(via fuckyeahhotactress)
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It is no secret that we live in an ever-increasingly mediocre and superficial world. While this lack of originality, intelligence, open mindness and good common sense is devoid in a large portion of our society, things seemed to be even worse in the U.S. They, unlike the rest of the world, salivate and praise mediocrity to such an extent that if any alien race came and saw them the aliens wouldn’t even bothered killing them. Such stupidity isn’t even worth the sweat. I hear you though, not all Americans are like that but you have to admit that most of them are. That stupidity is the issue at the centre of God Bless America, a film that finally puts into action what us sane people think about almost every day.
Frank (Joel Murray) is a divorced middle aged father living out his life bombarded by the overly idiotic media wave. He suffers from excruciating migraines and insomnia that are enhanced by his neighbours’ crying abomination of a baby and their blatant ignorance. Just like every average American with nothing to do, he watches trash TV and hates himself for it. However, one day he is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer which changes things completely. Frank decides to teach the so called beloved scum of the media a lesson in humility and humanity, so with the help of Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr) they go on a killing spree that sees them kill stars of singing competition and people involved in MTV’s My Sweet 16.
I am proud to say that I am actually part of a group of people who does not watch nor enjoys reality shows, like Jersey Shore, My Sweet 16 and whatever other bullshit trash MTV cooks up. I know of them like everyone else, but I don’t watch them as they make me depressed about humanity and I feel like a part of me dies every second that I see that shit. Fortunately, a lot of people feel the same way and this film addresses such sentiments. The really sad thing about God Bless America is that it’s portrayal of the media’s fascination with trash isn’t at all over-sensetionalized. It all feels so true and accurate that you begin to question why the hell did it take Frank so long to shoot the brains out of a girl from My Sweet 16.
It may not be a popular or appropriate thing to say out loud, but we’ve all thought of killing people like that. People who are so fucking demanding and inconsiderate, people who don’t know respect, have never heard of the word humility and are 100% self-abosberd assholes. People whose ignorance is so overpowering that it could easily destroy nations, which is pretty much the case with Americans. God Bless America doesn’t tackle all the filth but shoots at the main ones, one of them being the Tea Party. While all these is going on, the film also manages to give us a tender yet odd buddy story that feels sincere and relatable. Both main actors are effective in their respective roles, although Barr’s voice gets a bit whiny from time to time.
The only real problem with God Bless America is that it does come of a bit too preachy. It is trying really hard to shove its message down your throat, which can be somewhat overbearing. Moreover, after a while things get a bit dull as you feel the character are basically reciting the same record player over and over again. But since the message is both an admirable and important one, you’ll find yourself agreeing with it. What they say is true, the state of the media is on a downward spiral accepting more and more the notion that you don’t need talent, manners and even the slight ounce of respect to become someone praised and adored all over.
God Bless America is an effective film with an important message that speaks perfectly to how things are today. It achieves one of the purposes of films, to take all of our twisted but so very appropriate fantasies and makes them into reality. Who here hasn’t wished to fucking beat the shit out of someone speaking and disturbing people in the movie theatre? God, I hate those people. God Bless America should’ve gone a bit further with its targets but for what it is, you won’t regret watching it. It’s funny when it needs to be, disturbing when necessary and injected with enough heart to carry you the distance. Not a home-run by any means, but still quite entertaining.
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lawyer-upasshole asked: AMEEEEEEEEEN on your Hick review. Poor Chloe. I expected more from her. Also I usually hate Blake Lively in pretty much everything that she's done thus far, but she just totally changed my mind. And Eddie, there are no words for Eddie's talent. The film, as a whole, definitely fell short. I guess now we know why it had such a pathetically limited release.
Thanks! I usually don’t like Lively either but ever since The Town she has changed my mind somewhat and with Hick I now fully believe that she can act. I’m hoping she also really good in the upcoming Savages but from what I’ve seen she might be the weakest link.
I wish this performance by Eddie was in a better film. I could totally see him getting a lot of recognition for it if that were the case. Guess we’ll just have to wait.
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