An
old friend of mine once said he defined a great film on whether or not he would
want to see it again. While that certainty doesn’t apply to all movies, his
point should help define how good a film is and how worthy is it of our
accolades and money. With this in mind, not since Birdman, has there been a
film I’ve wanted to see again immediately despite being a huge super hero fan.
The last XMEN film, perhaps the second best in its genre behind the first
Avengers, failed to inspire and move me as much as Rogue One. Likewise none of
the other Star Wars films since Return of the Jedi has risen to such gut
wrenching occasion, as if an out of body experience, calling upon on our very
nature to summon faith, courage, and bravery while at the same time questioning
our belief systems. Fans of Star Wars know the outcome of the mission yet
relish in the battle and what it means for each character. The moments of
rebellion against the system. The moments when the brave shouted their
allegiance or used the force with such desperation, as dreamers and soldiers
for the cause of freedom; not as graceful Jedi knights given a birth right to
wield and command the force at will. This spark within us all to call upon our
inner aspiration and drive against all odds conveyed from the entire cast and
its director, Gareth Edwards, makes Rogue One a testament to spirituality and palatable
substance. What acts have you carried through for the greater cause of man?
What group have you cultivated to sacrifice upon the altar of freedom? Such a bold
thematic statement led up to masterfully with an unlikely hero who throughout
most of the film denies the mission out of spite. Her anger and grudge blinded
her until she learned the truth about her very existence. The human struggle
and determination to listen to the heart unobstructed with a focused moral
compass is extremely rare in cinema and in Rogue One Edwards, Felicity Jones,
Diego Luna, Donnie Yen and Forrest Whitaker absorb truth and justice as their
prime motivation. It flowed from their faces and eyes. The uncertainty before
the leap. The walk toward a switch through crossfire in the dark. Real tangible
action requiring sacrifice has been done in many films but seldom from so
many characters. Even an android gave everything he had for a few moments more
toward the greater good. This is an outstanding, bewildering accomplishment and
the absolute denial or unacceptance of this cinematic actualization by film
critics as a timeless classic of epic proportions is a telling commentary on
the state of American society.
This
denial of palatable substance is gripping and has been evident in mainstream
media and politics for a long time. Both from the center right and center left
the mainstream acceptance of status quo and rhetorical belief systems grossly
gloss over the specific actions and details we need to force change. One of the
biggest mistakes from the DNC, revealed thanks to the Putin hacks, is their
active suppression of the Black Lives Matter agenda as established on their website. The
lack of black support and turn out for Hillary Clinton together with the much
covered lack of her attention to rural “rust belt” and or “coal country” were
the main reasons she lost the election. Clinton has contributed greatly to this
idea of glossing over substance with a rhetorical theme. A great example came
when Mr. Clinton went off on Obamacare and the campaign backtracked instead of
establishing a new foothold. At the time I even thought it was
a brilliant ploy by Clinton to get the issue back into her wheelhouse. The
campaign had mentioned the “public option” for health care as if they were
afraid to. As if they didn’t want everyone to know that was their “new” policy
position. Of course the main reason is likely the stranglehold insurance
companies have on both sides of the aisle. They own the agenda. Full stop. Even
today the idea of opening up insurance markets to competition is mentioned by
Trump and some Republicans in halfhearted whispers; with a wink and a nod. Statements
void of merit. Like Kaepernick taking a knee to raise awareness yet failing to
mention any demands the next day. Trump like Kaepernick and Hemingway’s Old Man
in The Sea, fight so hard but return without any meat on the fish. All their
wailing and media whoring, the latter because it was at the price of a holy
relic, didn’t force the argument. Trump brought anti-corruption and unjust
trade to the forefront just as Kaepernick helped bring police tactics and
justice department’s legitimacy to the fore front but if we don’t drain the
swamp, reform corporate tax loopholes, or hold prosecutors accountable then
what good is the demonstration. The media continues to make headway regardless,
establishing a false equivalency. The support for Trump or Kaepernick was never
treated as the crisis it is. Discussing Trump without pointing out his many
falsehoods because it would sound too repetitive and degrading is similar to
not discussing the failure of researching why certain cases were not brought
against certain police officers. The
levity from which the news is presented and absorbed has become a perverse
entertainment. The
right is left blind to the truth and the left blinded by it. The masses are left
to fear or neglect the goodness and grace needed to solve problems because it
makes them feel vulnerable but, the opposite is true. Just a few days ago Trump
advisor Kellyanne Conway, criticizing the media for overblowing Trumps
mocking of a disabled reporter, said to CNN “You always want to go by what’s
come out of his mouth rather than look at what’s in his heart.” The statement seems
the end result of treating a candidate like a pundit; asking him how his own
words are gauged rather than what are the specifics of what he will do. The
wheels have fallen off the equation after 8 years of an Obama Doctrine that
moved slow and steady never truly showing the specifics of their plans. Of
course you can’t keep your doctor because the insurance plan you had was criminal
and your doctor doesn’t care! Then during the first Security of State press
conference in Cuba in more than 54 years, with great consternation and
perplexity, when pressed upon why dissidents were not invited to the symbolic
raising of the American Flag in Havana Kerry said, “…we are not going to over
define the process”. Where is our Rouge One Mr. President? Why do I have to
hear my beloved Cuban dissidents happy Trump won because they were not supported
by my government? The Golden Globes did not nominate Rogue One for best picture
because they are irresponsibly lazy, enamored like all of us are, by a false
populism, void of honor bravery and dignity; mired in the politics of complacency
which only responds to extremes.
