I don’t think this was intentional but it has always struck me as funny that the least convincing character in terms of performance was the Denis Leary one, whose monologue is a modified version of his standup routine about being an asshole. He had a song too, which I’m glad didn’t get played in the movie. He helps create the needed counterpoint to Cocteau’s San Angeles but because he’s not as good an actor, he’s not quite as convincing that his way is better.
And the thing about the choice is that a lot of people would absolutely choose Cocteau’s San Angeles even knowing the options. It’s basically a high-end gated community, after all, and we have lots of those in this country.
There’s also a metaphor of the armed grungy real types versus the soft elites at play that I want to think through a little more before I comment on it.
Nailed it, obv! The fundamental tension between good and bad, light and dark, safety and danger -- that's what makes us intrinsically human. Your piece captures this dynamic in a smart and succinct way, and I expected nothing less. :-)
By the way, I think the sad guy at the kiosk was spared because Phoenix deemed him too pathetic to kill. Even the most toxic doses of masculinity aren't devoid of empathy -- however absurd.
In between the peaceful protection and violent terror is a little something important called personal choice. The reality of Demolition Man is that San Angeles is just as much a hellscape as Los Angeles before it. Extremes are always bad. I love this movie because its commentary on society goes much deeper than scifi/action, but most people don't look past the cheese. Great write up! Thanks for sharing. 👍
Seeing it in writing, Huxley's comments about abortion/pregnancy doesn't make sense. What do they do if a woman gets pregnant without a license? Abortion? No, it's illegal. Do they lock up the woman? What about the father? If so, who raises the child?
The character Huxley is certainly a nod to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. I recall seeing part or all of this movie decades ago- my friend in elementary school told me about how future society's use the restroom with three seashells. Admittedly, it's not immediately obvious and it's quite amusing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnuOa7tDco that it presents an abstract unknown. I recall seeing other scenes that were quite prescient- for example, some post-pandemic practices may be more germophobic than before.
I'm glad this movie is making a comeback. When I first saw it, I was disappointed it didn't give me what I wanted, which was two hours of Spartan chasing Phoenix through this sanitary future world. But with time, I began to appreciate how Cocteau makes for a much more interesting villain. And I love Friendly's Gen-Xer attitude.
I don’t think this was intentional but it has always struck me as funny that the least convincing character in terms of performance was the Denis Leary one, whose monologue is a modified version of his standup routine about being an asshole. He had a song too, which I’m glad didn’t get played in the movie. He helps create the needed counterpoint to Cocteau’s San Angeles but because he’s not as good an actor, he’s not quite as convincing that his way is better.
And the thing about the choice is that a lot of people would absolutely choose Cocteau’s San Angeles even knowing the options. It’s basically a high-end gated community, after all, and we have lots of those in this country.
There’s also a metaphor of the armed grungy real types versus the soft elites at play that I want to think through a little more before I comment on it.
Nailed it, obv! The fundamental tension between good and bad, light and dark, safety and danger -- that's what makes us intrinsically human. Your piece captures this dynamic in a smart and succinct way, and I expected nothing less. :-)
By the way, I think the sad guy at the kiosk was spared because Phoenix deemed him too pathetic to kill. Even the most toxic doses of masculinity aren't devoid of empathy -- however absurd.
In between the peaceful protection and violent terror is a little something important called personal choice. The reality of Demolition Man is that San Angeles is just as much a hellscape as Los Angeles before it. Extremes are always bad. I love this movie because its commentary on society goes much deeper than scifi/action, but most people don't look past the cheese. Great write up! Thanks for sharing. 👍
Seeing it in writing, Huxley's comments about abortion/pregnancy doesn't make sense. What do they do if a woman gets pregnant without a license? Abortion? No, it's illegal. Do they lock up the woman? What about the father? If so, who raises the child?
The character Huxley is certainly a nod to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. I recall seeing part or all of this movie decades ago- my friend in elementary school told me about how future society's use the restroom with three seashells. Admittedly, it's not immediately obvious and it's quite amusing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnuOa7tDco that it presents an abstract unknown. I recall seeing other scenes that were quite prescient- for example, some post-pandemic practices may be more germophobic than before.
I'm glad this movie is making a comeback. When I first saw it, I was disappointed it didn't give me what I wanted, which was two hours of Spartan chasing Phoenix through this sanitary future world. But with time, I began to appreciate how Cocteau makes for a much more interesting villain. And I love Friendly's Gen-Xer attitude.