怪女孩‧蛻變中

十年前　第一次看這部電影
十年後　再看　震撼依舊

故事的背景在地獄廚房
混雜著來自愛爾蘭、義大利、波多黎各、東歐新移民的社區
一個特別的社區　作者的形容是這樣的

　Yet, despite the harshness of life
　Hell's Kitchen offered the kids on its streets a safety net
　Crimes against people of the neighborhood were not permitted.
　When they did occur, the punishment doled out was severe...
　...and, in some cases, final.

　A drug dealer from uptown moved heroin into Hell's Kitchen.
　A packet killed the twelve-year old son of a Puerto Rican numbers runner.
　It was the last packet the dealer ever sold.

　Hell's Kitchen was a place of innocence...ruled by corruption.

　生活的磨難或許無可避免
　但地獄廚房提供了一個孩子能平安成長的環境
　傷害居民的罪惡是不被允許的
　當這些罪案發生　懲罰往往是嚴峻的　或有時　是最終的

　一個毒販嘗試在地獄廚房賣海 洛英
　其中一包毒品　害死了一個十二歲的小男孩
　那是那毒販賣的最後一包毒品
　（那毒販得到最終懲罰　死掉就是最終咩　= =|||　Shakes 他老爸還帶他去看．．．）

　地獄廚房被墮落的人控制著　 卻是個純真的地方

故事的四個男主角　地獄廚房生 長
年齡相近　他們結為莫逆之交

熾熱的夏天　沉悶的下午
一個吃免費熱狗的惡作劇　轉變為傷人的意外
他們進了威金森少年監獄
而在那邊發生的一切　改變了他們的一生

我想定義這個故事
但是　好難

這是個關於虐待的故事
這是個關於守護的故事
這是個關於復仇的故事
這是個關於愛情的故事
這是個關於選擇的故事

最後　我想

就像是電影剛開始所說的
這是個關於友情的故事

虐待

在社區裡　被默許妥協的家暴
Shakes 的父親吼罵毆打母親
John 母親的男友　毆打 Michael 到他進醫院

地獄廚房在宗教的影響下　是反對離婚的
Shakes 用一句話形容
For a marrage to end, someone usually had to die　唯一離婚的方式　是死亡

How horrible is that?

在監獄裡　守衛對他們的暴力與 性的虐待　令人顫慄
大量陰暗長廊的鏡頭　帶出心理的壓力

橄欖球賽完後的毆打　那樣扭曲 的面孔　令人驚心
不過　Shakes 關禁閉時
望著淡微光線　回想過去的那段　畫面真的好美

人用腦記憶著發生的人事物
但有更多時候　我們是用自己的身體去記憶
一首歌　一句話　一陣味道　都能勾起過往的經歷　好或壞

片中有一段　Shakes 去找神父前　
他在教堂祈禱　過去受虐與現在祈禱的畫面交錯
項鍊與祈禱引起的陰影回憶
正好與影片前段　金班尼的復仇故事呼應　也是很棒的表現手法

守護

好喜歡勞勃狄尼洛扮演的神父
他不自命清高　他融入群體
他幫人走向對的路（恩．．有時候用一些特別的方式）

有一段很可愛
當四個男孩們開始為地頭老大金班尼跑腿的時候
神父擔心他們誤入歧途　想吸引他們去上藝術課
恩　再怎麼瀟灑　他還是個神父
所以他是用米開朗基羅的例子來說服他們（還是邊打籃球邊說　XD）

結果 John 問神父　米開朗基羅花了多久漆那天花板
神父說九年　John 就說　那天花板還真大阿
我家請了個油漆匠漆整個公寓也只花兩天　那油漆匠還跛腳咧
神父就說　那是在西斯汀教堂（Sistine Chapel）的天花板壁畫呀
John 問　那誰漆了其他十五個教堂．．（西斯汀 Sistine 發音很像 第十六 Sixteenth）

很可愛的對話　:p

　Listen, I got a story I want to tell you.
　It ain't the one about the lepers, is it? Cause that one gave me nightmares.
　No lepers. Michelangelo. He was born poor, just like you guys.
　He was a painter, he was a sculptor.
　He takes this job from the Pope. Good money, good work.

　Okay, Father, but why'd the Pope call him?
　Because the Pope was looking for the best guy he could find...
　...to paint the ceiling of his church in Rome.
　It don't sound like that big a job, Father.
　Well, for Michelangelo it was.
　Michelangelo needed the job...
　...because it paid more money than he ever had in his life.
　And that way, he could pay off the loan sharks that were chasing his father down.
　What's his father?
　He was like a low-level...con guy.
　Conned people out of money, goats, sheep...
　Goats?
　Chickens, whatever he could, you know.
　-Chickens? -Chickens?

　You know what happened?
　He painted a ceiling no one will ever forget.
　Painted it like he was touched by the hand of God.
　Did he pay off the loans?
　Every single one of them.
　How long did it take him, painting the ceiling and all?
　It took him about 9 years.
　9 years?!
　That's a big ceiling!
　I had a Puerto Rican do my whole apartment in two days.
　And he had a bum leg.

　You know, I don't know what I'm gonna do with you guys.
　Hey, just give us a job painting, and leave the rest to us.
　You know what it was? The Sistine Chapel!
　Sixteenth Chapel?
　Who painted the other fifteen?

Shakes 要求巴比神父作假證的對話　也是很棒

　Father Bobby: You're asking me... you're asking me to lie.
 　　　　　　　 You're asking me to swear to God and then lie.
　Shakes: I'm asking you to save two of your boys.

有時候　正確的事卻有著不正當的方式

後來　當神父站上證人台　對他的信仰的神宣誓
然後作下　假的不在場證明
真的好感動

復仇

電影裡兩個小片段　是關於復仇 的
髮廊裡　大人傳述金班尼的故事　以及　監獄文學課裡　提到的基度山恩仇記
（金班尼是地獄廚房的地頭老大）

兩個很簡單的小片段　卻隱隱勾 畫出片中復仇的樣子

金的故事　非常屌．．
　小時候被欺侮　金被打斷了前排所有牙齒
　八年後　他在澡堂找到當年欺侮他的人
　他拿下他前排的假牙　他說　每次我照鏡子　我就想到你
　接著　金拿出槍　在對方的雙腿上　各開了兩槍
　然後說　現在　每次你洗澡　你就會想到我

　one day, and who the fuck knows why, some Irish guy...
　...about 25 years old, he takes King Benny...
　 ...and he flings him down a flight of stairs.
　King Benny breaks all his teeth in the front.
　You know what King Benny does?
　He waits. He waits 8 years...to get even with that prick.
　He walks into a public bath house. The guy's soaking in the tub.
　King Benny takes out his front teeth. He lays them down on the sink.
　Then he looks over at the guy and says,
　"When I look in the mirror, I see your face."
　Then he pulls out a gun...and he shoots the guy twice in each leg.
　Then he says to the guy:
　"Now, when you take a bath, you see mine."

靠　XD　超屌的

另外　我也很喜歡 Shakes 對基度山伯爵的說法

　文學老師問他為什麼喜歡這本 書
　Shakes 的回答
　我喜歡這本書　因為伯爵他不讓任何人打倒他
　他忍受一切　他得承受的　毆打辱罵等等　然後從中學習
　他準備好　等到復仇的時機來到　完成他的復仇
　老師問　你欽佩那樣的行為？
　Shakes 回答　我尊敬他

　It's like...he wouldn't let anyone beat him, the Count.
　Took what he had to take, beatings, insults and whatever.
　And he learned from it.
　Then when the time came for him to do something, he made his move.
　-You admire that?
　-No, I respect that.

愛情

片子裡　愛情不是主角
只能在片片段段中　偶爾拾起淡淡的愛情味道
像是童年時 Michaek + Carol 同坐在車後
Shakes + Carol 在陽台上的傾吐

最動人的是
當 Carol 得知真相後　與 Michael 在電車上的對話
為了保持彼此不認識的假象　他們背對彼此對談

鏡頭先是照著 Carol
Carol 說著　為什麼你不告訴我呢
也許你說了　我們之間也許會不同
也許我們．．．

然後鏡頭切到 Michael
Michael 無語地望著她的背影
伸出手想撫摸她的頭髮　提供她一些安慰
最後　卻只是停在半空中
不讓她察覺地　輕撫著一兩根髮絲
那樣的動作　你可以感受到 Michael 對 Carol 的珍視

從這段和 Carol 與 Shakes 的對談
清楚刻畫出了 Michael 與 Carol 之間
她是他唯一的珍寶　他是她生命中的最愛
而他卻因為過往遭遇在心裡築起了一道牆　不讓任何人接近
他明白他的障礙　也害怕他永遠跨不過
不想讓 Carol 再有無法被接受的傷害
他放棄他自己與 Carol 也許會發生的未來
強迫自己與 Carol 保持距離

每次看到這段　就好鼻酸喔　 ˊˋ

還有最後相聚時　他們的擁抱
Sometimes love just not enough...

友情

就如片頭開始　口白所說的　這是部友誼的故事

很喜歡片尾的那段相聚
感覺像是　洗掉了成長的一切
又回到童時相伴的感覺
很單純的　快樂

有些片段沒有狗血地大量灑著友情
卻透出那些堅毅的感情　很喜歡

像是打完官司的時候

　Shakes: Well, don't disappear on me, counselor.
　　　　　 I may need a good lawyer one day.
　Michael: You can't afford a good lawyer.
　Shakes: I may need a good friend, though.
　Michael: I'll find you when you do. Count on it.
　Shakes: Always have.

另外一些片段也很喜歡

像是 Michael 故意輸了棍球
讓殘障的女孩嚐到勝利的滋味

最好玩的是　他們要讓當初其中一個警衛入獄
調查出所有資料　交給政風室的人
資料之齊全　想不定罪都難
政風室調查員拿到資料後　還特別對 Shakes 說　
如果我以後有惹到你　給我個機會　讓我跟你道歉

IA guy: Hey, do me a favor, would you?
Shakes: What's that?
IA guy: If I ever make it onto your shit list, give me a call.
　　　 Give me a chance to apologize.

片末　搭配著最後聚會的那段口白　也很喜歡

　It was our special night, and we held it for as long as we could.
　It was our happy ending.
　And the last time we would ever be together again.
　The future lay sparkling ahead...
　　　　...and we thought we would know each other forever.

一個很動人的故事．．．　值得一看