Oh Jeezus, More Trash On The Way!!

First, visit this link: American Gun.

Did you read the synopsis listed there? Now tell me that isn't simply a re-creation of Crash, but this time with guns instead of racism. It is, isn't it?

Christ, when will the preaching end? Why do filmakers insist on producing these social commentaries, all the while thinking they're actually teaching us about the impact these issues have on our society?! Can you say "Pulpit Syndrome"? (Okay, so there's no such thing as PS, but it fits, no?)

Crash was supposed to be a commentary on societal treatment of racism. A view depicting several spheres of existence wherein racism ran rampant and unchecked. It attempted to show that no matter what class you belonged to, what race you were, racism was everywhere. Which is true, to a degree. But it was unrealistic in that we don't all voice our thoughts all the time. How many of you would actually go on about the latino guy fixing your lock being a gang member within earshot of said person? Does that seem realistic to you? I sure as hell hope not because if it does I never want to meet you.

Now we have American Gun. A movie about "how the proliferation of guns in America dramatically affect and shape the every day lives of its citizens." Furthermore, it is played out in a "series of interwoven storylines". Are we seeing a pattern here? Now I'll admit that guns are a consistent problem in our society. Take all the shootings that have made national headlines over the past year, for example. But do we really need another preachy movie about how problematic they are? I find it highly insulting that they think we do. It's almost as though the people behind these so-called "films" think we need to be educated about the dangers of gun violence, that by putting such issues in films they can make a difference.

I do, however, understand the logic behind such a move. This material really ought to be presented as a documentary, much like Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Documentaries, unfortunately, do not carry the same mainstream appeal as "thrillers". From a marketing and exposure point of view, a thriller will hit a much larger demographic than a documentary. Note the exception in the aforementioned example, it being that Bowling for Columbine was a major success. So the filmaker, in his infinite wisdom, decides to make a movie instead of a documentary. Right, got it.

Still, I find it upsetting that American Gun carries such a heavy parallel to Crash. Like a car drafting behind a truck, American Gun can be said to be simply riding on the success of an, undeservingly so, Oscar-winning movie. And that, my friends, is truly pathetic.