2011 has seemed dry in terms of good movies for me. Sometimes I find myself wondering why I even bother going to the theater anymore. There were some cinematic bright spots for me, including the drama ‘Win Win’, the thriller ‘Hanna” and even the guilty pleasure action flick ‘Thor’. However, my pick for my hands-down favorite is the independent thriller/commentary film “Red State’ from Kevin Smith.
Through dumb luck, I was able to get my hands on a ticket for the screening in Kansas City, MO this past March. Being geographically located near the infamous Westboro Baptist Church that Smith said was “the jumping off point” for the idea of the film, I was excited for what was reported to be his take on a horror film.
When the horror movie part ended after about 30 minutes, I was wondering what the remaining hour would include. I was extremely pleased to see the political drama unfold and the tie-in of sub-plot lines that led to a Waco-esque reaction to a masquerading cult. Sure, the idea of the ATF being able to hide a raid on a compound without any public knowledge was over the top, and yea, some of the acting was also over the top, but I don’t watch Kevin Smith movies for the fantastic acting or multi-million dollar budgets. I watch them for the little golden parts where the characters become mouthpieces for Smith’s views on matters from sexuality to religion to politics and even to getting sweet revenge on your ex-girlfriend’s “backseat of a Volkswagen” loving potential new squeeze.
Essentially, the horror movie formula is followed at first: High school boys have a chance to get laid, they arrive at a bad-vibe giving house but follow their south heads instead of the north ones. Surprise, the woman gives them drinks that causes the boys to pass out and suddenly they wake up in a cage, or tied to a cross or in a light-less pit. Hi-jinks ensue.
During a twenty minute monologue by the incredible Micheal Parks who stars as the patriarch of the Five Points ‘family’, I found myself feeling a small amount of empathy for those whose family loyalty allows them to stand by a man who spews hatred and protests the funerals of United States soldiers. The concept of being able to write dialogue for someone like that and based on media villains is foreign to me, but the script and Parks made the leap for me.
I watched with baited breath as John Goodman starred as a hard-boiled ATF agent who is stuck between personal morals and the duty of defending the innocent. Seeing the genesis of the character of Lucy, protector of the family’s children and message blew me away. I enjoyed watching a small-town sheriff get a karmic payback that was nothing but gratuitous. Even the ending was delightful for me and didn’t cheapen the overall experience. Sure, it’s not the most prolific film ever made, and while many die hard Askeniverse fans clamor for it, it’s not going to win any Oscars. The important thing is that it was made, and it’s accessible to anyone who’s blood boils when they see those rainbow colored signs and horrible visages of Mathew Sheppard and has (guiltily or not) thought of exacting their own form of “freedom of speech”.
Red State is currently available On Demand, There is also a rumored one-night-only engagement at small independent theaters on September 25th, 2011 before being released to home video and DVD.