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jansuing
You can reach me at jgsuing@gmail.com.
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Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)
A scathing critique of America's imperialist foreign policy
Wow.
I've always been a fan of Resident Evil, particularly the video games, and I must admit that this one has pleasantly surprised me. That was a sobering critique of the nexus between the American deep state and its military-industrial complex, which promotes an imperialist foreign policy. In addition, the series excellently reflects the current state of US-China relations.
It is both timely and relevant. Go watch it.
P. S. I don't get why some people call it Chinese propaganda. Netflix is an American company and the film was produced by the Japanese. Clearly, the film is accurate in its depiction of how the system brainwashes Americans into thinking everyone is out there to get them. To the rest of the world, U. S. is the villain, not the victim.
Open (2019)
A good start to a conversation
'Open' is a good start to a conversation.
As someone who has been "cheated on", has "cheated", has friends and family members who had to grapple with the ramifications of this social construction called "infidelity", I think it is about time we scrutinize it. Usually, art, such as cinema, is the best launch pad for this.
I also want to add that while the film may seem to appeal to or resonate more with those from middle to upper class backgrounds, let me just say that:
(1) the phenomenon of "infidelity" is a universal experience in societies that put premium on monogamy. It cuts across economic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and cultures. It is also equally painful to a person who earns an exorbitant income and someone who earns minimum wage.
(2) Open, poly- relationships (or any other creative, unorthodox romantic set-ups other than monogamy for that matter) were not primarily invented or are exclusively practiced by the so-called "patricians".
The upper classmen tend to be more conservative about their relationships, and this is rooted in their desire to protect their wealth and status. (Ever wonder why divorce remains illegal in this country despite the fact that the rich are in power?) It is the plebeians or the masses and the disenfranchised who-under the pressure of various constraints-have the ingenuity to innovate their social and romantic lives.
There's also a stronger sense of community among the masses, making it relatively easier for them to adopt to difficult relational situations as compared to the sheltered.
The learned are just good at articulating and, thereby, appropriating what the masses have already been doing for ages.
It is why, in my opinion, there is so much more to learn from understanding the psyche and culture of the masses than that of the boring elites. Nothing about what the elites do interests me.
Also, Arci Muñoz is brilliant in this film.
'Open' is a good start to a conversation. But it mustn't end here.
Bølgen (2015)
Overrated!
I don't get why this movie got too many positive reviews. It's even rated 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Its cliched and the characters do stupid stuff all the time. I have this conspiracy theory that the Norwegian government paid for these positive reviews just so their citizens will watch this movie for information dissemination purposes. That's fine. But as a work of art, this is just dumb.
Soromon no gishou: Kouhen saiban (2015)
The death of god
Solomon's Perjury begins with the death of a young man and ends with the death of god. The ending and ultimate reveal may not be the shocker many would expect it to be, but I'd dare say it's meant to be that way. I'll tell you why, but first...
Despite the four-hour long combined running time of its two parts and it being a slow burner of a suspense thriller, there's never a dull moment in Solomon's Perjury, thanks to the beautiful cinematography and the shocking revelations scattered all throughout its length.
The story -- told with remarkable finesse and restraint -- is pretty straightforward: a student fell off a school building and died. Now, his classmates must find the truth about his death; was he killed or did he kill himself?
A strength of the film lies in its careful Freudian treatment of its characters. They are never the annoying 2-D caricatures one would usually see in Philippine television and cinema. The characters here are flawed and complex, just like actual human beings, allowing the audience to simultaneously sympathize and suspect them of a possible crime they may or may not have committed.
Perhaps, the most disturbing thing about watching the film for me isn't really the shocking deaths; it's the benefit of the doubt and the generosity of understanding I was willing to give some of the characters, notwithstanding their actions ruined the lives of others.
The trial that culminates this epic thriller is an important metaphor for the search of truth that marks the contemporary human condition.
Humankind has been going through great lengths to perform make-believe charades in an attempt to console their innately meaningless, purposeless existence. We seek justice and pretend we have it. But the nihilism that grips our lives never really goes away.
Just as how the film ends in a low, perhaps unsatisfying, note to some, life really has no definitive answers to its existential questions.
An examined life isn't really the abundance of answers nor is it distinguished by never-ending happiness. Perhaps, it's the courageous acceptance that maybe, just maybe, we are but a beautiful accident.
Chotto imakara shigoto yametekuru (2017)
This movie is special.
This movie came at the right time in my life. I guess it's safe to say that this little piece of insightful cinema saved me.
But not only does this film effectively inspire hope to those who despair due to the way the prevailing economic system treats its subjects, it is also a sobering critique of capitalism, how it drives people to destroy each other due to competition, and how it ultimately makes those who cannot conform to the values and demands of capitalism feel useless and empty.
This movie has a special place in my heart. Highly recommended.