The Big Kahuna starts promising but falls into a didactic tailspin from which it never recovers. The setup - three business men, all in a different life stage, is elegant and sparse, and allows the three characters to develop fully. By the end of the movie, we are fed a desperate moral theory that "regret builds character" along with (I kid you not) several minutes of voice-over aphorisms. What happened? Instead of sending the movie into where it should have gone, namely ambiguity as to a) what matters to the characters, b) what is at stake, c) what wisdom can possibly be recovered from the mess that the characters get themselves into, we are instead led to a basement of philosophical knickknacks. Failing a reasonable ending, it would at least have been nice to see the characters grow... or perhaps engage in some entertaining pyrotechnics. On the plus side we get to hear grown men say they love each other, so not all is lost...the dream recounting is also well planned & executed.
Reviews
3 Reviews
A Boy and His Dog
(1975)
Navigating the murky waters
27 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
*** CONTAINS SPOILERS ***
What a delightfully evil film! I fell that the film can be experienced on at least two levels: first (really, for males only) at a base level. It is simply fun to see a dashing rogue cavort his way into the bed of a pretty young woman since, and Don Johnson fulfills this role with an easy charm. On this base level, the final scene, although shocking, is satisfying not for the actual act (after all, why can't the rogue keep the chick and the dog?) that takes place but for the slick usurpation of the traditional male role that we suspect he will fall into. We wonder, in the 2nd to last scene: will Vic subordinate himself to caring for this poor young woman who has permanently exiled herself to a harsh world? The negative answer rejects not only the idea that such chivalrous behavior is obligatory, but also any normal sense of morality. And here we must take a somewhat more sophisticated interpretation of the movie. I have two questions: what point might this movie be trying to convey? And what do the events in the movie tell us about the state of the world the movie portrays? Here are some candidates:
Since I live near a large metropolitan area, I am often aware of how emasculating city life can be, which is why, I suppose, I have such a sympathetic reaction to this overtly offensive movie.
What fun it must be to travel as a lone male with dog, unencumbered by superego and oppressive male role obligations! Perhaps "A Boy and His Dog" should be classified as "philosophical pornography."
What a delightfully evil film! I fell that the film can be experienced on at least two levels: first (really, for males only) at a base level. It is simply fun to see a dashing rogue cavort his way into the bed of a pretty young woman since, and Don Johnson fulfills this role with an easy charm. On this base level, the final scene, although shocking, is satisfying not for the actual act (after all, why can't the rogue keep the chick and the dog?) that takes place but for the slick usurpation of the traditional male role that we suspect he will fall into. We wonder, in the 2nd to last scene: will Vic subordinate himself to caring for this poor young woman who has permanently exiled herself to a harsh world? The negative answer rejects not only the idea that such chivalrous behavior is obligatory, but also any normal sense of morality. And here we must take a somewhat more sophisticated interpretation of the movie. I have two questions: what point might this movie be trying to convey? And what do the events in the movie tell us about the state of the world the movie portrays? Here are some candidates:
- the movie is a meditation on friendship and trust (a generous interpretation)
- the movie shows what base behavior people are capable of when social (and, in the case of "down under", political) controls do not exist (lord of the flies-style)
- The movie make an unflinching stab at what will and will not remain of humanity when civilization is destroyed: decency will be lost, the human spirit will not.
Since I live near a large metropolitan area, I am often aware of how emasculating city life can be, which is why, I suppose, I have such a sympathetic reaction to this overtly offensive movie.
What fun it must be to travel as a lone male with dog, unencumbered by superego and oppressive male role obligations! Perhaps "A Boy and His Dog" should be classified as "philosophical pornography."
Le divorce
(2003)
Fluffy! Delicious!
31 January 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Who would not like to watch cute young American women cavorting in France? Especially if they are upper-middle class and come from a sweet family of comfortable means? Are you yawning sleepily or sighing blissfully?
*** SPOILERS ***
Granted, Le Divorce is not for everyone, but I found watching this slow, beautiful piece one Friday night at home with my girlfriend a delightful way to cap a busy week. If you're looking for substance, whatever that is, this movie isn't. Hudson positively bounces and drifts between a strapping young Frenchman, clueless parents, a sister in crisis, and a charming 55-year old politician with the impunity of a child. The fact that we delve not too deeply into her character is more relief than disappointment. After all, her role is not about conflict or hard decisions but rather a grown-up version of the "OhMyGodIwenttoFranceandhadthetimeofmylife!" genre.
For all its entertainment value, the film comes off as shamefully anti-French. In this respect is reeks of snobbery and has almost nil cultural value. For a large chunk of time, the French men represent scathing attacks on an American's conception of marriage. If you can bring yourself to ignore this blemish, the film opens up like an amusing adventure to which you are not asked or required to get to close.
*** SPOILERS ***
Granted, Le Divorce is not for everyone, but I found watching this slow, beautiful piece one Friday night at home with my girlfriend a delightful way to cap a busy week. If you're looking for substance, whatever that is, this movie isn't. Hudson positively bounces and drifts between a strapping young Frenchman, clueless parents, a sister in crisis, and a charming 55-year old politician with the impunity of a child. The fact that we delve not too deeply into her character is more relief than disappointment. After all, her role is not about conflict or hard decisions but rather a grown-up version of the "OhMyGodIwenttoFranceandhadthetimeofmylife!" genre.
For all its entertainment value, the film comes off as shamefully anti-French. In this respect is reeks of snobbery and has almost nil cultural value. For a large chunk of time, the French men represent scathing attacks on an American's conception of marriage. If you can bring yourself to ignore this blemish, the film opens up like an amusing adventure to which you are not asked or required to get to close.
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