Moviefone posted a review of the movie Last Night (still to be released) that is very telling of what the world is coming to (though I know it's not a surprise to many). The article explains,
"It sounds like a derivative and typical tale of marital morality -- a couple doesn't talk to each other, and lazily lets things get to the point where they both want to cheat. But Tadjedin infuses such thoughtfulness and cleverness into the proceedings that Last Night begins to feel unique. She employs a myriad of techniques to tell the story and to have her characters interact – an action or seemingly irrelevant anecdote being just as important as a straightforward response or bit of exposition."
First of all, it's sad to hear this as being told as a "typical tale of marital morality." The fact that it's a tale, doesn't imply that it's always true, but it makes it sound as if it's something that everyone encounters trouble with in their marriage. I'm not going to deny that it's true that married couples battle with this conflict (as anyone can see by the number of tales in books, movies, TV, and even the scriptures). But to display it in such a way makes it seem like it's not that bad and that it's OK to get "lazy" in your relationship because it happens to everyone. Good, moral media should seek to inspire people to be better, not be content or complacent with a disintegrating relationship.
Further in the article,
"Best of all, Tadjedin shifts the activity from her characters to the viewer. While, yes, there are moments where each couple struggle with matters of fidelity, trust, and commitment, the film also becomes an exercise for how we see things as an audience. No path is clear cut, and just when you think you know how the film will play out, it goes in another direction. It's as carefree as life – not in a suspenseful way, but in a realistic one. Life is not a simple formula of A+B=C, and Tadjedin respects that principle."
Should life really be "carefree"? Is this reality? Agreed, "life is not a simple formula" but there are simple formulas for happiness and this representation is flat out lie. Even if the film shows each partner in the marriage not go through with their "night of sin," the fact that they let it get so far and to tell the account in such a carefree way is simply despicable.
Intriguing. I am a little curious if they go through with it or not. It does make me so sad that this represents "real life." I really like what you said about the responsibility of media.
ReplyDelete"Good, moral media should seek to inspire people to be better, not be content or complacent with a disintegrating relationship."
That is why it is so important for us to seek only good, moral media. The way the movie portrays the consequences of their actions is what will determine if this particular film has moral value or not. If it truly is shown as care-free and no big deal and makes us root for the wrong path, than clearly it is not up to the right standards. But just because it portrays evil, does not make it evil. Moral value is determined by whether or not the evil is portrayed as good. While a more inspiring movie might show only the joys of a perfect marriage, I'm afraid most would pass it off as a romantic dream for the naive instead of an ideal to be exemplified. Sometimes darkness must be shown in order to truly understand the light. But again, the question to ask is whether or not that darkness is portrayed as light.