Maybe I’m just mad at media tonight, but . . .
In preamble to a review of John Sayles’ new (and, by me, highly anticipated) film Silver City, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone writes these lines on the current state of anti-Bush cinema:
. . . aside from the all-puppet political satire Team America: World Police, due October 15th from South Park‘s Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the only new non-doc to bash Bush is {Silver City}.
For Christ’s sake, Travers: just because Parker and Stone are responsible for a foul-mouthed late-night cartoon does not mean they are in your corner.
Parker and Stone wear a good deal of the GOP line right on their sleeves. Based only on watching South Park, I can confidently say I differ with them on a half dozen hot-button issues. I agree on at least a half dozen others. Their right leaning views are certainly no secret.
I have not seen World Police yet, but from what I have heard it largerly bashes Kim Jong-Il and Michael Moore, not Bush. Peter Travers, I pronounce you ‘idiot.’ By mistaking Parker and Stone’s motives, you now actually have something in common with the Bush Administration.
Here’s another review of Silver City. If the oh-so-clever political cheap shots don’t ruin things, it should be well worth watching. (Anyone who hasn’t seen Sayles’ Lone Star, do yourself a favor; it’s sublime.)
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone continues to bounce downhill. Apparently, one of the fifty greatest portraits in the history of rock is a shot of Dave Matthews looking bored in a furry hat.
Personally, I let my subscription expire when I got bored with the RS writers creaming themselves over bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and whatever “fresh” anti-Bush article to which they could devote seven pages. I swear, by the end I found the Camel Turkish Gold advertisements both more honest and more intellectually stimulating.
By the way, Olly, how’s Eugene?
Olly:
Yes, and not only that, they had the nerve to juxtapose Mr. Matthews with a classic 1964 shot of Mick Jagger in a fur hat. You can just see the cogs turning in the art director’s pointy little head.
They also deemed portraits of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake to be worthy.
I’ve been receiving RS for a year now and I think I’m going to let it lapse. Hard to say, though. Just when I get completely fed up, they cough up a decent story. As in this issue, one from a freelance writer in Baghdad who ran around with some armed-to-the-teeth private security contracters. Good boots-on-the-ground reporting and (praise the lo’d) apolitical for once. Every time I try to get out, they pulls me back in!
I let my RS scrip lapse in 1997, but it’s different for everyone. This doesn’t mean I haven’t been paying attention, though. Courtney’s right about their Bush coverage. The fact that it’s relentlessly negative is old news at this point, but even their big stories are themselves old news. Anything they have to say about Bush’s Guard service — including this month’s yawner (news flash: Bush drank too much) — was covered in Salon months ago.
By the way, just a word of caution about Silver City — besides Travers, I haven’t seen a positive review yet. Apparently all the funny Dubya jokes are over after the first five minutes, then it becomes something entirely different from what’s been advertised.
“well, let me tell you one thing son: nobody lends money to man with a sense of humor.” Peter Tork
Come on, it’s Trey and Matt. It might sting, but what the hell. Puppets!! Puppets are awesome, and they might be the way of the future of entertainment. We all know of their cartoon, and their views. They are for laughs. And thankfully so. Finally, a movie I will spend money in the theatre to see.
troutfur
I posted several things about Team America and received an email from someone claiming they knew more about the movie than I did. Apparently, there’s a good deal of Bush bashing in it. The initial trailer does list GW in that laundry list of public figures that will no doubt despise the movie. Plus, Drudge had kittens over the poster before Stone/Parker set him straight on his radio show. Who is right and who is wrong? We shall see.
Courtney: Eugene’s just fine. Hope Indiana’s treating you well.
Bill: If they exhaust the Bush material in the first five minutes, that’s more than I’d hoped. Sayles can out-Altman Altman at this kind of ensemble piece when he wants to, and if SC has an actual plot (something Lone Star had and Sunshine State didn’t really bother with) then I’m even happier. Early signs are mixed, though. You see, the candidate’s family made their millions in the manure business! Haw!
But then, there’s Chris Cooper. Hard to argue with Chris Cooper.
Troutfur (troutfur?): I think we’re all pretty much on the edges of our seats for Team America. Kudos for quoting Peter Tork.
Dan: This thread reminds me that I still have your copy of Lone Star. Also, out of curiosity, which hot-button issues do you think you’re at odds with Parker and Stone about?
Silver City (2004)
Silver City In an election year, a political satire from John Sayles should be something to get excited about. The guy is so cool he had a guest spot on MathNet, for heaven's sake. It is particularly tempting to get excited when that film has a te…
Silver City (2004)
Silver City In an election year, a political satire from John Sayles should be something to get excited about. The guy is so cool he had a guest spot on MathNet, for heaven's sake. It is particularly tempting to get excited when that film has a te…
Olly, you are not allowed to read my Rolling Stone anymore. Now I can’t get that horrible image out of my head.
Olly: just off the top of my head, stem-cell research and the delicate matter of alien hoopajoops.
To pin down any more, I’d have to actually reflect a bit. Can’t I just toss these statements off with impunity? Lousy self-regulating blogosphere.