By Craig Kennedy - April 17th, 2010; 12:14 pm
Dear Tea Partiers,
Your misplaced fear and rage worries me. How mad do you have to be before this:
is twisted into this:
Forget about the bogus socialist straw man you’ve set up, how about channeling a little of your seething anger toward the too-big-to-fail oligarchs on Wall Street who are profiting from the destruction of your country? Maybe you can convince your congressman to vote to make the banks smaller so the next time they gamble and lose, the only ones who get hurt are the shareholders and not the entire country.
Just a thought.
Question inspired by: David Edelstein
Filed under: Opinion
Interesting contrast, Craig.
As a liberal, I can certainly see your point. My passion defines me. So I’ve had any number of high toned meltdowns over the years.
You have to pick your battles. But some things are worth fighting for…and about.
I’m an unabashed Scorsese aficionado. But I’ve never had any affection whatsoever for TAXI DRIVER. Brilliance from Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster.
But the film just doesn’t resonate for me on any other level.
I can vividly recall being at a screening for NETWORK some years ago. By that time, it was a constant staple on television. I had never seen it…and I was completely blown away.
The friend that I went with was sharp and sophisticated. But she was clearly not enraptured. She leaned over and whispered at the half hour mark, “Can we please GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE?”
I told her she could go if she wanted to. But you couldn’t have enticed me out of there with a Chanel shopping spree. I could not move.
I thought it was electrifying.
She stayed. But she really never appreciated it for what it was.
It’s funny. Most actors get awards attention (particularly Academy notice) for the showy roles where they do a lot of heavy lifting. True to form, Peter Finch did win a highly deserved posthumous Oscar for his performance.
But whenever I watch NETWORK, I always find that William Holden leaves a lasting – almost haunting – impression on me.
No question that it’s one of Faye’s greatest triumphs…and that’s genuinely saying something. Diana is ruthless, cold, cerebral, complicated and very, very dangerous.
It’s amazing high wire artistry. I am totally in awe of her in that film.
But yeah…
Those right wing morons are causing too many difficulties.
Some people really need to be slapped down.
Films like Network, as well as phenomena such as the Tea Party, remind me of how easy it is for anyone possessing a dash of charisma to arouse people’s miscellaneous rage and discontent into something potentially dangerous. Sort of like the flip side of The Blind Side.
I hope I’m overreacting, but I’ve just had this bad feeling since the lead-up to the election. People are being irrationally angry – I can even feel it in myself at times – it’s the kind of environment where one or two screwballs get bright ideas.
The 15th anniversary of OKC is tomorrow.
Taxi Driver is a tough, ugly sit, but I find it utterly compelling.