s coming from.
Take “Leaving Hope.” It is an instrumental that builds over the 5:57. There isn’t a hopeless feeling like I’ve heard in so many other tracks. It gives off a different vibe. Something positive for us to take out of it.
It’s the final song off the 2002 The Fragile album. There’s a hidden message in it that I can genuinely feel. One that feels better. Kind of like watching the planes come into Newark Airport from our Staten Island home on the South Shore. It looks so peaceful on a cool Spring night in April.
Especially with a later sunset giving way to a unique mix of dark gray and lighter white clouds. And all you can see are those planes coming in carrying passengers back from their travels to arrive home on Sunday night before a new work week.
There’s something about it that I like. “Leaving Hope” reminds me of such a peaceful sight of full flights returning safely with their lights flashing through to land.
Maybe that’s the beauty of uniqueness I feel. The combination of an artistic sky lit up and a good song that relaxes me. It helps to remove the stigma away.
There’s so much beauty in the world. To use a quote from American Beauty. In those moments, we can fully appreciate why the peace and quiet of the night can be a good reminder.
Exactly the same feeling I get when listening to a NIN song from Trent. Someone who sees things differently. That’s something we need more of.
For many movie fans who love comedy, there are few better than John Candy. He was once in a lifetime. During the 80’s, Candy delivered in so many funny roles that make us remember him so fondly.
Today marks 28 years since he’s been gone. While it’s hard to believe it’s been so long, the memories of what John Candy provided for audiences remain. Unique characters like Del Griffith, Buck Russell, Jack Chester, Chet Ripley and even his great portrayal of Dean Andrews are still fresh in our hearts.
The video tribute above is worth watching. Candy made us smile and laugh. He played lovable characters who we could identify with. None better than Del Griffith in the memorable Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A flawed person who brought so much quality due to the shower curtain ring salesman he was and funny stories that drove Neal Page crazy. Expertly played by Steve Martin, who is an advertising executive who gets stuck due to a winter storm while trying to get home to his family for Thanksgiving.
They were opposites in every sense. Yet the comedic genius of director John Hughes had the two characters come together to make a movie full of adventure, laughs and hilarious moments that made fans smile. The way they get stuck at the airport and then travel by bus, train and eventually automobile which really is the craziest part of the movie.
It created scenes that we can’t get enough of. Del can’t quite get comfortable while driving and eventually takes his eyes off the road and the car spins about 10 times before he hits the brakes. What follows is him going the wrong way leading to travelers on a parallel highway trying to warn him and Neal. His reaction is priceless. How would he know where they’re going? It leads to the following chaos.
The reaction afterwards from both Del and Neal is priceless. Almost killed by two honking trucks, they survive and then watch as the car burns. This leads to laughter. It remains one of the funniest scenes ever.
Once cooler heads prevail after they have it out, Del does get Neal home and sees him off at the train station in Chicago. But as he is full of warm thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner with his loving wife and beautiful kids and family, he starts to think about Del. The funny moments they had.
Eventually, he comes back to a conversation they had in their motel room. It’s then that he realizes nothing is as it seems. It creates a special moment that really hits home for viewers. It’s why Planes, Trains and Automobiles holds up. It’s the ultimate Thanksgiving movie. While we do laugh throughout, the moment when Neal returns to the empty train station to confront Neal is one of the saddest scenes. It’s emotional.
In the end, Neal realizes what he must do for Del by inviting him for Thanksgiving dinner. This movie came out in 1987. It remains a classic. Candy and Martin played off each other so well. Martin was great as the very dismissive Neal Page. Candy played the every man in the hustling Del Griffith. He shined in it.
They don’t make movies like that anymore. We could echo similar for his Uncle Buck character. Another flawed person who relies mostly on bookmaking to make money off horse races. However, he must take care of his brother’s teenage daughter, younger son (played by Macaulay Culkin before Home Alone fame) and their younger sister.
It makes for another feel good movie that shows how Candy is able to elevate Buck throughout. He looks after Tia, who wants to hangout with her friends and a boy whose intentions aren’t good. Something Buck notices. She resents her uncle for watching over her. Classic teenage rebellion.
Eventually, Buck wins her over by being there by showing up at a party where ironically Young MC hit “Bust A Move,” is playing. He saves Tia from being raped. Then they harass the deviant and both share a laugh afterwards.
Uncle Buck is successful because it’s very relatable. If it’s on, I watch. It doesn’t fade away. Sometimes, I wonder about how things are now due to phones, texting and social media. Back then, we didn’t rely on modern technology. There wasn’t any internet. Only regular phones in our homes. The times have changed.
Candy was also in the comedy Stripes and part of The Blues Brothers where he played the funny detective after Jake and Elwood Blues. The car chase remains one of the classic scenes.
He even took on a more serious role as the controversial Dean Andrews in JFK. From looking at old footage, I thought Candy’s portrayal was good. He must’ve really studied Dean’s mannerisms and slang. It was one of his last roles.
Who could forget Cool Runnings? He was the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team. That was an underrated flick based on a true story. I really liked it.
Summer Rental saw Candy as the ultimate Dad taking his family on vacation to a nice beach house. While they all have fun, he gets hurt and winds up stuck in the house. When he isn’t, unwelcome guests take over the place to which his Jack Chester character erupts and gets everyone out.
He strikes up an odd friendship with Scully, who knows a lot about boats. Eventually, they come up against the loathsome tenant who doesn’t lose at sailing races. Jack puts himself on the line. If they win, they get to stay for the next two weeks free. The ending makes for great entertainment. It’s another funny movie.
I wonder how much more Candy had to give. He was 43 when he passed away on March 4, 1994. His brand of comedy was larger than life much like him. But the fact that he took a serious role in JFK showed that he had more acting chops.
How do you remember John Candy? Whenever I think of him, I smile and laugh. That’s what he would want.
On a late Thursday night at home here in my bed on the South Shore of Staten Island, I’m in deep thought about lots of stuff.
It’s been a quiet Thanksgiving for our family. Just me, Justin and our caring and loving Dad. I spoke to my Mom about her turkey with her husband. She sent me pictures via text. It looked great. She’s always been a great cook. When I was younger, I used to tell her she could open a restaurant. The things we say to our parents, paying them the ultimate compliment.
While I could never do it without either Mom or Dad even if they’re no longer together, I admire the unique qualities they have. They’re caring, considerate, loving, unselfish and passionate. Always there to support me and my brother no matter what. For that, I’m most grateful. 🙏
During this special time of year, we are thankful for family and friends. I consider our close friends extended family members, or our Inner Circle. Not just a cool group created by All Elite Wrestling star Chris Jericho. It certainly applies to our lives. Without the love and support for one another, it wouldn’t be the same. To quote the late great Heavy D, “I got nothing but love for you.”
If family, friends and your inner circle are what this holiday stands for, then we are putting things in proper perspective. However, I’m always reminded every Thanksgiving of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A John Hughes classic prominently featuring the legendary John Candy and great Steve Martin.
Picture two completely different people trying to get home to their families in time for Thanksgiving. There’s the more serious Neal Page played by Martin, who’s in New York City for an insurance convention. He wants nothing more than to make it back to Chicago to see his wife, lovely children and family.
Then, you have the very quirky and personable Del Griffith, expertly played by Candy. A man of the people who sells anything from shower curtain rings to even hustling other cool materials like earrings to a younger crowd when things get dicey.
Somehow, they run into each other when Griffith accidentally steals Page’s cab which he paid for. He unknowingly didn’t see him and this infuriates Page, who settles for another taxi on the way to the airport.
As fate would have it, they wind up meeting up at the airport and on the same flight which has to land in Missouri due to a snowstorm. Now, they’re stuck in another place hoping to track down a way to get to Chicago. Only Del learns there are no connecting flights available. How is Neal going to get home in time to see his family?
First, they travel by bus and poor Neal gets busted for watching a young couple make out when it was Del who told him to check that out. Busted. Hilarious. Then, they travel by train and Neal feels at ease thinking he’ll finally arrive home. At this point, he splits up with Del, who’s been getting on his nerves. Yet it’s Griffith who’s doing everything he can to help Page get home. He knows people and even gets them a room at a motel thanks to knowing the manager.
When the train somehow breaks down as only it could, Neal and Del are reunited with Page helping carry Griffith’s luggage across a field. They eventually wind up getting a ride in a pickup truck and must brave the elements freezing outside. It’s a funny scene.
There are too many parts of this Turkey Day classic to get into. From them being robbed in a motel to Neal absolutely losing it when a bus dropped him off without a rental car and he throws his agreement away and slips down a snow bank and has to walk back and wait in line while the smiling female rental agent is laughing it up on the phone about her Thanksgiving plans. He lights into her and goes too far cursing up a storm. It’s hilarious.
Eventually, it’s Griffith who rescues his punched out friend he nearly hit due to Page’s sarcastic mouth getting him into trouble. He got a car and they share the driving duties. But Del goes a little overboard trying to adjust his seat due to his coat being stuck. He completely loses control of the vehicle and it does a 360 when he hits the brakes.
This awakens Neal, who asks if everything is okay. To which Del makes up a deer story and says he’s fine. Little do they know what’s next. I won’t spoil it. Let’s just say one of the funniest movie scenes leaves you in crying laughter. It’s so hysterical. After the car becomes unsafe for travel despite Del’s best wishes where I have no idea how Candy kept a straight face (how many takes) explaining it to a cop who caught him speeding 78 MPH.
Somehow, thanks to Del, who finds a free ride in the back of a truck home, they wind up in Chicago by the train station. Despite the arguments they had earlier, Del has gotten Neal to his destination. After having been through so much, he’s very thankful and tells Del he’s a little wiser on Thanksgiving Day as they say goodbye and Neal gets his train.
It’s only after Neal Page is comfortably riding home that he starts to replay some of the crazy things that happened. That includes some of the funny moments and more serious ones. It’s the last one that sticks with him the most and he realizes then that Del Griffith hasn’t told him everything, leaving out a very important detail about his wife and situation.
It sets up this final ending to a just very emotional movie that combines comedy, ruthlessness, seriousness and even sadness to make it the perfect holiday treat.
That scene is what I define as the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Steve Martin’s character Neal Page does something remarkable for John Candy’s Del Griffith character, out of the sheer kindness of his heart. Life lesson learned.
It’s that kind of ❤ that Planes, Trains and Automobiles has that makes it so special.
The lesson here is this. It’s not about the food. It’s about the people you share your good times with. It’s about having a good heart. Giving is everything in life. Don’t forget it.
HITTING BACK 