Post by Brad Nelson on Apr 18, 2021 8:00:24 GMT -8
I watched this 1976 film set in 1969 on The Criterion Channel. A big election is coming up in Australia. Don’s 30-something Labour (Leftist) friends are coming over to his house for a bash for the expected demise of the hated (by them) Liberal Party (generally conservative).
I certainly expected some crude caricatures of conservatives by Don and his friends. And they supply that. But I was very much surprised that the film was implicitly a critique on the kind of people (we know them today all around us) who live their Leftist politics like a religion — while being morally dubious people themselves.
I almost couldn’t believe what I was watching. I didn’t expect this to be a slow-motion train-wreck of a critique of Leftists as they show themselves to be the base people that they are. I really expected this to be a long and prolonged bash of conservatives.
I absolutely love one of the reviews at IMDB. A guy gives it a very low rating calling it “dated” and “pretentious.” The movie itself is certainly watchable for what it is. It’s not for everyone but it’s never boring. And I would bet a month’s pay that this reviewer didn’t like it because he didn’t like having his own base beliefs and character being outed in this film.
Another reviewer (who likes it) calls the movie, “The characterization of the drunk middle-aged, middle class, and slightly socialist characters is in my opinion the highlight of the film.”
I kept thinking throughout the film that I haven’t been to a lot of parties in my life. But there was nothing about this party that seemed particularly unbelievable or over the top. But my guess is that even among those who like the movie, they see it merely as a “party” movie whether the point and comedy is all in the excessive behavior, not the contrast of High Political Motives with the type of grungy people that these people clearly are.
A hint at the denial and protecting of fragile egos can be seen in many reviews that said the acting was sub-par. I think the opposite. I think the acting was spot-on. These characters seem quite real. And we’ve all know the type or types. But if you hold a mirror up to some people, they just can’t take it. It’s wonderful in this regard. I love reading some of the negative reviews. You just know they are smoldering in denial.
I certainly expected some crude caricatures of conservatives by Don and his friends. And they supply that. But I was very much surprised that the film was implicitly a critique on the kind of people (we know them today all around us) who live their Leftist politics like a religion — while being morally dubious people themselves.
I almost couldn’t believe what I was watching. I didn’t expect this to be a slow-motion train-wreck of a critique of Leftists as they show themselves to be the base people that they are. I really expected this to be a long and prolonged bash of conservatives.
I absolutely love one of the reviews at IMDB. A guy gives it a very low rating calling it “dated” and “pretentious.” The movie itself is certainly watchable for what it is. It’s not for everyone but it’s never boring. And I would bet a month’s pay that this reviewer didn’t like it because he didn’t like having his own base beliefs and character being outed in this film.
Another reviewer (who likes it) calls the movie, “The characterization of the drunk middle-aged, middle class, and slightly socialist characters is in my opinion the highlight of the film.”
I kept thinking throughout the film that I haven’t been to a lot of parties in my life. But there was nothing about this party that seemed particularly unbelievable or over the top. But my guess is that even among those who like the movie, they see it merely as a “party” movie whether the point and comedy is all in the excessive behavior, not the contrast of High Political Motives with the type of grungy people that these people clearly are.
A hint at the denial and protecting of fragile egos can be seen in many reviews that said the acting was sub-par. I think the opposite. I think the acting was spot-on. These characters seem quite real. And we’ve all know the type or types. But if you hold a mirror up to some people, they just can’t take it. It’s wonderful in this regard. I love reading some of the negative reviews. You just know they are smoldering in denial.