Genius

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2012)

I saw this movie today for the first time and I am very impressed. It is a movie which has complexity and has indeed many levels of reading.
1. Funny: I started laughing on the first scene and stopped after the end credits. Sure, there are many instances of "gross" humour, but also important, a layer of satire.
2. Disturbing: Some scenes are horrifying, the fight scene, the racist scenes, and I think also the anthem scene. They constitute a shock perfectly apt to bring us to the next level,
3. Deep: This film did make me think a lot. It brings forth considerations to what is the meaning of social conventions to us. What really makes us "feel at home" or not. I have read many comments about the satire "against" the United States. I can agree to these, generally. But while knowing the American culture, we are more prepared to understand the cultural differences, I think the movie could have depicted an Indio from Paraguay visiting China, or whatever, and this message would be much the same.
And the last thought.. this film is not suited to an audience under age 3. Of course I laughed. Then I thought, OK I wouldn't show this movie to someone under 14. Then I thought: and why wouldn't I? (Because there are two naked men? Because I'd have to explain what is a prostitute?) And I realized this was _exactly_ the point of the movie.
I really didn't like the comments saying that this movie is "racist" or "sexist" when in fact it is exactly the opposite.