BJ Novak's Vengeance gives the audience plenty to think about rather than shoving some message down our throats. It complicates the problem of divisiveness in America in a way that may agitate everyone. Perhaps our consumption of media has transformed people from human beings into characters in a story.
Frequently, I'm agitated with "message" movies because they feel like a Christian movie trying to spoon-feed me some lesson. While some may say the message of this film was clear, its delivery was not. The Texas family has as much to offer as the New York elite. Both lifestyles are parodied and critiqued. The Texans are conspiracy theorists, going off of their gut, and the New Yorker believes himself above them, viewing them as only a story, less than human.
I'm all for movies that keep me in the moment. Vengeance was able to do that for me. I didn't stop to think about the film or become aware of the messaging because of the twists and turns infused with comedy. So many films now pause to "teach a lesson" or something like that. I wanted to figure out the mystery, and the wildness of the cultures kept me entertained.
Now, the acting overall was fine, but Ashton Kutcher shocked me with his character. I've never thought of him as a particularly game-changing actor, likely because I grew up watching That '70s Show. However, he steals the film in two scenes. Spoilers coming now, so turn away.
The character forces us to face the truths about our culture. We quickly turn villains into heroes because they say things no one else will. We admire their authenticity. The truth becomes secondary to the documentarian's pursuit of a story. The film is likely parodying Tiger King. As consumers of podcasts, we dehumanize the victims of tragedy by turning them into entertainment. Should the tiger king's abuse of people with no other opportunity be a source of entertainment?
Furthermore, does the truth even matter to us? Or are we obsessed with the combative nature of urban versus rural, liberal versus conservative, and so on? Do we no longer care what we are fighting about because we only know that we dislike the other side of every conflict or question? It's a scary thought.
For more material, click here to see all previous Entertainment posts. Also, consider subscribing or following us on Facebook or Instagram, so you never miss an update.