Movies/Music that relate to the "Quarterlife Crisis"

[jwsthe3rd]

Hey Guys! I am a very visual person, and I am a movie buff. I seem to always learn something from movies that I can apply to my life in some way. I'm also a music buff, listening to all genres under the sun. Music is also very therapeutic for me. I was wondering if anyone has seen/heard any inspirational or motivational music/movies that focus around twenty-somethings dealing with love, life, and careers? I'll start the thread by posting a couple reccommendations of my own. Any replies would be very appreciated! Thanks!

Song: John Mayer "Why Georgia" -actually uses the term "QLC"
Movie: "Romy & Michelle's Highschool Reunion" - just a cute/funny reference

[summergold]

Hmm, I'm not sure if it applies to the QLC situation, but I really liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

As far as music goes Death Cab for Cuties album Transatlanticism is great. It deals more with relationships, but works for life in general.
Saves the Day - Through Being Cool. It just makes me smile
There's also a song by Josh Rouse off his album Nashville. It's called Sad Eyes. I suggest it for anyone who's feeling down or sad. It's one of the best songs I've ever heard.

[Kitty]

Reality bites?

[shimmer728]

The TV show Friends through probably the first four seasons. Particularly season one.

Any John Mayer music; the song "No Such Thing" epitomizes QLC.

[tina1979]

I think that John Mayer's Room for Squares is pretty much right on for QLC. The whole albumn is awesome

[Mad Dawg]

Two words...

OFFICE SPACE

[shimmer728]

Two words...

OFFICE SPACE

How could we forget? :D

[tina1979]

yes! Office Space is definately it too!!!

[Mad Dawg]

I will also submit Swingers as a movie that is full of QLC, but honestly I am finding it difficult to think of movies ABOUT QLC. Perhaps remake-happy Hollywood is missing out on a gold mine of story ideas. I can think of many individual QLC characters in films. Of these probably the most compelling is Charlotte from Lost In Translation.

[MegeggersUNC]

There's also a movie called "singles" that I've seen on cable tv a couple times, about a group of single people in their mid to late twenties living in an apartment building in CA. Focuses on jobs and dating mostly. I can't remember anybody huge being in it, but some fairly respectable B-listers, as I recall.

[cornflakegirl]

There's also a movie called "singles" that I've seen on cable tv a couple times, about a group of single people in their mid to late twenties living in an apartment building in CA. Focuses on jobs and dating mostly. I can't remember anybody huge being in it, but some fairly respectable B-listers, as I recall.

uh, just matt dillon, bridget fonda, bill pullman & kyra sedgwick.

[stonemonkey]

Does 'Fight Club' count?

[WeirdBrake]

Ah, Fight Club..... one of the most quotable movies of all time.

[hoodie]

Summergold, your taste in music seems quite excellent! I agree.

I thought Garden State was very QLC like...

[ebruening]

I really enjoy Cursive's "The Ugly Organ" album. It's loud and angry, yes, but oh-so-therapeutic! (I'm probably biased, though, because I think Cursive's live shows are KILLER!) You also might try the Bright Eyes tracks "Land Locked Blues" and "Road to Joy" off the "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" album.

[Mad Dawg]

I thought Garden State was very QLC like...Ah crap! I forgot about that one! You know, it's just too bad that movie's ending sucks. The rest of the film was brilliant. Great soundtrack, too.

[Mad Dawg]

I would also like to submit Clerks as a candidate.

[jwsthe3rd]

Funny you guys reccommend "Office Space" because before you even posted that suggestion on here, I had went to the video store and picked it up. I actually just finished watching it and it was pretty funny. I was definitely able to identify with the main character, and share his views "People aren't meant to work in cubicles behind computers all their lives, I'm not working anymore and I'm not paying the bills!" HaHa! I sometimes really want to say that myself, but what would happen to me if I couldn't pay my bills any longer... No, seriously... what if I don't find a job and run out of money and none of my family can help me pay the bills? What happens then? Bankruptcy, or do they send you to jail or something? That's a terrible thought! I could just see myself homeless on the streets by year's end...

[preludemd]

Funny you guys reccommend "Office Space" because before you even posted that suggestion on here, I had went to the video store and picked it up. I actually just finished watching it and it was pretty funny. I was definitely able to identify with the main character, and share his views "People aren't meant to work in cubicles behind computers all their lives, I'm not working anymore and I'm not paying the bills!" HaHa! I sometimes really want to say that myself, but what would happen to me if I couldn't pay my bills any longer... No, seriously... what if I don't find a job and run out of money and none of my family can help me pay the bills? What happens then? Bankruptcy, or do they send you to jail or something? That's a terrible thought! I could just see myself homeless on the streets by year's end...


If you're going to be homeless then might I suggest getting a plane ticket to St. Thomas or somewhere in the bahamas? If I were going to be homeless, that's where I'd prefer to be with my ass planed under a palm tree watching the clear blue water.

[WeirdBrake]

No, seriously... what if I don't find a job and run out of money and none of my family can help me pay the bills? What happens then? Bankruptcy, or do they send you to jail or something?

They no longer send people to jail for not being able to pay bills. "Debtors' prisons" were abolished a long time ago. The only way to go to jail is if you deliberately wrote bad checks or otherwise defrauded people knowing you didn't have the money to cover it.

If you're going to be homeless then might I suggest getting a plane ticket to St. Thomas or somewhere in the bahamas?

St. Thomas? St. Happenin'. (sorry, couldn't resist!)

[hopeless]

I'm not sure if this fits into the QLC, but a movie I watched on tv few weeks back was St. Elmo's Fire. An 80's movie starring Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, & other co-stars. It's about a group of friends who just graduated from college & deal with real world stuff. There was some scenes in the movie I could relate to.

[samender]

I am not thinking of an example but it seems any song I am really into at the moment or movie I relate to my life somehow and I get a lot of emotions out of it and I think I analyze things more about my life that way.

[jrwilheim]

St. Elmo's Fire is another good one for the quarterlife crisis.

[spokes]

how about Harold and Kumar go to White Castle

[LakeJay]

how about Harold and Kumar go to White Castle

I would have never thought of that right off the bat, but I think that would qualify. Good call.

[ebruening]

how about Harold and Kumar go to White Castle

Great flick, good choice!

[cameralady]

Although this is retro, I think Saturday Night Fever would qualify. It's not just about disco; John Travolta's character starts to question his environment, his friends, the status quo of the neighborhood, and the direction of his life.

[in medias res]

A song that pertains to the quarterlife crisis is a song called twentysomething by Jamie Cullum.It has a jazz vibe and the lyrics are about graduating and wondering what to do next.

Garden State to me typifies a quarterlife crisis.When I saw that movie,I could understand where Zach Braff's feelings were coming from.I also thought Good Will Hunting could also be about a quarterlife crisis.In the movie,Will questions his life and his goals in life.I'm not sure whether they stated Will's age in the movie but I do remember it being fairly young.

[Cole]

Garden State is the bery first thing that pops in my head, immediately followed by most of John Mayer's music, Jaime Cullum's entire album, and definitely Carbon Leaf's song "What about everything" (if you haven't heard it, go get it!)

[Deni81]

Garden State is the bery first thing that pops in my head, immediately followed by most of John Mayer's music, Jaime Cullum's entire album, and definitely Carbon Leaf's song "What about everything" (if you haven't heard it, go get it!)

Jamie Cullum is great. He has a whole song about being a twentysomething, right??

[biodork]

Anyone mention Greenday's American Idiot? I really think a lot of the album relates to QLC. At least it relates to how i feel most of the time (especially Jesus of Suburbia).

[Leufion]

Good call on American Idiot biodork. Weezer also has songs that remind me of QLCs.
For movies, Old School has elements of QLCs in it.

[MollyMe]

"You can't always get what you want" is a song that comes to mind.

[coleco power]

listen to the cure, the smiths, or joy division if you really hate your life in and after college. radiohead is good, too

[Starfish81]

St. Thomas? St. Happenin'. (sorry, couldn't resist!)

I don't get it :question:

[dazed]

Anyone mention Greenday's American Idiot? I really think a lot of the album relates to QLC. At least it relates to how i feel most of the time (especially Jesus of Suburbia).

Most definitely!! The epic that is Jesus of Suburbia is great and fits the QLC topic very well. Are We The Waiting, Welcome to Paradise, My Generation (from Kerplunk), and Warning (from Warning) fit with QLC too.

Linkin Park has some songs that remind me of QLCs too. In The End, One Step Closer, By Myself, and Somewhere I Belong (perfect fit).

[NotPersephone]

This link from Hatch Magazine is really cool--I haven't heard all these songs, but I know the ones from Avenue Q are dead on! (I love that musical!)

http://www.hatchmagazine.com/story.phtml?id=141

I've also thought that "Flying Dutchman" by Tori Amos was relevant.

I also just read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. While it's definitely on the lighter side, the main character has a heck of a QLC--she's 6,000 pounds in debt, and she has to figure out how to repay it, while fighting back her incredible shopping habit. It's hilarious. I've already started on the second one!

[summergold]

Oh, books! I'd like to suggest, mostly for the women since it's pretty much a chick book, Why Girls Are Weird by Pamela Ribon. It's rare that I feel like an author has climbed inside my head and written a book that almost parallels my life. Plus, it's really funny :)

[NotPersephone]

I loved that book too!! :)

[jwsthe3rd]

OK guys, I've been watching a whole lot of movies and have a great list to give to you all that you should definitely check out. I will first list the independent films I have recently seen that have been brilliant. Then I will list a couple others that may be blockbuster/hollywood types. Before I post, I just want to say that all of these films have been movies that I have watched as a result to my quarterlife crisis. I have seeked them out and they have all touched me or moved me in regards to my own personal struggles. They all have characters in them, ranging from teenagers to people in their twenties, who are struggling with careers, love, family, and self-discovery...So here we go...

1.) Particles of Truth - Starring Gale Harold (Queer as Folk)

2.) Until the Night - Starring Kathleen Robertson (Scary Movie 2), Sean Young, and Michael T. Weiss

3.) Prozac Nation - Starring Christina Ricci, Jessica Lange, Anne Heche, Michelle Williams, Johnathan Rhys-Meyers, and Jason Biggs

4.) XX/XY - Starring Mark Ruffalo (In the Cut, Thirteen Going on Thirty)

5.) The Rules of Attraction - Starring James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek)

6.) May - Starring Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under), Angela Bettis, and Anna Faris (Scary Movie)

7.) The Mudge Boy - Starring Emile Hirsch (Invisible Heroes)

8.) Thirteen - Starring Holly Hunter (Living Outloud), Deborah Kara Unger, and Evan Rachel Wood (The Missing)

9.) Tart - Starring Dominique Swain (Lolita), Mischa Barton (The O.C.), and Brad Renfro (Apt Pupil)

10.) Pieces of April - Starring Katie Holmes (The Gift)

Hollywood/Independents?

11.) A Love Song for Bobby Long - Starring Scarlett Johansson (Girl With the Pearl Earring), John Travolta, Deborah Kara Unger (Crash), and Gabriel Macht (Goonies) <--- All grown up and HOT HOT HOT!

12.) The Upside of Anger - Starring Joan Allen (Ice Storm), Kevin Costner, Alicia Witt (Urban Legends), Keri Russell (Felicity), Erica Christensen (Swimfan), and Evan Rachel Wood.

Honorable Mentions: 30 Something Independent Films

13.) Melvin Goes to Dinner (conversational movie about love, friends, life)

14.) Dancing at the Blue Iguana - Starring Darryl Hannah, Sandra Oh, and Jennifer Tilly (Heartbreaking look into the lives of 5 strippers)

Has anyone seen any of these movies? They are all brilliant, slice of life sorts of movies, ranging from drama/comedy/thriller... If you are interested in any of them, let me know and I can tell you a little about them, or just go to IMDB.Com and look them up... :razz:

[dmbfan]

I would definalty have to agree with those that say Garden State. I don't believe that there are very many movies made for twentysomethings. Garden State is one of them!! Zach Braff talks about his QLC in many of the interviews he has about Garden State, hes read the book, and feels that the movies is really his QLC with a little bit of twist.
The soundtrack is awesome! I have to say, The Postal Service is good, I love the song "I'm not okay" by My Chemical Romance....lots of others, just can't think of them. Well, duh, DMB is a must, but they are just excellent!