40 Years
I was watching Emilio's movie about the shooting of Robert Kennedy this morning. The film is called Bobby. Two things completely unrelated struck me.
The first being that the DVD is a Blockbuster exclusive. Apparently they are the only group renting this feature. The initial 12 chapters on the DVD were all advertising of Weinstein movies available now and for future release, and of course for our good friends at the local Blockbuster. You know, I have the DVD that I just rented and it's spinning in my player at my house which means I already had to go to Blockbuster to get it because it is a Blockbuster exclusive and I'm viewing it with the full knowledge that it came from Blockbuster and no longer need the information that it is only available at Blockbuster. I don't want to be continually reminded of where I rented it while I'm trying to watch it. The constant repeating of the phrase Blockbuster exclusive on the DVD almost made me take it back to Blockbuster, without watching it, and tossing it through the Blockbuster window, exclusively (I have never been a big fan of self promotion). Alright already. I get it!
The second crack to my head came from the actual archival footage of Bobby K. used throughout the movie. The sound bites and images were arresting in the fact that today, 40 years after his death, politicians are saying and campaigning with the same exact words in all of the same cliche photo opportunities, harping on the same existing social situations, and nothing has been changed other than the vehicle of media is now videotape that records in living color rather than the 16mm black and white film of yesterday.
It is pathetic that poverty still thrives, that racism is the norm, that we do not take care of each other and that we are still "fighting" wars we don't win. No progress in 40 years. That is some stagnation that has to be stirred or flushed. I hold myself personally responsible since I have been alive for those 40 years and have done little to nothing to change anything. I hang my head low and apologize. I will try to influence and contribute to an awareness and remedy of the blight that fogs our nation. It's time to make my own movies.
The first being that the DVD is a Blockbuster exclusive. Apparently they are the only group renting this feature. The initial 12 chapters on the DVD were all advertising of Weinstein movies available now and for future release, and of course for our good friends at the local Blockbuster. You know, I have the DVD that I just rented and it's spinning in my player at my house which means I already had to go to Blockbuster to get it because it is a Blockbuster exclusive and I'm viewing it with the full knowledge that it came from Blockbuster and no longer need the information that it is only available at Blockbuster. I don't want to be continually reminded of where I rented it while I'm trying to watch it. The constant repeating of the phrase Blockbuster exclusive on the DVD almost made me take it back to Blockbuster, without watching it, and tossing it through the Blockbuster window, exclusively (I have never been a big fan of self promotion). Alright already. I get it!
The second crack to my head came from the actual archival footage of Bobby K. used throughout the movie. The sound bites and images were arresting in the fact that today, 40 years after his death, politicians are saying and campaigning with the same exact words in all of the same cliche photo opportunities, harping on the same existing social situations, and nothing has been changed other than the vehicle of media is now videotape that records in living color rather than the 16mm black and white film of yesterday.
It is pathetic that poverty still thrives, that racism is the norm, that we do not take care of each other and that we are still "fighting" wars we don't win. No progress in 40 years. That is some stagnation that has to be stirred or flushed. I hold myself personally responsible since I have been alive for those 40 years and have done little to nothing to change anything. I hang my head low and apologize. I will try to influence and contribute to an awareness and remedy of the blight that fogs our nation. It's time to make my own movies.
posted by RJK at
7:44 AM
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