i hate this film
-
openseason88 — 19 years ago(December 07, 2006 10:01 AM)
I see that people are into pushing what is considered "acceptable." I also understand that shock value is often central to art. This movie, however, needs some kind of redeeming feature. Spoiler Frankly, I find all the beep about child abuse (Dad whacking off to a boys life magazine) to be too disgusting.
I'm no prude, but I guess I dont see why anyone would WANT to see that kind of thing. Its not educational, entertaining, or enlightening. It is gross for its own sake.
Truly, how many people watch a movie saying "I wanna feel horrible after I see this. Not sad, not moved, just disgusted. I dont want any redeeming qualities to my characters."
I rate this film just above movies like "Bundy" or "Hannibal" as it at least doesn't romanticize the deeds of its twisted villains. -
chopper0116 — 19 years ago(December 08, 2006 06:54 PM)
I agree with the poster openseason88. I am still spinning from just having watched this movie. I truly don't know what to think. What character made me feel better about anything, who made me feel worse (I believe there is no ONE) Although we villify the pedophile & Rightly so. I am SO confused..I hated evey character. Except for Louise Lasser and the Husband . Very controversial film. I was sickened, but at the same time completely enveloped in the storyline. This can only come from the mind of a person who has been there and had that happen or almost happen. Great filmmaking.. Very.. disturbing film..
uggh
cb -
dwhomp — 19 years ago(December 08, 2006 11:22 PM)
My Mother and I always have the same arguement when we get together
She blames violence in video games and movies and the like for helping the downfall of this country.
I always argue.
After this movie? I dont argue anymore. All you folks that are so hip and so knowledgable that enjoy this movie should be scoured with steel wool. Finding any humor in what he did is not genius, shocking, or amazingit is sick, plain and simple.
Now, before the "artists" get on my case, yeah, I get it. The fact this was even made is a sign that Solondz should just hang it up. Dollhouse maybe, the rest of his movies are nothing short of garbage. -
debaserthief — 17 years ago(September 28, 2008 06:58 PM)
I think the movie is supposed to make us uncomfortable and at the same time make us laugh at the beep up beep that can happen. No, I don't condone the incest/rape scene, obviously but in general, the film makes me think of the small beep that has happened to me is either not a big deal or I can learn to move past it. I love this film from the opening scene with John Lovitz to the "I came scene". And yes, probably bad idea to watch this with your mom. It would give me the willies if I sat there with my mom. My friend saw this film at the theater and said half of the audience left the theater. I experienced this with the film, Piano Teacher.
-
coffey1134 — 18 years ago(April 10, 2007 06:47 PM)
I am going to agree with dwhomp 100% on this one. Just because a film is controversial or taboo, doesn't automatically make it worth a beep This movie has absolutly no artistic integrity and was painful to watch.
-
a-movie-fan — 15 years ago(June 22, 2010 09:03 AM)
'dwhomp'
I won't judge for possibly playing those violent video games with their first-person shooting and blowing sh!t up and beating people up to steal their cars etc. or the violent films that do pretty much that same, that most of us love and watch. Nor will I judge you for watching said film with your mother as I watch quite a lot with my own kids,
if
they're old enough
and
are interested.
So
I'd suggest you don't go judging
ANY
of us here for how we choose to view this film. And before you start handing out the steel wool to us, make sure you and mother have a good old scrub as, you both watched it to the end I'm gathering from your post!!!!
If you're going to judge all of a persons movie on one, then you and mommy just stick to Disney films, you'll never be forced to face the facts that happen in the world on a daily basis or reality ever again!!
And if I may say so myself, you
did
in-fact learn something from viewing this movie; You stated you won't argue with your mother anymore!! She must be proud!
P.S.- Thank you so much for stating we're all so 'hip' and 'knowledgable' [sic]! Now I'm proud of you for noticing our hidden talents!!
~ "Stupidity is not a crime, so you're free to go!" ~
- Thank you so much for stating we're all so 'hip' and 'knowledgable' [sic]! Now I'm proud of you for noticing our hidden talents!!
-
Alison17 — 11 years ago(February 25, 2015 09:43 PM)
My black sense of humor should be scoured with steel wool so as not to offend your delicate sensibility? Are you the taste police? Laughter is the best medicine and you could use a big dose to shake all those judgemental thoughts from your brain.
-
TaRaNRoD — 5 years ago(November 22, 2020 08:55 AM)
Thank you. The worst part with all these people who get so hostile with others because they like a movie they judge unacceptable, is that they don't see the irony of their pompous and exaggerated reactions.
So, a person is sick because he/she likes some kind of movies which depict taboo subjects such as violence and sex in a more extreme way then the mainstream media show them. However, when they tell things like " someone should be scoured with steel wool", they basically wish death on people for liking a movie (I've also seen some users saying it straight forward on others gore movies' pages).
This is totally uncalled for, immature and narrow minded. Usually, I don't even like these movies, with a few exceptions (like Cannibal Holocaust, huge fan). However, people can enjoy whatever they want, as long as they harm no one.
"You're a disease, and I'm the cure!" - Marion "Cobra" Cobretti -
berts1404 — 19 years ago(December 11, 2006 01:56 PM)
Frankly, I find all the beep about child abuse (Dad whacking off to a boys life magazine) to be too disgusting.
Before seeing this film, I always wondered if someone would have the balls to tackle the subject in such a no bulls**t manner. I found it refreshing to see such controversial subject matter in a film and applaude the director for showing peadophiles in a realistic light, instead of just as monsters, everything in life is always more complicated than that. There must be some who fight with their conscience like Frank did. At times he seemed disgusted with himself, but still couldn't stop what he was doing. The scene where he tells his son what he is essentially, was one of the most disturbing, yet powerful I've ever seen.
"Hey, faget! They're not gay. They're hobbitsClerks II
-
liliap — 19 years ago(December 18, 2006 12:25 PM)
Hmmmm.
Interesting.
I haven't actually seen the film.
However, what is interesting is that the only reason I came across the description was because I typed 'happiness' into google to see what it had to say for itself - since 'happiness' is obviously the 'main quest' in people's lives - whatever that consists of - so therefore to discover that in a sense the film was about that quest but not actually being 'fulfilled' and then seeing people's responses to it - ranging from 'love to hate' is quite interesting in itself.
After all.
Some people say they 'loved it' because of the humour element.
Some people didn't like the 'humour' and therefore they hated it.
In the freudian sense - humour is about 'laughing at taboos' therefore getting over the 'problems' and 'depression' that is normally associated with 'wrong things' or 'taboos', so that some sort of external viewing process can be enabled so that some form of evolution or healing can take place.
However - sometimes humour in itself can be 'taboo' i.e. when it is inappropriate or insensitive or at the expense of others, rather than 'with' that person or 'subject'.
It's all a question of degrees and how much people identify with different sides of the 'argument' or topic in discussion.
It all boils down to whether or not the 'humour' is 'enlightening' or whether it is in the best interests of everyone or whether it is at someone's expense.
Having a sense of humour about oneself helps primarily - but sometimes we look for more sensitivity in life - and to have too much of a sense of humour about ourself can also sometimes be about self-humiliation.
If this film has no 'answers' to the quest for 'happiness' one could say 'what is the point' in watching it, if it has no 'meaningful purpose' behind it. Maybe the point is that there are 'conventional plans for happiness' that we are programmed with when we are born, and then we discover that things don't quite work out like that - so therefore to be more enlightened in order to see the 'happiness' ie 'humour' even in the failures and the tragedy etc. but also not to wallow in them; i.e. to view objectively and to use this to discover new alternative strategies to move on, is something positive in itself.
It reminds me once of a song that I once witnessed being performed in a live acoustic music club.
The 2 performers were astounding and professional standard, considering the ocassion, which was full of amateurs, and ranging from one extreme to the other of the musical spectrum.
The girl in the duo was beautiful and the guy played his guitar in a classical jazz flamenco fusion style that was exquisite.
The song was a melancholic description of a girl who had had many troubles of varying descriptions in her life. The song was poignant and meaningful in its depth.
But the more that the song continued, with each verse, the drama and turmoil just seemed to get to a point that there was so much going on - that it was too much. Then it just became ridiculous. Then everyone started laughing. Giggling first, then more and more, the performers then got annoyed, and it was like the audience were naughty children not appreciating the seriousness, no longer empathising with the tragedy of the song, and then the musicians got quite stroppy.
But in a sense, one could say that to laugh in the face of adversity is surely a prime necessity, to have an ironic sense of humour, and first and foremost to cultivate a sense of humour at oneself is the most important, but also to remember that if we are too serious noone will take us seriously, but also if we are not serious enough, then it goes the same way too. It's all a question of balance. But what about the poor girl and her tragic circumstances? Did anyone take her seriously and work out a sustainable management strategy to work out how to alleviate her suffering and woes? What does it say about the audience that they didn't care any more about her suffering?
The same in this film. If you empathise with the characters too much, maybe it is depressing. If you don't empathise with them, and it is all too much, and therefore you view it as an over-stated 'ironic' black comedy then it is humourous.
But does the film offer any solutions or potential for enlightenment in the quest for actual 'happiness' in relationships - or does it just consider the break down of relationships as purely fodder for entertainment. Is it childish or is there method in the madness? Is there faith and hope and a glimmering of light at the end of the tunnel? -
TheChoccyStarfish — 16 years ago(February 12, 2010 05:50 AM)
tl;dr
Revelation Below!!!!:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority -
mjktig2 — 17 years ago(February 27, 2009 02:05 PM)
This post is a perfect example of where we are going as nation and as a people. We want to understand everyone even the sick twisted pedophile and rapist. What do you mean a "realistic light"? They are monsters and that is the reality. They have shown the world that they cannot exist among the rest of us and they need to be eliminated. Everyone has a chance to be good and do the right thing but those who are like the character in this film should not be allowed to live among the civilized. You act as though the character is coming out as a homosexual by telling his son what he is. What he is is a piece of garbage and nothing else. He has thrown his humanity away and should not be considered human. Anyone who can identify with murderers, rapists, pedophiles, etc. is as morally barren as those who commit these crimes.