MovieChat Forums > Room 237 (2012) Discussion > A documentary about obsession rather tha...

A documentary about obsession rather than The Shining.

posted 11 years ago by Orlando_Gardner
3 replies | jump to latest

I went into this doc knowing very little about it's content and I'm glad I did. While on the surface it seems to be about the various theories some analysts have given about the meaning of the film, it's actually less about that and more about the actual analysts themselves. These people are are fascinating to listen to, not because of what they are saying but because of the conviction with which they are saying it. Their self delusion is complete and there obsession with knowing a truth they believe to be there is fascinating. I wouldn't watch it for what they are saying and I don't believe the film maker believed a single thing opined by them, but I think he made a very clever movie about the obsessives themselves without having to ever imply that that is what to movie is about. So much different than what I was expecting but so much better for it.

"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." Ambrose Bierce

[–] chris-2607 11 years ago

Thank you, Orlando. You've saved me from doing what I set out to do here a moment ago, which was to post some snarky remarks to the effect that this "documentary" is an utter pant-load.

Which, of course, it is.

But when we fathom this "film" for deeper meaning, it's clear, as you so correctly pointed out, that it's not about Kubrick or The Shining at all, but rather about delusional, obsessive, psuedo-highbrow blowhards.

[–] Orlando_Gardner 11 years ago

but rather about delusional, obsessive, psuedo-highbrow blowhards.

For the most part I agree. The guy who sounds the youngest (the one who keeps laughing and goes to check on his kid at one point) I'd have serious worries about. He sounds like he has gone right over the edge to the point where fantasy and reality have almost blurred beyond all recognition for him. He sounds like he actually might need some psychiatric help.

But when we fathom this "film" for deeper meaning

Actually maybe we shouldn't do that, kinda like life imitating art there.

"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." Ambrose Bierce

[–] Danno49 11 years ago

Thank you for the great post. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Ironic that this film is not so much about the underlying themes of the The Shining but the people who believe there is far deeper meaning than what is on the surface - kind of an underlying theme in and if itself.
I love how one guy explains the frame by frame shot of Jack's character meeting Ullman and at the exact moment they shake hands, he says there is clearly a boner originating from Ullman's crotch pointing toward Jack. No dude, it's NOT clear. It's a stretch at best.
I felt bad for laughing at some of these folks assertions that they had such fervor for. But I did. God bless 'em.