To Mr. Crack: Thanks! (I'll probably wait until the younger members of my family go to bed -- not a movie for 6 yos. in my estimation).
To the other person: What? no watching lesbians? (although, Schwarzenegger...interesting choice when keeping in mind your previously stated opinions about pleasant movie material...).
It was free so I watched it, partly to lord it over my black g/f who hasn't seen it yet, and partly to let you know that your efforts aren't all in vain. If I could give it a Shouting Thomas review I'd be tempted to but I'm stuck for doing things my way. I expected sadistic brutal violence with lives lost or ruined in the most tragic manner and the movie delivered. The problem for me, and I'm not at all indifferent to slavery, is that the movie - except for certain parts - never really pulled me into it. That's not to say it's a bad movie. Most people were affected very strongly by it. Most likely I'm too old because I felt like I'd already seen it. Little, if anything, happened that surprised or shocked me.
One thing I wasn't expecting was seeing the slaves being forced to dance to white jig music, a reminder that if African slaves hadn't enriched the white culture we'd never have figured out Rock and Roll on our own. Slavery, as bad as it was, spawned an African American culture capable of great beauty that has entertained and inspired people all over the world.
I'm sure my girl friend would like this movie, but I'm hoping she doesn't want me to sit through it again and watch it with her.
McQueen's spare style didn't allow for an over-dramatization of the themes he was working with - he points a camera and shoots (not being sarcastic:) he's not trying to make Gone With The Wind - but those themes are DEEP.
I did a post yesterday that mentioned my friend who needed them explained, and then he was like, "Whoa!" The humiliating, silent sex scene that starts the picture - between that married man and just "some woman" in need, practically begging for the generosity of using his hand - well, when exactly did this black "family dysfunction" that everyone's so concerned about, begin again? Violence? A "ghetto" mentality?
How about white behavior? The almost normal way it's assumed, still today, that blacks deserve to live as this country's determined. How far is it, from a white woman saying food and rest will make a black woman forget her children, to a white woman today, just as easily, ignoring the needs of black women in the ghettos this country's constructed? Because they don't serve them anymore. Our country consists of some weird cultural shit.
And none of it is accidental, McQueen is screaming, in his hushed British manner. Do the work, make the connections. This is America - NOW.
BTW - The bravery of the black girl, who brought Soloman water as he hung by his neck, floored me - most reviews I've seen miss she was even there.
And Patsey. HER LIFE deserves it's own film.
Yeah, I'll do a post on some of what's buried in 12 Years soon.
I got a Gulag Archipelago vibe off of it -- and it did a very good job, because it was a beautiful movie about an ugly topic. Like Mr. Bones, none of it really shocked me, but I think that was part of the plan...evil isn't really shocking when you get right down to it; it's pretty commonplace. I noticed that as a theme.
To Mr. Crack: Thanks! (I'll probably wait until the younger members of my family go to bed -- not a movie for 6 yos. in my estimation).
ReplyDeleteTo the other person: What? no watching lesbians? (although, Schwarzenegger...interesting choice when keeping in mind your previously stated opinions about pleasant movie material...).
PW
The Schwartzenegger movie was great.
ReplyDeleteLots of white guys and a few Mexicans. Coupla blacks.
The day of white guys kissing your black ass are coming to an end, jackass.
I'm always the first.
Get used to it, fuckhead.
It was free so I watched it, partly to lord it over my black g/f who hasn't seen it yet, and partly to let you know that your efforts aren't all in vain. If I could give it a Shouting Thomas review I'd be tempted to but I'm stuck for doing things my way. I expected sadistic brutal violence with lives lost or ruined in the most tragic manner and the movie delivered. The problem for me, and I'm not at all indifferent to slavery, is that the movie - except for certain parts - never really pulled me into it. That's not to say it's a bad movie. Most people were affected very strongly by it. Most likely I'm too old because I felt like I'd already seen it. Little, if anything, happened that surprised or shocked me.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I wasn't expecting was seeing the slaves being forced to dance to white jig music, a reminder that if African slaves hadn't enriched the white culture we'd never have figured out Rock and Roll on our own. Slavery, as bad as it was, spawned an African American culture capable of great beauty that has entertained and inspired people all over the world.
I'm sure my girl friend would like this movie, but I'm hoping she doesn't want me to sit through it again and watch it with her.
Dad Bones,
ReplyDeleteMcQueen's spare style didn't allow for an over-dramatization of the themes he was working with - he points a camera and shoots (not being sarcastic:) he's not trying to make Gone With The Wind - but those themes are DEEP.
I did a post yesterday that mentioned my friend who needed them explained, and then he was like, "Whoa!" The humiliating, silent sex scene that starts the picture - between that married man and just "some woman" in need, practically begging for the generosity of using his hand - well, when exactly did this black "family dysfunction" that everyone's so concerned about, begin again? Violence? A "ghetto" mentality?
How about white behavior? The almost normal way it's assumed, still today, that blacks deserve to live as this country's determined. How far is it, from a white woman saying food and rest will make a black woman forget her children, to a white woman today, just as easily, ignoring the needs of black women in the ghettos this country's constructed? Because they don't serve them anymore. Our country consists of some weird cultural shit.
And none of it is accidental, McQueen is screaming, in his hushed British manner. Do the work, make the connections. This is America - NOW.
BTW - The bravery of the black girl, who brought Soloman water as he hung by his neck, floored me - most reviews I've seen miss she was even there.
And Patsey. HER LIFE deserves it's own film.
Yeah, I'll do a post on some of what's buried in 12 Years soon.
Thanks for watching - and writing,...
I got a Gulag Archipelago vibe off of it -- and it did a very good job, because it was a beautiful movie about an ugly topic.
ReplyDeleteLike Mr. Bones, none of it really shocked me, but I think that was part of the plan...evil isn't really shocking when you get right down to it; it's pretty commonplace. I noticed that as a theme.
PW
and I'm sure the Arnold movie was great