More on Stranger Than . . .

Bobby raises an interesting point about the ending of Stranger Than Fiction. If you haven’t seen the movie and you don’t want to know how it ends, stop reading now and don’t read the comments on the original Stranger Than Fiction post.

In many ways, Stranger Than is thoroughly postmodern, breaking down barriers between author and subject, inverting expectations, and toying (for lack of a better term) with features of modernity (boy meets girl story, the prevalence of Mies van der Rohe architecture, characters named for mathematicians, the playful GIU interface/overlay imposing structure on an unstructured world).

But I wonder; at what point does posmodernity lead to such an inversion of expectations regarding “Hollywood endings” that stories go full circle back to the Hollywood ending? The viewer recognizes that a story is postmodern (or perhaps quirky) and begins to anticipate that the story will not have the kind of ending where everything is wrapped up in a nice package. That is to say, this kind of quirky story usually (or in its best form, so the viewer thinks) has an ending that is, well, not fully resolved. Stranger, though, inverts the postmodern form itself, providing a happy ending—which is in reality the unexpected ending.

All that to say, as I watched the movie I was pretty certain that Harold would die. So when the author finds a way for him to live, that actually inverted my expectations regarding how a quirky, postmodern movie would play out.

Like I said in the beginning, Stranger Than Fiction would make a great discussion starter (there are many other things in the movie worth discussion if you don't enjoy discussions of postmodern story telling). Or maybe I just can’t enjoy a movie without over thinking it. But that’s why you love me.

Wow, this is like a real blog post. It must be the cold medicine.

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio -- B

While I'm not in the target demographic (i.e., a woman), I found it to be genuinely sweet. Based on a true story, it is a warm story about a woman who holds her family (of 12) together by writing pithy jingles and overlooking her husband's not insignificant failings. Ladies will love it. Men will want to throttle the husband (a not so mellowed out Woody Harrelson) and tell him to snap out of it.

Jesus Camp -- B

One of the most disturbing things I've seen in a long time. It's a documentary that purports to be about evangelicalism, but mainly focuses on a single pentecostal church and a camp run by that church's children's pastor. The children are bombarded with overly-emotional messages about God and country that they are too young and too immature to comprehend. They are simply worked into an emotional frenzy. Much of what the film demonstrates seems like little more than brainwashing.

That said, the film is very, very heavily edited. Reaction shots seem to have been inserted for effect, and in some cases clearly do not reflect actual responses to what is being heard in the film at that time. It strikes me that the film-makers may be doing some emotional manipulation of their own.

It's worth seeing, though, to understand the widespread (mis)perception of evangelicals.

Stranger Than Fiction -- A

Interesting and well made film that becomes quite thought provoking in the end. Would make for a great discussion starter.

UPDATED: Shut Up and Sing — B

UPDATE: I don't want to be misunderstood about liking the song "Not Ready to Make Nice." I like it because it so clearly spells out how I do NOT want to be. I DO want to be ready and willing to make nice.

This documentary about the Dixie Chicks, and their lead singer (Natalie Maines) shooting her mouth off about the President and the War in Iraq is pretty good, particularly if you’re into media and public relations. Lots of behind the scenes discussions about how to manage their image. Maines ultimately comes off well because she is more concerned with being honest about what she believes than with managing her image. While I disagree strongly with what she believes, it’s refreshing to see someone actually being honest and not simply saying what people want to hear. Of course that could all just be in the editing.

I’m also pretty sure I’ve come to like their big hit song, “Not Ready to Make Nice.” While—again—I don’t agree with the ultimate message of the song, I think that it realistically portrays the fact that forgiveness and reconciliation are hard work when sincerely undertaken. And I think that we’ve all had times when we felt like the chorus. The problem is when we allow ourselves to get stuck there.

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

Also, it has a nice beat and one could dance to it.


Wow, Mister Ginger made a long post.