motion picture INFLUENCE

[GREATwarEAGLE]

I don't know where to begin...

I guess I'll start with an article on the web I once came across about some Mexican Officials who were insulted with Steven Soderbergh's representation of Mexico in TRAFFIC. They felt they were put in a negative light. Well, all I can say is

No sh*t.

It's no secret that Mexico is largely responsible for the drugs that enter our country. And Soderberghs cinematographic choices to degrade the images of Mexico are designed to enrage. They're designed to insult. They're designed to provoke. Mexico should be offended, and therefore, do something about it.

The same with America. TRAFFIC makes our country look pretty stupid as well. In the film, our country's own Drug Czar can't even prevent his own daughter from narcotics. And the scenes at the Mexican Border where American Officials admit their own weaknesses in dealing with the problem.

Here's the article
http://csmonitor.com/durable/2001/03/23/fp1s4-csm.shtml

I live in New York. There have been many films that have put this city in a negative light. And they were right.

THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK was Al Pacino's first starring role. It followed him and his druggie friends as they endured a drug shortage in Manhattan, early 70's. Believe me, this film wasn't gonna be included in a Travel Agent's office as a way to lure in the tourists.

FORT APACHE, THE BRONX came out in 1981. Paul Newman plays a Bronx cop, fighting uphill battles including drugs, prostitution, extreme police brutality and plenty of red tape.
Again, if a real estate broker was looking to sell an apartment in the Bronx, he wasn't gonna show this film to his clients.

THE SOPRANOS. I don't need to say much here.
Mob guys are bad people. What else is new?

Many Italian-Americans are less than thrilled with HBO's little opus.

Well they should be.

http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/ianst.html
http://www.rep-am.com/accent/44s-.htm

But there are also plenty of American made films that celebrate Italians in America.
Like BIG NIGHT. Two brothers from Italy determined to succeed in America with their own restaurant. Their passion, their dedication to their culture. Trying so hard not to sell out and give in to the more "American way."

Every film, TV show, etc is different. Some comment on the positive. Some on the negative.
We need both.

How 'bout this:
Recently, a few months ago, John Gotti passed away from cancer in prison. He was from Queens (that's where I live).
On the news, they had all the folks who grew up in his neighborhood, talking about how sad they were. What a good man "Mr. Gotti was. How he did so much for the neighborhood.

I'm sure he did. But at who's expense?

THE SOPRANOS reminds us that these guys, despite their charm, their humor, their swagger, their flash - they're bad people.
And let's just say there is an argument for accurate portrayal of Italian-Americans in THE SOPRANOS. What about other films and other cultures?

Like SPIDER-MAN.

I saw this film once. And once was enough.
Like I said, I live in Queens, just like good ol' Peter Parker. And I also spend much of my time in Manhattan.
In the film, there's a sequence where he's foiling all these criminals committing various crimes. Now like I said, I only saw it once, but if my memory's correct - all the criminals were White.

In New York City!?!?

http://reason.com/0205/cr.tc.shoot.shtml

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 24, 2002 07:07 PM: Message edited by: GREATwarEAGLE ]</font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 24, 2002 07:08 PM: Message edited by: GREATwarEAGLE ]</font>

[SoulJacker]

Fabulous...But, what's chuffin 'Guerilla' about that?

I miss all the, "How do I make flaky zombie skin" threads...Ah well, them days be gone now...Sniff...Sniffly...Sniff...

[GREATwarEAGLE]

"Spielberg is a hypocrite..."
"Shyamalan..."
"Reign Of Fire"

Guerilla?
No.

D*mn.
I read a post unrelated to the Forum title. That's 3 minutes of my life I want back. Why aren't the Moderators doing their job!?

What was I thinking? Writing a post with substance. Next thing you know, I'll be making films with substance.

God help me.

[deanl]

Hey there.

"What was I thinking? Writing a post with substance."

Got a link?

Despin out.

[GREATwarEAGLE]

Okay. Flaky zombie skin threads. I actually do have a question about spfx make-up.

Anyone know what kind of paint can be applied to already dried latex? I've tried face paint, like white clown paint, but it cracks and peels away after a short period of time.

[redlum]

You didnt make a point, apart from saying that films have Influence. I really dont adhere to your particular take on Traffic.

"TRAFFIC makes our country look pretty stupid as well. In the film, our country's own Drug Czar can't even prevent his own daughter from narcotics."

Did you even read the cheddar flavoured tagline for Traffic - NOONE GETS AWAY CLEAN. Bad tagline, but like the dudes rug, it does kinda tie the whole thing together. The film wasnt pointing fingers at all. If people take offence to it, they need to get a new persepctive - films arent holiday brochures. Besides, what makes a country? I'd say the people within it, and if that were the case Traffic showed Mexico and America in good and bad light. Javier Rodriguez, the mexican law enforcer who risks his life in order to provide floodlit baseball fields for the children and the American father who ultimately deals with his daughters problems, and puts her interests above his jobs. And there are many more.

What the **** is SpiderMan doing in this discussion? Fun movie but would you expect it to give an accurate portrayal of street crime in New York? Still, at least they had the token green guy.

[machead]

People like complaining, its a form of personality dissorder. Trust me I know what I'm talking about. Best thing is just ignore it. Over here in the UK a childrens game has been banned by the Government (mucical chairs) because it discriminates against small and weak kids. Life was tough when I was a kid, I would regularly loose at musical chairs.

Quoting the words of some famous BLACK comic who's name evades me,

'I like black people, I just hate niggers'

**** a white guy couldn't say that but a black man needed to say it. It's a reflection of how politically correct we've become. We spend our days trying not to offend anyone, and with these immortal words we've gone full circle.

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Weird how the **** censoring didn't pick up anything in your quote. And the comedian was Chris Rock.