Hit Factory
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JFK feat. Sami Gold
🕑 Added 2024-11-04 21:18:31 +0000 UTCGeorge Washington University ungergrad and Liberal Currents contributor Sami Gold just informed us that there's an election coming up in the good ol' US of A, so we decided to discuss a foundational text of presidential cinema - Oliver Stone’s brilliant, frenetic JFK. Meticulously composed on several different film formats, masterfully edited in a radical, experimental style, and structured as a steady unraveling of institutional footings, the film stands as one of the finest formal evocations of political radicalization ever made for the silver screen.
We discuss the film's groundbreaking formalism, how it creates an unmooring effect on behalf of its viewers, and charts the cacophonous frenzy of conspiracy thinking. Then, we talk about where Stone sits in relation to the film's protagonist Jim Garrison, what the film gets very wrong, and why the minutiae doesn't ultimately matter in the borader context of its critique of empire. Finally we look to the upcoming election, share our personal thoughts on the outcomes, and what it means for Palestinian resistance and political movements in our own country.
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Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.
Comments
Hit Factory
Thank you so much for these kind words Jolene, and I'm glad that we are (were :/ ) able to offer some solace or sense of solidarity. Thanks for listening, and hope you're enjoying our other episodes too!
Hit Factory
This is great feedback! I think our guest was a bit harsher on Stone overall than Carlee or I. I hope you felt we had a decent discussion on it overall. Thanks for listening and for the feedback!
Dark Alliance
Not sure how to best formulate this coherently point by point or how to start without sounding negative, given that there are a number of things I liked in the episode. For one, the Pauline Kael criticism of Platoon the guest brought up is not relevant nor even accurate, Kael being a reactionary herself. Watching Platoon at an impressionable age is in great part of me not joining the military during the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and for my anti-war and leftist views. From the conservatives and even establishment liberals, Stone is a Commie for interviewing Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales, and seems like to the left it's the other way around. Kudos on calling out the "It's a Genocide BUT" people. I'm looking at you Majority Report!
Hit Factory
Would love to hear more!
Dark Alliance
Mixed on this episode.
Jolene Bresney
This was perfect. Truly. Deep gratitude for a salve of sanity during such great social upheaval and sorrow. This nearly 2 hour chat gave me connection that is rare lately. I appreciate you all. Thank you. ♥️
Hit Factory
Nick! First off, thank you for listening to the HF extended universe. Second - isn't it AMAZING?!? I always feel a little more sane after listening to its righteous anger. So glad you enjoyed.
Nick Balaz
Totally unrelated to this episode but I listened to HOPELESSNESS because of the First Reformed ep of Paul'd Casty and good lord it's incredible
