Sunday, December 15, 2013

Review of GOD BLESS AMERICA

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Frank Murdoch is an unhappy man. He's divorced, lives alone, has migraines, and loud neighbors living below him who keep him from getting enough sleep. But worst of all is the cruelty and crudity shown on TV--one woman throwing a used tampon at another, people laughing at a retarded singer, and the like. To make matters worse, his daughter doesn't want to see him, and he loses his job because he sent flowers to a co-worker (at her home) to cheer her up. As a final straw, a doctor (who cares more about his new car than his patients) tells him he has brain cancer.

The only solution he can think of is suicide.  But, at the last minute, he sees a television program about CHLOE, the teenager from hell who curses her parents for buying her a Lexus instead of a Cadillac. This upsets him so much, he puts down the gun, seeks her out at her school, and shoots her in her car. That evening, back in his room, he puts the gun back in his mouth, but is interrupted by ROXANNE HARMON, one of Chloe's classmates. Roxy says the killing of Chloe was awesome, and persuades Frank to kill other worthy candidates instead of himself.

Frank agrees. The two of them kill Chloe's parents since they were responsible for Chloe, then people who talk too much in a movie theater, Tea Party nutcakes and many more. They do target practice, sightsee, and share a hotel room (one bed, but pillows separate them--Frank is not a pedophile.) Then Frank makes a disturbing discovery about Roxy…

This film is delightfully unpredictable. Bobcat Goldthwait, the writer and director, consistently delivers unexpected twists in the action. There's lots of blood and violence, but it all has a surreal quality that makes it comical, albeit in a dark way. While exciting and funny, the movie makes you think, and not happy thoughts. I plan to check out more of Goldthwait's films.

Cinematically, this movie is worth seeing. As a workout film, this will frequently get your pulse up to at least a run.  I give it ++++.

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