A film which un-ironically embraces the pursuit of pleasure as a virtue, not a detriment, a rarity in cinema which we need more of. So much of contemporary film discourse feels systemically rooted in asceticism, and while there is nothing wrong with that per se, to deny other readings/deconstructions/critiques rooted outside of this restrictive framework, is well, utter-fucking-nonsense. The Beach Bum is effectively an all-out-assault on asceticism, exuding optimism and a carefree demeanor throughout its run-time, managing a tonal balancing act which doesn't trivialize trauma, nor exploit it for dramatic resonance, opting to accentuate the pleasure-seeking optimism of its main protagonist whose quietly in pain due to tragedy. Much has been written about how 'The Beach Bum' is not "the film we need right now" which is quite the assertion in that it completely personifies the problems with contemporary discourse in cinema - the rejection of pleasure/fun/humor for "meaning" and "truth". This repudiation is not only untenable due to how it is dogmatic in the outright rejection of pleasure as a meaningful philosophical pursuit entirely, it is also detrimental to the overall "cause" of viewing cinema as more than sheer escapism, because it is a myopic mindset that is not holistic to the polycentric nature of the artform. Luckily, Beach Bum flies in the face of such banality with a smile on its face.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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