Shock Therapy Radio

The algorithm doesn’t work here. Most movies have a variety of star-ratings. This one has a lop-sided 5-star, no 4, no 3, no 2, and then a smattering of 1-star. Mathematically we have ourselves a cult following, with agents informally pushing all “true followers” to mark 5-stars before god and country. But here stands an honest review… This was a trial balloon 💭 on a new church business model. It was firstly self-glorifying with character development for a new set of church heroes. "Boldly" pushing back on religion, the film religiously exalts Old Testament myth and laser focuses on pseudepigrapha for proof texts of a 'brand new form of ministry'. Yet as long as the focus is inwardly dualistic, it occupies and distracts the mind from the fact that this is a whole new church business model replete with books, merch, and a new mantra. All hail Locke Media, er, and god bless the reinvention of religion bent on and towards hell.

This is a very complex movie from a thematic standpoint. Out of five friends, three are selected for the Vietnam War; of those three, one dies by suicide, one is physically and emotionally maimed, and one is steadfast, though deeply impacted. Might this represent the Baby Boom generation by percentage? This was beautifully and artistically portrayed. Further the ending commentary by way of the news reporter, laments this horrible history. Yet, have we learned, and necessarily do we learn, nothing from this tragedy? The cast of characters sing “America the Beautiful” on the fade out. Is war ultimately beautiful but for the losses? Recommend, but I’ll never watch it again: like throwing black paint on an otherwise beautiful canvass.

This movie is an inside game. Like abstract art, it seems to lack any defined meanings, with the notable exception of nature, beauty, and mystery. The UFO was pedantic and intruded into the abstract art theme. The scenarios and interactions depicted don’t seem plausible or likely, and the openness to strangers, odd and contrived over esoteric and belabored dialogue. One thinks the minutes-long shots are meant to allow deeper observation and interpretation, yet only in a trance-like dimension and perhaps also while consuming some synthetic substances. Not sure what I was supposed to take away from this feature… other than patience and perseverance.

In an era of abused-turn-abuser, the privilege marches on, but for a faint memory of grandpa. The story was compelling. The unabashed arrogance and the chronic excess rang (and rings) true. The rampant and uncheck racism, now punctuated by hashtags and perfunctory self-righteous speech, remains unchanged. But if the mandate of the movie was to change something, it was a whispered theme from a dying man’s lips. If the goal was to reflect the era, the memory is too familiar and too hurtful to showcase. So perhaps this movie is just about its moviemakers and actors, in an era of “look at us, we are the narrators”. Let’s bump this portrait off the mantle and let it crash to the floor. The point of movie here is to make more movies and money for its stakeholders. Not real stakeholders. Not abused. But the abusers. This is STILL their time!

This is an undramatized “Florida Project” which initially struck me as rote. However upon reflection this is real life… pre-mortem. And it’s important. And it’s impactful. And it’s profoundly sad. And it’s heartbreaking. And it has to be told this way, because this is how it goes. The acting was brilliant and genuine. The contrast between the undramatic flow of life, and the dramatic, intense inner mind of the protagonist, was expertly portrayed. The scenery was beautiful (must get to Turkey!). What a sorrowful delight. Thank you.

This is a belabored commentary on the power dynamics of economic systems played out through an adventure from yacht to island to resort. The power dynamics are fluid in throughout. However the length of time for this intensive narrative is long on supply and short on audience demand (or attention span). The director telegraphs the final “act” and pedantically dictates the outcome: The features and functions that make one leader change with the scenery; and, fewer and fewer are accounted amidst the transitions.

This three-vignette satire-mystery-comedy was overstimulating for anyone unintoxicated. In fact, the obvious threat to humanity, this movie experiment was hazardous to intellect and to sensibilities. The satire wasn’t lost on me, but the mystery was pedantic, and the vignettes non sequitur. However, what a fun little exercise for a number of star-studded talent to convey nihilism over 129 minutes of existential bullsh&t.