"Film Forum: In America, The Missing Explore Parent-Child Bonds"
"Religious press critics review In America, The Missing, Timeline, The Haunted Mansion, Bad Santa, The Cooler, more Cat in the Hat criticism, news about a movie studio marketing to churches, Billy Graham's views on The Passion of the Christ, and a Columbin"
Jeffrey Overstreet | posted 12/01/2003 12:00AM
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It is also worth noting that these critics included grave reservations about the film, which stands in stark contrast to the views of some mainstream critics, who celebrate it as a grand work of art.
Further, it is worth noting that Gus Van Sant's film does not claim to be a recreation of the events at Columbine, but rather is an artistic exploration of the problem of violence in schools. There are many parallels, but it is not meant to be an exact representation. It is R-rated for good reason, and should be considered inappropriate viewing for younger viewers. (Teenagers old enough to attend without a parent should exercise extreme caution.)
In the responses of the critical community to Elephant (it won the grand prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year) there have definitely been complaints about the alleged-indifference of Van Sant's perspective. But few have come away arguing that the director "glorifies" the violence. They instead tend to argue that the film wants to force us to face a reality that many would rather ignore. As Flannery O'Connor said, "To the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures." Each viewer must approach this, as any work of art, with personal discernment, listening to their conscience, judging whether or not this is a profitable way to spend their time and attention. I imagine that anyone who has suffered from this sort of violence would not be the ideal audience for such a film as Elephant. Someone who ignores the problem of this sort of violence, or someone just beginning to think about it, might find art about the subject to be provocative and revealing.
If other readers have seen the film and wish to offer their own impressions, please write to me at LookingCloserRvw@aol.com.
Next week: Early rumbles about The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Plus, Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai.
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