The X-Factor

For those who don’t know me personally, my occasional references to Katie might be somewhat mysterious. She's sort of the shadow organization behind the Film Walrus and also my live-in girlfriend of five years. She’s had to put up with my considerable appetite for films, not always ones she was particularly interested in.

Our relationship has weathered the usual tests and trials, like surviving the original 1972 “Solyaris” as a date movie (there were exactly three other people in the audience), a failed Friday night party with her five college roommates in which I showed “Weekend,” and a very uncomfortable midnight screening of “Cannibal Holocaust.” We’ve influenced each other’s taste in films so much that these days we often become absorbed in little movie-reference bubbles that leave outsiders baffled and annoyed.

We don’t always agree about every film, but having someone on hand to discuss films with has really helped me come to understand and appreciate films on a deeper level. And honestly, she’s much better then I am at remembering where we last saw a recognizable face. Katie’s been a key source of support for the Film Walrus, even when it means I’m typing away at the computer during the precious hours when we’re both home. She also runs her own blog, Pwning Adulthood, and you may see her helping out with a new series around here.

Anyway, the reason I mention Katie today is because I want to discuss "the x-factor." The x-factor is one Katie’s nicknames, owing to her selection of pseudo-random movies for us to watch. She's often forgotten what the film is about by the time it arrives in our DVD player so we don't have any particular expectations. My own film diet is pretty strictly controlled with films culled from several thousand I’ve become interested in through recommendations and research. We started referring to Katie as the x-factor when I awoke to the importance of introducing a less-regimented, more-random element into my movie watching.

For other people, their x-factor might be the schedule programmers at TCM or a local repertory theater. It might be randomly selecting DVDs when you’re in a hurry at Blockbuster or blindly taking recommendations from an eccentric blogger. For many, like myself, the x-factor is a person whose taste is different from their own, but still trustworthy or intriguing. The x-factor keeps you from getting in a rut, playing it safe, sticking to what you know, etc.

I don’t always like the movies Katie picks out (nor does she), but it does expand my horizons and provide an opportunity for us to share our time and our thoughts. Besides, with all the silent Soviet cinema, grueling European art films and crummy cult fodder I put her through, watching a few of her choices is the least I can do.