LET’S BREAK UP

You’ve probably heard that most of us Mercury folk have either called it quits with our significant others or have restraining orders pending against us. So, most nights we just hang out at local dives crying into our G & Ts. But, on those off evenings when we’re not cruising the Safeway, some “breakin’ up” videos make the night seem a little less lonely.

• St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)–The amazing Ally Sheedy and the droopy
Judd Nelson are trying to save their post-college, mid-eighties, yuppie relationship.
But nervous nerd Andrew McCarthy is ready to step in at any moment to fill Judd’s
shoes. Rob Lowe and Demi Moore have major coke problems–big surprise. And,
everyone dresses like they just got gift certificates to the Goodwill. Don’t
forget the theme song… “Man in Motion.” Oh… I’m gonna cry.

• Hiroshima, Mon Amour (1959)–This upbeat little number finds
two odd lovebirds trying to figure out what makes each other tick. They follow
each other, kiss, cry, make love and then speak in creepy voiceovers. It’s a
film about longing and misunderstanding, and about being with the wrong person
in the right ways. Beautiful, confusing, sad, and oh, so very Frawnch!

• Orlando (1992)–Poor Orlando, he can never grow old. He encounters
love and is betrayed. He just can’t figure women out… until one morning he
awakes and is one–a woman that is. Now she, Orlando, encounters love as a woman
and can’t quite seem to figure men out. And you thought you had it tough.

• Tales of the City (1993)–The lives of several odd and enchanting
characters are intertwined in this three-video saga. It originally ran on PBS,
and was the cause of much stir (thanks to Jesse Helms), because of nudity, gay
themes and drug use. Set in the seventies and starring an impressive cast (including
Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me) and Billy Campbell (Once and Again), the
six hours whiz by as we watch our new “friends” fall in love, cheat, drink,
smoke pot, and of course, break up. If these tapes tickle your fancy, remember
there are two more of the Tales of… series that ran on Showtime. That means
you could potentially waste up to 18 hours on this delirious fun!

We at the Mercury sincerely hope you don’t pity our heartbreak. We’ll get
over our lost loves somehow–even if it does mean eating a whole box of Trix
for dinner. M. LON FREE