"People arguing with one another over random nuggets of incorrect information they unwittingly absorbed from an algorithmic stew they never consciously immersed themselves in, but now can’t escape.”
This is the most accurate and concise description of American life 2016-2025 that I have come across. Thank you.
Quinoa Phoenix seems dumb to me. Like dumb as a rock, smart as a brick, doesn’t read ever dim witted. Anyone else get that vibe from our pseudocereal Quinoa?
Re your experience of the 2020 events in rural areas: I grew up in one of the most sparsely populated counties in the northwest. When I saw that there was a “demonstration” on that first weekend in one of that county’s largest towns, as well as cities in western Europe, among other unlikely places, I knew none of the action was organic.
Great review! I saw Eddington a few nights ago and loved it. I also went into it with little background on it. It’s smart and funny. It holds a mirror up to the summer of 2020 and now, 5 years later, it’s apparent that the mirror came straight from a funhouse. The critics who complain and fail to see the humor in Eddington have failed to grow and learn from the insanity of that summer. I saw it as an equal opportunity film that took shots at all sides of the political spectrum. Every scene was a satirical swipe at one group or another. Loved the scene where the young man googled Angela Davis so he could try to score with the white “woke”’girl.
I've had no desire to see recent movies. I'll make an exception for this one based on your description—also, Joaquin Phoenix—except I really doubt it will show up in my small town. Might have to wait for it to be available online.
This is funny, because I was curious about the hype, so I read the Wikipedia plot summary (a vice, I know) and came away with the notion that it was a very pro-left anti-conservative film. Now my interest is piqued.
It was. But it includes unmasked mockery of the left also. But generally the potential "normal conservative American" characters all fall apart by the end as either fools or villains.
As a Brit you missed the full on assault on American's right to keep and bear arms and making gun ownership look insane. I am glad I did not waste time on this piece of crap
It looks like Gary is confusing our Michael Tracey with a British man with the same name 40 years his senior who produced Jon Benet Ramsey documentaries. But hey, who am I to kill a good birther conspiracy.
It was interesting, though I'm starting to realize Phoenix plays the same character every film and it's a little grating now. It's like what happened with Jennifer Lawrence: in a ton of films but she used the exact same affectations and emotions in every scene every film.
But overall, the film was more so a revelation of the method along with general mockery of both sides of the audience. Plus some AI esotericism with solidgoldmagikarp. Oh, and Amerindian occult programming, especially with the symbolism of crashing through Geronimo's bones in the "backrooms" museum.
Even had a Kenosha Kyle, which really makes you think about the forces behind that whole thing.
Eddington is also a reference to Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington, with his philosophical ideas about reality and the potential dovetails with AI religion.
Mysterious forces drive teams Red and Blue mad, using them both to advance their own metaphysical agenda.
Wasn't very funny, but it was indeed dark for the above reasons.
Best line I actually laughed at:
"we need to abolish whiteness, blah blah blah..."
"Are you fucking retarded? *You're* white!"
Gotta say that was excellently delivered by the dad actor.
That shot with Emma Stone's smile right at the camera at the end: total gloating over the audience: "we're whoring around playing in pagan religions (cf. the guy's "words not real, only image, we're bringing in a new god" or somesuch) while we sell you unfulfilled narratives to make you crazy."
It's not that the pedophiles aren't real, it's that they operate in the open with impunity even while they tell lies about themselves and others, laying a trail of false facts to obscure the overall true picture.
Anyway, I could go on. It was certainly an intelligent film, for the most part. Well-constructed. But it was also a malicious film.
oh, and wtf those satanic dolls. These directors love to put that shit in their films because people praise them for being artsy or smart. The mentally lost rapist guy's voice acting was supposed to recall the sound of a goat. So he's depicted as demon-possessed. Through the chaotic butterfly effect of the goat-demon-man, solidgoldmagikarp successfully establishes territory in the wilderness. That's kinda the meta-narrative of the film, above the particular concrete plot events.
"People arguing with one another over random nuggets of incorrect information they unwittingly absorbed from an algorithmic stew they never consciously immersed themselves in, but now can’t escape.”
This is the most accurate and concise description of American life 2016-2025 that I have come across. Thank you.
Thank you. It’s showing near me this weekend, may as well use that AAA discount. I’ll check it out.
Wow, what a story. Thanks for sharing; this would have slipped past. It sounds like one that lots of people will relate to.
Quinoa Phoenix seems dumb to me. Like dumb as a rock, smart as a brick, doesn’t read ever dim witted. Anyone else get that vibe from our pseudocereal Quinoa?
Re your experience of the 2020 events in rural areas: I grew up in one of the most sparsely populated counties in the northwest. When I saw that there was a “demonstration” on that first weekend in one of that county’s largest towns, as well as cities in western Europe, among other unlikely places, I knew none of the action was organic.
Thanks, Michael! You’re brilliant; so on spot!
I saw the BLM protestors from the city hilariously run out of a small Arizona town.
Great review! I saw Eddington a few nights ago and loved it. I also went into it with little background on it. It’s smart and funny. It holds a mirror up to the summer of 2020 and now, 5 years later, it’s apparent that the mirror came straight from a funhouse. The critics who complain and fail to see the humor in Eddington have failed to grow and learn from the insanity of that summer. I saw it as an equal opportunity film that took shots at all sides of the political spectrum. Every scene was a satirical swipe at one group or another. Loved the scene where the young man googled Angela Davis so he could try to score with the white “woke”’girl.
I've had no desire to see recent movies. I'll make an exception for this one based on your description—also, Joaquin Phoenix—except I really doubt it will show up in my small town. Might have to wait for it to be available online.
A US/Finland production.
The next movie you need to see is Vengeance, from 2022.
This is funny, because I was curious about the hype, so I read the Wikipedia plot summary (a vice, I know) and came away with the notion that it was a very pro-left anti-conservative film. Now my interest is piqued.
It was. But it includes unmasked mockery of the left also. But generally the potential "normal conservative American" characters all fall apart by the end as either fools or villains.
Thanks. That makes more sense.
That white woman has a black top and a black mask. She is black!
As a Brit you missed the full on assault on American's right to keep and bear arms and making gun ownership look insane. I am glad I did not waste time on this piece of crap
Uh...Tracey is a Brit??
It looks like Gary is confusing our Michael Tracey with a British man with the same name 40 years his senior who produced Jon Benet Ramsey documentaries. But hey, who am I to kill a good birther conspiracy.
It was interesting, though I'm starting to realize Phoenix plays the same character every film and it's a little grating now. It's like what happened with Jennifer Lawrence: in a ton of films but she used the exact same affectations and emotions in every scene every film.
But overall, the film was more so a revelation of the method along with general mockery of both sides of the audience. Plus some AI esotericism with solidgoldmagikarp. Oh, and Amerindian occult programming, especially with the symbolism of crashing through Geronimo's bones in the "backrooms" museum.
Even had a Kenosha Kyle, which really makes you think about the forces behind that whole thing.
Eddington is also a reference to Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington, with his philosophical ideas about reality and the potential dovetails with AI religion.
Mysterious forces drive teams Red and Blue mad, using them both to advance their own metaphysical agenda.
Wasn't very funny, but it was indeed dark for the above reasons.
Best line I actually laughed at:
"we need to abolish whiteness, blah blah blah..."
"Are you fucking retarded? *You're* white!"
Gotta say that was excellently delivered by the dad actor.
That shot with Emma Stone's smile right at the camera at the end: total gloating over the audience: "we're whoring around playing in pagan religions (cf. the guy's "words not real, only image, we're bringing in a new god" or somesuch) while we sell you unfulfilled narratives to make you crazy."
It's not that the pedophiles aren't real, it's that they operate in the open with impunity even while they tell lies about themselves and others, laying a trail of false facts to obscure the overall true picture.
Anyway, I could go on. It was certainly an intelligent film, for the most part. Well-constructed. But it was also a malicious film.
oh, and wtf those satanic dolls. These directors love to put that shit in their films because people praise them for being artsy or smart. The mentally lost rapist guy's voice acting was supposed to recall the sound of a goat. So he's depicted as demon-possessed. Through the chaotic butterfly effect of the goat-demon-man, solidgoldmagikarp successfully establishes territory in the wilderness. That's kinda the meta-narrative of the film, above the particular concrete plot events.
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