BP Movie Journal 7/9/20
In this episode, Tyler and David discuss the movies they’ve been watching, including:
PRETTY IN PINK
I STILL BELIEVE
WELCOME TO CHECHNYA
THE BEACH HOUSE
TELL IT TO THE BEES
A MOST WANTED MAN
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS
USELESS HUMANS
THE SEARCHERS
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
Hidden Fortress is most clearly an influence on Star Wars via C3P0 and R2D2 (analogues for the peasants). I would say that John Wayne is the lead of The Searchers even if the audience is supposed to side with Martin and fear that Ethan will kill her. Star Wars toned that down by making Han Solo the cynical supporting character who does the right thing in the end and making Martin’s analogue in Luke the clear lead (Taxi Driver adapted The Searchers in an opposite manner by removing Martin and just having Travis/Ethan).
Shouldn’t the more appropriate donation to balance out The Searchers be one dedicated to native Americans? As Chris Rock noted, it’s hard to think of any group that had it worse.
That’s a good point about the donation. I was thinking more about John Wayne’s offscreen statements, though.
– David