Blood, Guts and Brain Matter?

Ten or so years ago, the singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie was interviewed by a Vancouver newspaper about her imminent performance at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. I remember reading the article and being intrigued by her response to a particular question. They asked her how she managed to write about extremely political, emotionally raw, socially important material in a way that musically remained accessible to the general non-thinking public.

She said that what she found over her many years of playing folk music, was that songs like "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" were more accessible if the lyrics were wrapped in the music of the song so that no matter what she was singing about, her audience found themselves tapping their feet to the beat.

The trick was that once she hooked them in with an accessible sound, they were more open to what she was saying, rather than being put-off by music that ‘sounded meaningful and important.’ The idea of encompassing actual content, a message, and a point of view in a disguise that is accessible to a mass audience is a great trick (and one that advertisers and politicians often use).

Okay, I know you’re wondering: Kiki, what does Buffy Saint-Marie have to do with the movies? Sometimes a movie with a message can, like a Buffy Sainte-Marie song, be wrapped in a seemingly accessible package. And sometimes the packaging can be that of the action-flick genre.

Yeah, that’s right, you heard me. Movies with big, sweaty muscle-bound guys, who run around blowing stuff up can also be great vehicles for delivering a message (and I‘m not talking about war propaganda here either… we all know about those movies already). We're talking films with substance. Films that make a difference because they don't sell you on what the dominant society wants you to hear, but rather, shed light on what other popular films refuse to mention.

If you don't believe me, give these flicks a rent and let me know if you don't find a message hidden beneath all that bloody carnage.

Jarhead (2005 - Sam Mendes)

What movie has Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, a shot of Jake Gyllenhaal's bare ass (if that interests you), and a whole whack of substance? That's right: Jarhead.

If you've ever thought: I don't want my kid to join the army, but I want the message to not seem forced, so that they don't know I don't want them to join the army, rent this film. Make a batch of popcorn, dim the lights and sit your small child in front of your widescreen and let director Sam Mendes do the rest (even as I'm writing this, I know it sounds problematic... but take my word for it, it'll work).

Director Sam Mendes makes up for all the pointless things he managed to produce in American Beauty, with this incredibly intelligent take on war and the role the individual soldier plays in the big mess that is warfare. This is a smart film.

If you love Jake, chances are you've already seen this movie. If you haven't. You'll love him by the film's end. This is one of his best flicks (not wearing his cowboy hat).

The Kingdom (2007 - Peter Berg)

Few films start so full-throttle right out of the gate. The Kingdom is a movie, like all great action flicks, that is especially enjoyed on a big screen, with big sound. Right from the get-go, this is one tense film, and the tension doesn't let-up until the bitter end.

Former actor turned director Peter Berg, takes a premise that could very well present itself as pro-war American propaganda, and turns the politics behind it on its head. Set in present day, post 9/11 Saudi Arabia, The Kingdom is a brave film, for it directly speaks to the social and political climate now in America, without spouting pro-American propaganda.

Although I will admit, when I first saw the trailer I had my reservations, when I saw the movie I was pleased to see that Berg does not take the easy way out, in promoting the right-wing, military agenda and the complimentary pro-racist agenda that so commonly goes hand in hand with these types of films. Just watch it, and see if you don't come away from all the action having also used a few brain cells.

Three Kings (1999 - David O. Russell)

Remember this film? One word: brilliant. Set in Iraq during the Persian Gulf war, three soldiers, bored out of their minds, they stumble across a map that will lead them to a large stash of gold. Being the selfish idiots that they are, they leave base camp in search of the loot and end up evolving into real people enroute.

Like the two films mentioned above, Three Kings is not a preachy film, but rather a movie that a mass audience can relate to, while still having a thoroughly social and political message. Did I mention it's also hilarious? Rent it.

Other Picks:

V for Vendetta (2005 - James McTeigue)

Blood Diamond (2006 - Edward Zwick)

Thin Red Line (1999 - Terrence Malick)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975 - Sidney Lumet)