tonydal wrote:You're expecting something challenging nowadays? In this Golden Age of Mindless Affability? (Not to mention the endless horde of Nagging Hall-Monitor Know-It-Alls.) Best put the whole business on fast-forward until the general tenor of the times changes (if indeed it ever does)...
Indeed, the change is already in progress, albeit very slowly. The dawning talent displayed by many in the Indy and rebel mainstream segments is already in place. The Golden Age of Film started, ironically, in 2000 with a blockbuster, Gladiator. Gracchus doubles down on Lucilla's characterization of the Roman populace being a mob, saying, "I think (Commodus) knows what Rome is. Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it"--all while that very "mob" is literally being served with bread and circuses as they watch. It was the opening shot of the challenge to the movie industry, to challenge us...the mob. And almost nobody recognized it, or it was steadfastly ignored, and it's still there.
If you want examples, just look at my superlatives this year alone, so far. Not a tremendous number, but they're very strong, and only 2 (*) are more entertainment oriented than provocative, and that's okay. The ultimate ideal is quality.
The Good Catholic
The Only Living Boy in New York
Wind River
Before I Fall
The Promise
*Guardians of the Galaxy—Vol. 2
*Baby Driver
Brad’s Status
Only the Brave
Last Flag Flying
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Rebel in the Rye