All The World's A Prison
The LYRC staff went on a field-trip a few days ago to see Todd Solondz' latest film, Palindromes (check out Roger Ebert's excellent review). Sometimes, a scientific view of humanity is the only way to unmask beauty, at least insofar as (a) objectivity is a stated goal and (b) moral prejudices are actively squelched in scientific endeavors. That said, the brilliance of Palindromes lies in the adroit manner in which it prevents the audience from reverting to ingrained habits of moral quantification. The central conceit of the movie is that the leading character is portrayed by a series of actors; as each one appears we see her from a unique emotional and ethical viewpoint. In our current political climate, it sometimes seems impossible to rely upon one's own conscience when confronted with difficult ethical dilemmas, being that it has become the central preoccupation of our government, our press, our families, and our religious organizations to educate us – in no uncertain terms – regarding the correct posture of our conscience on any given matter. Perhaps for this very reason, the moral quandaries of the damned have always been of particular interest to me (as they appear to be to Solondz as well); after all, we're all damned in our own unspeakable way. If you're interested in seeing a movie that is not "on message", buy a ticket to Palindromes. However, if you're simply interested in laughing so hard you pee yourself, buy a ticket to see Steve Walker dance around in his underpants to that "Mexican shit" in Famous Door's Suburban Motel.
5 Comments:
I'm going to take your word for this and go see the movie. If I hate it I'm coming to Chicago and kicking you in the ding ding.
I swore off Todd Solondz after "Happiness" (one of my top ten most hated films of all time). I was so angered by the overt pretentiousness coupled with the utter stupidity of the film that I vowed never to see one of his films again. I mean how could someone waste millions of dollars and at least four stellar performances to make a movie that has nothing more to say than "Clueless vacant people who make lousy choices live desperate miserable lives." NO shit? I mean if I piss down my leg it itches but I'm not going to make a fucking movie about it. It ranks up there on the obvious theme scale with "Yes, people in the Victorian era fucked too" and "bad people get eaten by dinosaurs." Does he expect that he's peeling back the conventions of society and exposing the seemy underbelly that we pretend isn't there? Well fuck him! I know its there. I just don't care. What 12 year old kid is so clueless that he announces he masturbated successfully at Christmas dinner? Who invites their perverted heavy-breather caller to their apartment and is surprised that the exchange is uncomfortable? I mean COME ON! What am I retarded? Am I supposed to be shocked by this or made uncomfortable? I don't care.
But that's a whole different movie and I don't know why I just launched into a big rant about it. Sorry. Just a pet peeve of mine. Either way I'm on my way to Palindromes as soon as finals are over. I trust your opinion. But if you're wrong I'm going to come masturbate all over your Christmas dinner and make your dog lick it up in one of those too-real yet utterly phony moments so many of us often have.
Eric, it’s probably not possible to scurry into a middle-ground where I might avoid the fury of your disapproval, but I’ll try.
Happiness was, understandably, gross. In its defense: we are gross. Your foulest moment, if revealed to the world, would (I am assuming) revolt humanity. Mine certainly would. But that’s just the beginning. Solondz, more than any other widely released filmmaker today, wraps his camera around the age-old monstrosity of mortal sin. And he makes it funny.
I haven’t always liked Solondz’ films, but Palindromes is (in my opinion) his best work to date. Please let me know if you disagree.
Agreed: Solondz is so unshakably certain of the meanness of humanity that he is absent all curiosity. He's a propagandist and Happiness will always be the masterpiece of his hatred. At least let us hope so. Also, while we ourselves stand as positive evidence of Victorian fornication, it should be pointed out that humans and dinosaurs (except for birds) did not coexist.
In the magic of movies anything can happen - even humans (particularly those awful lawyers) being eaten by dinosaurs.
Didn't mean to appear to disapprove of you, Kelly. Just had a little spleen to vent about 'Happiness.' Lots of people I know liked it. I won't belabor the issue by slamming it further. I really liked 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' so I will take your work on 'Palindromes' and give it a shot.
If you really want to see the damned making choices that damn them then perhaps you should check out Gaspar Noe's 'Irreversible.' Absolutely nothing funny about it but it worked for me on a level that 'Happiness' didn't because I cared about the characters and their choices. I actually saw myself in their errors in judgment and their frailties and saw the inevitability of it all. I thought it was one of the most powerful films I've ever seen - one not easily forgotten or dismissed.
Here's a link to the Roger Ebert review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030314/REVIEWS/303140303/1023
I loved Happiness for a number of reasons. For one, it looked at a pedo-dad and showed being a good dad and not just some monster that deserves a kick in the head. Ultimately he does deserve a kick in the head (as do all of the characters), but what I loved about the film (and one of the reasons I own a copy of it) is because it doesn't give in to the easy plot and character contrivances that fuel the majority of literature and consumable tv and films. There is no redemption, no blistering realization of life being mucked up - only small victories in an otherwise bleak world. Also, there is no moralizing or wagging of fingers to tell us what we should think and feel about these people.
I think Eric's reaction is completely justified and I think the director would agree. But I found myself doing a lot of thinking during the movie. Not just about how funny it sometimes was, or how fucked up it sometimes was, but I found myself thinking that it was hard to really judge any of these people.
And I think the kid finally getting off on the balcony at Christmas diner is really a win for the kid. At least he's talking about it and has a momentary shining of pride. Of course he'll be punished for this which will in turn fuck him up even more and turn him into one of the adults that stand in horror of his announcement. And it's this moment that Solondz is building to. This moment of truth being met by abject fear. Fear with a capital F. Fear is the common thread, the theme and motif.
-stiggy
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