Don't Look Up: An Accurate Portrayal of Our Reality That People Cannot Digest
A look at why the film has been getting negative reviews
THE PLOT
Two scientists discover a giant planet-destroying asteroid heading towards earth and try to take the news to the president of the United States who dismisses the whole thing saying, “Let’s sit tight and assess”. So they find their own means to spread the word. And when they do, everybody around them seems to take the issue lightly.
But as a scandal on the president comes to light, she attempts to divert people’s attention by focusing on destroying the asteroid, only for her biggest sponsor to finally tell her that an analysis of the asteroid shows that it contains metals and elements of trillion dollar value.
On one side, the scientists and the rational-minded people point to the asteroid with a giant streak in the sky chanting “Look Up”, while the politicians and brain-washed supporters chant, “Don’t Look Up.” What’ll happen? You can watch the movie and find out.
THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS
The negative reviews for this film have all been about how the film wasn’t funny enough, how it was too serious, how it wasn’t clever enough, or how it was just on the nose.
Well, there's one quote in this movie that, I think, answers these reactions. It is uttered by DiCaprio’s character when he has had it with people trying to make light of an apocalyptic situation. He says:
"Would you please just stop being so fucking pleasant? I'm sorry, but not everything needs to sound so goddamn clever or charming or likeable all the time. Sometimes we just need to be able to say things to one another—we need to hear things."
This quote pretty much sums up what's wrong with our society, especially with those that pose as intellectuals and are perceived as such by many just because they speak in a calm, clever manner, when all they say is a load of crap that is actually quite harmful for a lot of people.
A PERSONAL EXAMPLE
I did a poetry recital for Pride month titled "Pride”.
One old woman who was a former professor at some esteemed institution heard this and typed me this message:
"Just my experience Prefer to share it in private though.
Why the edge in you voice and the anger and disgust, dear? Defiant negativity is still negativity.
You vote for unconditional acceptance; is it for all? Or, only for the so called 'deviants'? Or also for the so called 'normals'?
I had the good opportunity to have transgenders in my pg diploma classes for 3 years. I can tell you one thing; the educated, aware, and forward looking ones hate any concession or 'so what? Don't worry' attitude.
They liked me/ my classes because I simply ignored their sexuality.
The less we discuss, poetize, focus, the easier to integrate.
Find, give space and 'behave normal' - this was the formula I found worthwhile.
One of them who was pursuing her law degree also, was keen on getting the transgender as a category in the passport and a seat on the legislature.
Perhaps soon we'll have these; with of sensible good work."
Sure. Let’s ignore sexuality. Let’s ignore race. Let’s ignore everything, and instead, sit and laugh at crass jokes because in comedy, anything is acceptable. Let’s not raise our voices. Oh, what? Did somebody spit on you, harass you, throw acid on your face? Calm down and act rationally, will you? Let’s have an intellectual discussion with the perpetrators, oppressors, and carriers of injustice. As Meryl Streep who plays the ignorant president in this movie puts it so well: “Let’s sit tight and assess.”
THE PROBLEM WITH OUR SOCIETY
This is what is wrong with our society. They don't let people express anger towards things that deserve our anger. Instead, they want calm discussions on human rights, on who deserves them, and which fight is okay and which isn’t. They’ve got all the time in the world to sit and argue because they are not on the receiving end of injustice.
And these are the ones that'll criticize this film for being too real and honest. They'd like a lighter tone, please. A neutral standpoint. An arrow that points both up and down like the badge on Chris Evans’ jacket in this film.
And if you raise your voice because you are frustrated with the “all’s well” attitude like Jennifer Lawrence’s character in this movie, you will be seen as an irrational loudmouth whose voice does not deserve to be heard even if the thing you’re talking about is the end of the fucking world.
There are people worse than that though. Ones who will actually like and appreciate this film while being one of the brainwashed sheep in real life, because they are so ignorant to their own self.
“A DIFFERENT GENERATION” ARGUMENT
You can't really do anything by speaking up about this because the standard response one gets, just like in this movie, is that "they belong to a different generation."
Belonging to a different generation doesn't really warrant being insensitive and offensive. If the “different generation” can't handle progress, then they should do what they always ask others to do: They must “sit tight and assess”, instead of hindering the development of this world.
We sure do love it when our grandparents buy us things and give us money whenever we visit. But if grandpa keeps forwarding fake news and harmful propaganda, we need to ask him to just sit tight and maybe use his smartphone for watching old movies that give him nostalgia and comfort in his old age instead.
CONCLUSION
Don't Look Up represents the prejudice, ignorance, and insensitivity that has corrupted the minds of the privileged in our society today. And sure, coming from rich, privileged, white people, it might seem a little ironic. But the message is clear:
If people don't stop trying to be neutral in discussions, if they don't stop asking protestors to calm down, if they don't stop considering someone an intellectual just because they’re calm, then the world just might end for the rest of us, because the reason that person is so calm is because they have a spaceship filled with supplies to escape Earth when the asteroid hits and kills the rest of us.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share this post with fellow movie-lovers or just anybody looking for a good read.
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