Jeanie fell asleep 1/2 way through, I should have too...
Yes, yes, I know that it was/is critically acclaimed. Yes, I know that George Clooney won an acadamy award.
I guess it was just too high concept, and too much work to follow. Any movie which requires a 16 page explanation on Rotten Tomatoes is more than my idea of two hours worth of mindless entertainment.
On the other hand, I did find reading that explanation to be quite interesting, as it does give great insight into the level of effort and attention to detail given in the making of the film. And I guess it did achieve one of its major stated goals - I've been thinking about it for a few days since seeing it, and talking about it around the only water cooler I have available - this blog.
I did also find myself agreeing with most of the movie's main themes... big oil is behind lots of bad stuff, poverty and limited opportunities can drive people to radical behavior, the lack of the existence of a large middle class is something which can be changed were the few with massive power and wealth willing to do so - which would ultimately encourage peace and stability, elements of the US government do not always act with the moral conviction that we hold ourselves to have, sometimes the US seems to take action to protect the short term interests of the US at the expense of long term interests (ours and/or the world's), all too often people with fantastic power and wealth are most concerned with increasing/maintaining that power and wealth - at any cost without regard to the greater good.
I guess it all boils down to one of my basic tenants... the world would be a really great place... were it not for people.
I still think that we are blessed to live in the United States, and that it is a great country. I also recognize that we can not fix all the problems of the world. Granted, some problems are caused by forces beyond our control - storms, fires, earthquakes, etc. - but ultimately, the majority of the problems on this planet are a consequence of man's inhumanity. I find myself becoming increasingly cynical of our system of government which seems to have strayed far from the vision of the founding fathers. I don't think the problem is the system, I think the problem is the people in power who have corrupted it for their own self interests. I find myself increasingly cynical of big business, yet I continue to suck from its teat, and to want more. I don't think the problem is capitalism, I think the problem is what we are willing to do, and to sacrifice, in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Every form of government and every economic system has its problems - and ours seems to have fewer than any other that I am aware of. It's just... if only we could all just act a little better, how much greater a country, and world we could have.
My first boss told me early in my career that my biggest problem was that I was too idealistic. He told me that it would prevent me from climbing to the top and inhibit my happiness. There are a very few people who end up achieving the great American dream because they are truly exceptional, sadly, many more achieve it by selling their soul to the devil. I may have (and still do?) rent my soul to the devil, but I don't think I ever have, or hopefully ever will, sell it - and thus, I'll never find myself at (or even near) the top of the heap.
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Posted by David at July 03, 2006 10:19 AM