Cathartic Laughs

I enjoyed this movie. I enjoyed it for its social commentary and as a cathartic fantasy. It's also pretty funny at times.

Others clearly did not enjoy it. In fact, many seem to be mortified that it exists, that it misrepresents (a), that it hypocritically attacks (b), that it would only appeal to diseased minds (take your pick of the usual: libtards, psychopaths, feminazis, libertarians, etc.).

Not enjoying the movie is fine -- whether for political reasons or reasons of taste -- but, and this is hard to explain without sounding condescending, the type of rude and loudly idiotic people that this film puts in the crosshairs are people who aggravate many of us on an hourly basis. We know them by their stripes, their words, their actions -- they are very, very familiar to us. And for whatever reason, we find it difficult to simply "shake it off". Although these people probably don't bother to catalog their daily rudenesses, we who witness it do, and each one changes us just a little -- and not for the better.

It seems they are, often, the majority, and as such, their behaviour is often unchecked. Like Frank in the beginning, we don't really stand up to them, though we'd like to.

So we watch this film and we're (a) laughing because we are already intimately aware of such boors, (b) laughing because they're the butt of the joke and (c) laughing because the film delivers over-the-top retribution.

Now, because this is largely satirical it should have to amplify the rudeness or obnoxiousness of the people it's targeting -- exaggerate for effect. But you know what? It doesn't really do that.

If anything, the reason this movie is so fascinating, so bizarre in its very existence, is that it much of it could be confused with reality. Frank's homicidal response, which we as respectable human beings need to tut-tut, isn't really the point. It's obviously not justified, but it hardly comes out of nowhere. It's a byproduct of a society that is slipping down to the lowest common denominator -- Frank's frustration grows out of that, but his actions are also a result of that.

In any case, the people who appreciate this movie don't need to quibble over issues of "political balance" or "appropriate targets for satire"; we feel Frank's powerlessness, nausea and (finally) rage at the cesspool that constitutes popular culture and the increasingly low bar that is set for "civilized" behaviour. The film offers us a safe, fictional, by proxy blaze of glory.

I haven't been back to this board in a while. I remember getting into an endless political debate with another fellow, one that ended (as these things usually do) with both sides claiming victory and neither side looking particularly spotless. It was such a tiring, pointless exercise that I hadn't felt the need to come back (either to the board or the movie). I expect it's long since been relegated to the dustbin of IMDb history, where it's welcome to stay.

If you'd care to reply, I welcome it, but let's try to remain civil, shall we?