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Dead Poets Society (1989)
Great Movie
There is a lot to like about the movie. Cinematography, characterizations, actors, etc. I really liked how it leaves you feeling for Keating's character at the end, while also in many ways arguing against his actions. The Latin teacher and principal are respectful and cordial. Their positions are more level headed. After all, Keating's student kills himself, when he could have waited a year and become an actor. He would have been an "adult" in no time. He couldn't wait. I have to be an actor now or die. I can understand feeling that way if your parents are telling you you can't be who you want to be. But suicide? The other students are reckless too. They're young. They're not as capable of thinking long term. They're doing stuff that's risking expulsion... stupid stuff, that could negatively impact the rest of their lives. They don't have as much experience. Anyway, that's why i liked the movie. Did really well developing that central question of how much freedom and responsibility 17 years can handle. How much critical reasoning can they do and should it be encouraged? Hard to say, I think.
Nightcrawler (2014)
Love It!!!!!
This movie rules. It follows Lou Bloom, who appears to be a thief, looking for work, a job, career, internship, anything. He discovers men ("stringers") videotaping a car crash and overhears one of them negotiating a sale price to a news channel. Later he sees the footage on TV, realizing he may be able to do this too. Thus begins Bloom's adventure in building a "succesful TV news business."
Why does this movie slay? Because every line bites with irony and wit. It blends genres and themes. It asks questions and prods the viewer to look inward and reflect as producers and consumers. To what extent, if any, is the audience responsible for actors like Bloom working in a capitalist economy. What accountability can be placed on the viewer who demands, values, and consumes the product Bloom delivers? Does the viewer have any interest in curbing that demand or consumption? Should Bloom's actions be regulated, restricted, or shamed? Maybe they should be praised and celebrated?
Answers to these questions fall in a gray area. And the movie does well to stimulate introspection and discussion by focusing on difficult questions instead of leading the viewer to form knee-jerk judgments and conclusions. Although the story brings out Bloom's sociopathic qualities, where the storytellers stand on preventing people like Bloom from thriving is not clear. Maybe a solution would include more protections, regulations, emphasis on family values, better law enforcement, consumer restrictions, censoring or limiting the media. Maybe Bloom is just a necessary evil that we should accept, a byproduct of the human condition, industry, and capitalism. Who knows...
Descent (2007)
Pretty Bad
Just watched this on Netflix. From the description, I had a fairly decent idea about what was going to happen. I figured it would be another revenge flick, which it is, but obviously commenting at the end that revenge doesn't fix the trauma.
My problem with the film isn't even some of the graphic nature of it, which didn't bother me too much. What bothered me is the pointless use of such imagery.
What I wanted from the film, and didn't get, was to understand more deeply how being raped might affect one's behavior, post rape. She just seemed sort of numb and sad, if not depressed.
Overall, I thought it was a very weird movie.