sweet caroline

today, i caught a movie titled "Beautiful Girls," directed by Ted Demme and starring Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, and to a lesser extent Uma Thurman. it is the story of working-class guys in suburban Massachusetts the week of their 10 year high school reunion. Timothy Hutton, who i've always thought is an incredible and underrated actor, comes up from New York City, where he plays the piano and lives with his attractive, sweet and well-to-do lawyer girlfriend. the movie is a funny and poignant evaluation of the way men think about women, committment, life, jobs, and such. Natalie Portman is in the movie, playing the 13 year old neighbor of Timothy Hutton's parents. Portman is intelligent far beyond her years, and seems to get Hutton, and there is a Lolita-esque quality of their relationship, but Hutton just admires how smart and cool this kid is. Nothing sordid happens here, but Portman helps Hutton realize how much he cares for his girlfriend. The camraderie is portrayed honestly, as the 20-something fellas exhibit mannerisms and dialogue that rings true. More than anything else, i'd like to thank this movie for reintroducing me to a songs i'd long forgotten: Neil Diamond's "sweet caroline." Of course, when i say "sweet caroline" you know exactly who it is. This song is so representative of Diamond, but what is so great about it is the chorus. i've described it as "beautifully languid," because it is so cheery and reflects a kind of belonging that everyone wants, and when you have it, you clutch it knowing how precious it is. This is the song you sing with your buddies at a bar, lingerieng a bit too long on the 'caroline.' It is a song that reminds you instantly of friends you'll have forever, of being young and having nothing to be responsible for. It imbues the listener with a longing for the days when your life was so simple it startles you. This song reminds me of people i love, and that i'll have them for a long time. This song, simply put, makes me happier than almost any other.

Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good.
I've been inclined to believe it never would.