I was finally able to calmly read it and this was great, Grant. Spot on with those 4 "vs", a more profound analysis that I could ever make of it. I might add a 5th one, "addiction vs. letting go": while reading your essay I kept thinking about Uncut Gems, which I saw more recently, and thought these two opposites apply in both movies and believe is a major theme in their power-house collaboration. How your addiction to something (money, fame, "helping", adrenaline/thrills...) affects your worldview and actions, and what happens when you let (it) go?
I loved how you described the ending as a "cliff" and the Safdie brother's style as "stress distilled", spot on. It definitely applies to most of their movies together.
Also, I've been loving what Benny Safdie is doing by himself, especially with Nathan Fielder (another of my heroes), have you seen the series The Curse? A masterpiece in my opinion, and right down my alley with unclassifiable and very meta material.
That’s a great point and thanks for identifying that theme. The funny thing is that half of addicts don’t know they have a problem yet and so don’t think they have anything to let go, and the other half want to let go but can’t.
I had not considered that theme so now I’m gonna add it to my movie notes. That’s what I love about writing.
I have not seen that series yet, but I’ll definitely check it out.
Glad it makes sense for you too. Can totally see Connie not seeing he has a problem, which would also make this exploration interesting: when and how does an addict cross the line from not knowing to knowing they have a problem?
Ok just finished the movie. It left me feeling fearful that what we think is helpful may not be. There’s no possibility of someone stepping in to help him see the errors of his ways because he’s moving so fast. So he goes along the path he believes is the right one, until…
I was finally able to calmly read it and this was great, Grant. Spot on with those 4 "vs", a more profound analysis that I could ever make of it. I might add a 5th one, "addiction vs. letting go": while reading your essay I kept thinking about Uncut Gems, which I saw more recently, and thought these two opposites apply in both movies and believe is a major theme in their power-house collaboration. How your addiction to something (money, fame, "helping", adrenaline/thrills...) affects your worldview and actions, and what happens when you let (it) go?
I loved how you described the ending as a "cliff" and the Safdie brother's style as "stress distilled", spot on. It definitely applies to most of their movies together.
Also, I've been loving what Benny Safdie is doing by himself, especially with Nathan Fielder (another of my heroes), have you seen the series The Curse? A masterpiece in my opinion, and right down my alley with unclassifiable and very meta material.
Anyway, keep these movie analysis coming!
That’s a great point and thanks for identifying that theme. The funny thing is that half of addicts don’t know they have a problem yet and so don’t think they have anything to let go, and the other half want to let go but can’t.
I had not considered that theme so now I’m gonna add it to my movie notes. That’s what I love about writing.
I have not seen that series yet, but I’ll definitely check it out.
Glad it makes sense for you too. Can totally see Connie not seeing he has a problem, which would also make this exploration interesting: when and how does an addict cross the line from not knowing to knowing they have a problem?
Let me know what you think of The Curse!
Finally watched Good Time, and I am glad I read this afterwards!
Ok just finished the movie. It left me feeling fearful that what we think is helpful may not be. There’s no possibility of someone stepping in to help him see the errors of his ways because he’s moving so fast. So he goes along the path he believes is the right one, until…
Great review, now I’ve gotta see the movie…