A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Isaac White.
I’m at a standstill with viewing material. Like I said last week, I had been on a good run of remarkable films and television to review. That’s not to say this week will be full of stinkers. My offerings are good, but for one, and I’ll explain that when we get there. When I think about that movie, I keep developing more reasons why I’m not too fond of it. Well, not that I believe it isn’t good, but... You know what? I’m going to leave that here for now.
This is one of those weeks where I feel blank. The Niners losing in such an embarrassing fashion still holds an emotional grip on me. Drama? Yeah, but it’s been 30 years, and I’m worried my team will turn into the Buffalo Bills of the 90s. Sorry, Bills enthusiasts, but it was nuts that they lost 4 in a row.
Holy moly, I have to stop thinking about the Niners. Let’s open this thing up for the main event: me talking about the movies and shows you should or shouldn’t watch. It’s my thing, and there will not be a dereliction of duty from me right now. Maybe next week. I am just kidding, everyone. I’ll leave no one behind.
How many of you are South Park fans? Most of you are because how can someone not enjoy South Park? That was a toss-off because it’s not many people’s preferred cup of tea. It’s filthy and boundary-pushing. The mocking of societal mores and the absurdity of how humans behave being pointed out on the small screen by Trey Parker and Matt Stone is one of the most attractive features for me.
Then again, I enjoy people who refuse to cower to societal pressure, mainly when what they are satirizing is just begging to be dismantled. The two creators of South Park are the most masterful purveyors of highlighting the absurd things Americans have done in the last 30 years of all time.
No doubt there will be people reading this who will say I’m out of my tree because they’re just cartoon creators who mock things and people. I will retort that there was a time when political cartoonists were the rock stars of their day when it came to public commentary and their examination of the state of things, as it were.
As I write, I realize I should have reviewed their newest offering when it was released in October last year. South Park has been delivering their material differently than they did on Comedy Central. Over the last few years on Paramount+, the duo has been releasing what are essentially short movies a couple of times a year.
Or roughly a couple a year. They have also released full seasons, but adding the next film is a boon. For me, anyway, and from what I can tell from the other Reddit nerds, they also enjoy it.
So, in October, a release titled South Park: Joining the Panderverse was released. The piece is a blistering commentary on what the creators see as an increase in efforts to create more diversity. Why are they unhappy with what is, on the surface, a good thing? Because the way these things happen appears to them as forced and likely insincere, You know what? I agree. Mostly anyway.
Politics isn’t something I discuss here, and I don’t intend to start now. One thing that I do engage in is commenting on the material that I’m reviewing. Because of that, I do offer my thoughts on the themes and topics discussed in these pieces for public consumption. With that in mind, I’ve established why I will get into this.
The premise for Panderverse is quite interesting. Cartman dreams that he’s in a parallel universe, existence, dimension, or whatever you want to call it, and in that world, he is a black woman. Why? Parker and Stone are telling the world that the effort to diversify the media we consume is being forced. They’re saying that it isn’t necessary most of the time and that it should occur organically.
I agree with that. Do I like to see people of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, etc. represented more widely? Yes. Is it clunky at times? Of course. These guys tackled it hilariously.
Cartman winds up living his nightmare. As you all know, Cartman is a chunky little racist and bigot. So, when he winds up in an alternate universe where he is a black woman, it’s a shock for him, as we all expect. In this universe, the whole crew is diversified. Cartman tries to explain that he’s switched out with a black woman, who, by the way, is now in Cartman’s normal universe.
As we move through it, there are plenty of poignant moments where the idea of things being forced awkwardly into the offerings is brilliantly examined. One thing that also stuck out for me was their pointing out that people need to learn how to fix things on their own.
Basic maintenance skills are lacking for many people these days, especially people in white-collar jobs. In Panderverse, we see a flipping of upper-middle-class people at the mercy of handymen who have more work than they can because people like Randy can’t fix the hinges on their stoves.
I loved how they did that because it resonates with me. I’m not Mr. Fix-It by any stretch of the imagination. Speaking of stretching, I have a good story about a wood stretcher. If any of you ever want to hear it, I’ll be more than happy to share, even though my face still turns red when I say it. So, I relate to that part.
The entire piece I connected with. There are ways to diversify and expand the cast of movies and shows without doing it in a way that makes it crystal clear that it was intentional and only to appease people. Parker and Stone tell the world that these high-powered media executives don’t care about inclusivity.
They want to make society believe they do so they can make more money. Ultimately, it boils down to greed and profits. Top-notch offerings are not the goal for these corporate ghouls. They solely care about the bottom line; that scorching point toward these giant corporations is brilliant.
If you haven’t watched Panderverse yet, I suggest you take a gander. It’s very worth the time.
I’m running out of room, but I want to talk about this strange movie I watched a little while back. Saltburn is a 2023 film directed by Emerald Fennel. I haven’t watched her other movies, and after viewing this one, I won’t be making watching her other works a priority. It’s not that Saltburn is wrong; it’s just not my cup of tea.
The movie centers around a young Oxford classmate and many privileged English students. Some of these kids are descendants of nobility and have generational wealth and status.
Barry Keoghan is the main character, playing Oliver, a young man from a middle-class background but certainly outside the realm of these ultra-privileged classmates with unlimited resources. Oliver becomes close with Felix (Jacob Elordi), who is undoubtedly in the upper crust of English society.
It’s an awkward connection in the beginning. Oliver is not someone you would ever describe as socially proficient. He’s not ready to enter the world of nobility and thousand-year-old wealth. We see Oliver better understand how to navigate that world the more time he spends with Felix.
Eventually, Felix invites Oliver to stay with him and his family at the incredibly huge and, quite honestly, very beautiful estate that has been in their family for generations. Oliver becomes more adept as time passes over the summer.
He endears himself to Felix’s mother, Elspeth (Rosamund Pike). He makes other curious connections (I won’t let this get graphic) with the many wealthy people who do nothing because they have that luxury.
Watching Oliver navigate these waters is interesting. His desperation to become a part of this world is beyond obvious. He desires that, and it becomes evident that he plans on doing whatever he can to accomplish that.
Devious is the nicest thing I can say about how Oliver installs himself permanently in this world. I wondered if he was a psychopath. While I think he is, I’m no psychologist, and I am not sure my take is correct. Even if I’m not diagnosing him correctly, I can do this with total certainty. Oliver is a little creepy and willing to do horrible things to cozy up and get some of the pie.
As we progress through the story and Oliver becomes more successful in his wily mission, the stunts and games become more and more outrageous. I kept asking myself, “How do these people not realize what he’s up to?” Perhaps hundreds of years of not having to use your brain result in such ignorance and an inability to comprehend your situation. Other than that, I can’t say.
Brass tax time. This movie is super dark and very unsettling. You’re watching this young man on a mission to grab what he wants, and his methods are pretty off-putting. Revolting in some instances, ones that I won’t get into. If you want an idea of the sort of film this is, my reference point is The Talented Mr. Ripley. Not exactly, but a similar feel.
Online, most people and critics like this movie. I don’t care for it overall, though I won’t say it’s terrible. The acting is very good, and the characters are fascinating. The tone, pacing, and camera work could have been better for me. This movie just felt slimy. You need to wash your hands after watching it. So, I’m not endorsing this movie, though if you want to see a film that focuses on one of the most devious schemes you could wish to, you should check this out. Just be ready for the eventual feelings of complete disgust.
I have to go; it’s that time, folks.
Thanks for reading, and until next week...
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