08-12-2012, 04:26 AM
I feel at a disadvantage not having actually seen the movie.
However, from this clip I am struck by the interweaving of religious imagery and biblical references and scenes of torture (psychological) and death (physical, psychological, spiritual). While his Big Pharma Dr Gottlieb like friend(?) priest is offering to kill the demons for him who could refuse? Such a calming and reassuring friendly voice. Better living through chemistry he says. Said the spider to the fly. As he places the glasses on Gideon's bible. I swear. Would I lie to you? It is scientifically proven. Be reassured. The man in the white coat is in control. Under the watchful if ironic presence of Mother Mary (or some lesser saint?) he gives communion to him via liquid wafer under the tongue. I keep looking at the seedy hotel room and thinking of the importance of set and setting for such a journey. Not a particularly auspicious setting to set out from.... A god forsaken place. No place for a spiritual rebirth. And who is being exorcised? Scientifically. The military records have been exorcised. The records can cause unimaginable horrors for others if they see the light. Or the light sees them. As some form of transubstantiation transpires does he see the light? Can he see the light? Do we see the light? Yes. The light is there. In the room. Swinging. But does it illuminate or obfuscate? What else does he see? Does he go on the journey? Where does he go? The Valley of Death? Does he return? Clearly not all of him came back from Vietnam. But he brought the demons back with him. Drip. Drip. Drip. Chinese water torture. Or the Jordan river where he is born again? Will any thing of him remain after this journey? Or is he erased. Tabula rasa. On every level. Mind body and soul. The chopper has landed. Welcome back to the seedy hotel room in the seedy hotel where society's useless forgotten men are cast out of paradise. Where nothing has changed. Or maybe not.
However, from this clip I am struck by the interweaving of religious imagery and biblical references and scenes of torture (psychological) and death (physical, psychological, spiritual). While his Big Pharma Dr Gottlieb like friend(?) priest is offering to kill the demons for him who could refuse? Such a calming and reassuring friendly voice. Better living through chemistry he says. Said the spider to the fly. As he places the glasses on Gideon's bible. I swear. Would I lie to you? It is scientifically proven. Be reassured. The man in the white coat is in control. Under the watchful if ironic presence of Mother Mary (or some lesser saint?) he gives communion to him via liquid wafer under the tongue. I keep looking at the seedy hotel room and thinking of the importance of set and setting for such a journey. Not a particularly auspicious setting to set out from.... A god forsaken place. No place for a spiritual rebirth. And who is being exorcised? Scientifically. The military records have been exorcised. The records can cause unimaginable horrors for others if they see the light. Or the light sees them. As some form of transubstantiation transpires does he see the light? Can he see the light? Do we see the light? Yes. The light is there. In the room. Swinging. But does it illuminate or obfuscate? What else does he see? Does he go on the journey? Where does he go? The Valley of Death? Does he return? Clearly not all of him came back from Vietnam. But he brought the demons back with him. Drip. Drip. Drip. Chinese water torture. Or the Jordan river where he is born again? Will any thing of him remain after this journey? Or is he erased. Tabula rasa. On every level. Mind body and soul. The chopper has landed. Welcome back to the seedy hotel room in the seedy hotel where society's useless forgotten men are cast out of paradise. Where nothing has changed. Or maybe not.
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.