Or perhaps examine I,Robot, in gestation (pun?) since shortly after the announcement of Dolly the sheep. It's clear that these films reflect our times.
Is this restricted to Sci Fi? Do Horror films reflect our current fears? Cetainly in other countries they do, but primarily, in the West, we seek for our reflection in the future. Until now, that is. Step forward the Brits, I guess.
Centurion (2010, Celador Films)
Robin Hood (2010, Universal Pictures)
Hood is obviously not out in UK cinemas at the time of writing this blog, but it is an interesting time for a remake of this famous tale to be told. In the past two years, the UK (and the West) has been hit by a recession, the collapse of banks, of trust in government for many reasons. Is it a surprise that the story of a man striking against the rule, fighting for equality and striking back at the very rich has been made since this? Probably not.
There are several stories that have resonated throughout the age of cinema. Man vs. Technology is a fight that has existed since La Voyage De La Lune. The small man vs. the corporation has seen its form in many years, from Mr. Smith, through It's A Wonderful Life, through Soylent Green, to most recent outings such as Michael Mann's The Insider.
It is only logical that this be the time for a Robin Hood.
Centurion, on the other hand, is a little more subtle than Ridley Scott's film. But not much more.
Centurion recounts the famous Boys' Tale of The Eagle of the Ninth. Except, in his gloriously gory film, Marshall has chosen to add a modern day metaphor to his piece.
Consider the Romans - dominating foreign lands, but meeting stern resistance throughout Scotland by the indigenous people who utilise guerrilla tactics in order to maintain their hold on their country. The Romans are noble, brave, but are ultimately led by a foolish leader.
There are traitors within their organisation, and ultimately, the men in the company no longer care about their task, or the goal of their nation. They simply want to escape.
What on earth could this be related to?
It's not hard to see that Marshall has used the well worn tale as a modern metaphor.
What is most interesting about both these films is that they don't focus on looking forward in order to warn us of the problems that await our planet. They look back, and recognise that the mistakes that have been made in recent years, ones that we are all to keen to leap down our leaders' throats, are mistakes that all great empires, all nations have made in the past.
Perhaps the past can tell us as much about our lives as looking at the future can.
interesting comments
ReplyDeleteVery good points. It's interesting that the films that comment on our time most effectively are those not set in it. Those mid-00s films about the Iraq war were worthy but perhaps not very engaging and, I suspect, won't have the same longevity as those mentioned in your post. Perhaps the distance in time - whether it be in the past or the future - allows for more freedom to be critical? It certainly gives more perspective and more universality.
ReplyDeletegod damn
ReplyDeleteWell done you. You posted twice. And two different posts. Bless!
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I do agree that there is a time delay / lapse whatever you want to call it on the Iraq films. They are of their time, but they will not hold the same nostalgia as something like Casablanca as they are too politically minded. Perhaps the past is our present?
ReplyDeleteIntersting post; but just to point out that far from you being right that
ReplyDeleteCenturion recounts the famous Boys' Tale of The Eagle of the Ninth
it has almost nothing to do with the book (which also I think is more than a 'boy's tale' (Indeed The Eagle of the Ninth is cast with Channing Tatum as Marcus which suggests the film-makers see it as relevant to men and women?
Anyway, if anyone is interested in the film or the book, or the original author Rosemary Sutcliff, see www.rosemarysutcliff.wordpress.com