Circle of Friends
October 04, 2004

For the inaugural post in the category of movies, I wanted to profile one of my favorite movies of all time, Circle of Friends. This is a movie that far too many people haven’t seen. It is also a movie that had a profound effect on my life in many ways.

I first saw it when I was a freshman in college at Baylor University. Here I was, a naïve and super-focused student with a 4.0GPA who was living away from home for the first time, yet whose main daily activities included holing myself up at a desk somewhere, studying way too much. Amidst all this studying, I did manage to catch glimpses of previews for this movie, which featured Chris O’Donnell, who was much beloved by me and my friend who lived in the dorm room next to mine. This little fact got me to the theater to see this movie which introduced me to a whole new lot of treasures.

The previews ended, and the movie was starting. The voice that filled the theater was that of a girl who would become an inspiration to me to this day, Miss Minnie Driver. The tale started, she came on screen as Benny Hogan, and I was sold. I had never so instantly identified with a character or an actress in all my life. All the elements came together in this one film. It was in reviews for this movie where I first heard the term “coming of age film,” and it was the film itself that showed me how I wanted to come of age: without reservations, grasping all opportunities and living life to its fullest, with joy and vigor, taking chances, and hopes of having a true romance of my own, just like Benny found with Jack (sans the snake-like betrayal of a “friend” like Nan, thank you very much).

Besides these grand themes, which the film truly did inspire in me, there are also the more base elements which stole my heart. It was watching this movie that I developed a love for the Irish brogue. It was soon thereafter that I mastered it. I also love the look of the movie, the streets Benny walks through, the fact that she has to catch the ten to six bus home everyday no matter what. I love the university scarves they wear. I love the music they listen to. To this day, every time I hear “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” I get a swell of emotions.

This movie also features great early performances by several actors, including Alan Cumming, who plays Sean “bloody” Walsh and Colin Firth, who plays the creepy heir, Simon Westward. But the standout find in this movie is Minnie Driver. What can I say? She’s simply the best.

Circle of Friends is definitely a favorite of mine. Check it out*- maybe it will become a favorite of yours, too. Who knows, maybe It’s Destiny!.

*This movie is for adult viewing due to some mature themes and content.

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