The Decline Of Western Civilization: Part 3

I mean I know it's called the Decline but this is where the game truly changes and arguably ends.

It is shocking to see not just how punk culture has changed in almost 20 years, but the filmmaking and subject material too. This film deals solely with the homeless punk scene in L.A. and it does not pull any punches or makes light of the situation. It's a grim meathook reality that I genuinely shudder to think how it is now over in California, and the music scene is not touched on much, rightfully so I would say, you just can't make this stuff up and it is serious, it does need to have a spotlight directed at it, and talked about for no other reason than trying to help. I was a bit hesitant to review it because it didn't focus on the music scene but the music isn't the thing to look at, it's the culture. So we follow a good sized group of a fair bit of teens and a fair bit of people in their twenties as they try to live with no place to go and nothing to do. Punk changed significantly from the 70s to the 90s not just musically, I mean that was bound to happen as new music is introduced, metal stormed the world, grunge was the new thing, so of course punk music would evolve. But the style and attitude of the fans changed a lot, with colored hair in wild shapes, clothing, piercings, they seem way more mellowed out and socially aware fully knowing their standing in the world at that moment and also knowing damn well it's hard to change a situation. But they don't sugarcoat it, these kids do substance abuse, they panhandle to get some alcohol, they don't have homes to go to yet once more it's not all that black and white. Some were abused and thrown out into the streets, some didn't have parents period, they are isolated by society because of how they look, which on a sidebar I personally feel if a place doesn't hire you because you got a nose piercing, or a tatoo, or you got some mad punk hair, or awesome studded clothing, that is discriminatory and as your attorney I advise you to take that matter to tribunal. It's a hard thing to watch but goddamn it, it is happening way too much even today and I am happy all the profits from the film were donated to various charities for homeless people and abused kids. The world has a lot of f***ing problems in it that we're kinda taught to look the other way at. I can see why this collection of films were chosen to be archived and preserved for cultural and artistic significance, it just lays it out there and tells it how it is, and the filmmakers who worked on all three should be commended. I hate ending on a downer but when you're talking life through film, it's rarely a happy ending. 4 stars, 9/10, I do urge people to watch every one of them and hope you get as much as I did out of it. Thank you for joining me this week, till next time take care of yourselves and each other.

Queen And Slim

I'm really depressed now.

I greatly enjoyed and was even a bit moved by this movie, but it truly breaks my heart that the world of the movie is no different than reality. The story spans over the course of six days as one time date couple Ernest and Angela are on the run after killing a police officer in self defense, as we follow their progress from Ohio to Florida as they meet sympathizers to their situation, law enforcement seeking to arrest them, and people who don't even know who they are. Again very much like Parasite, it just shows people both good and bad. We see white people who stand with them, and black people who stand against them and what they stand for, and vice versa with no true antagonist of the story. It's not a person but a major problem of society itself, the film on multiple occasions brings up fictionalized yet all too real situations of violence and cultural standards. It makes one disgusted to be designated human sometimes. And the film really doesn't shy away from the grim meathook realities of the events as Ernest and Angela travel, slowly becoming folk heroes in the eyes of many and having to come to terms with their situation. Daniel Kaluuya has supreme amounts of charm and is impossible not to like and really he only gets better as the film goes on, he's a nice man who believes in God, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, very empathetic and even a pacifist. But he was the one who pulled the trigger and we see him try to deal with that, he has every intention to turn himself in because even he can't believe what happened though it was a survival situation. Now I'm not saying all cops are horrible, they are people who wish to perform a public service to protect and serve, but this guy....oooh boy, he was an uppity little prick. Did he deserve death? I have no authority or place to say, not now not ever, but he could have been nicer. That's pretty much my stance on things, I don't care who you are, where you come from, what your language is, any of that, if you're a nice and reasonable person then you're my new buddy. And if you're a jerk, f*** off. Jodie Turner-Smith is very much a polar opposite in character as Angela, very honest and rough, doesn't have much love for cops, easily aggravated, and very much the pessimist of the duo but also the realist. Which makes sense for her character because she's an attorney, she has seen stuff in that position and makes logical sense that she is very closed off and a bit hostile. The writer said that it was very much akin to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X when it came to personality and beliefs of our main duo, which isn't hard to figure out but nevertheless a strong element. The story is great, but the cinematography is absurd. I mean this film looks gooooood, oh my sweet sainted grandmother it is beautiful at times, and the director only worked on music videos and television episodes so she knows damn well how to make a shot interesting and memorable with beautiful atmospheric shots and creative camera work. The only thing that tops that is the score, now the actual song selection is really good, you know I'm a sucker for jazz and more slow soulful kind of music, but the actual score is how can I say this? Uh, perfect. I can't get over how amazing this score is, like get this on my phone, I will buy a CD, kind of quality. Ohh, it's sublime! I pretty much from the first time I saw the trailer, was interested to see this and yeah it took me more than half a year, but I was soooo not disappointed and feel it was very much worth the wait. A very poignant movie that unfortunately has as much importance now as it did decades before the movie even came out. Slim & Queen along with Black Klansman would be a fantastic double feature to have, and so help me if I form an Empire, the times will be a-changing with the future looking truly bright. 4 stars, 8/10! Thank goodness this wasn't the last review of the week I would have been severely depressed, so next time hopefully we can end on a high note.