ajrussell73 Reviews

Shrooms (2007)

Shockingly bad

[1/10 · 17 October 2007]

One can only wonder at the motivation of such an ill conceived project. Was it to scare people from exploring with the sacrament of psychedelic mushrooms ? Or to show us how empty our vacuous culture has become? I'm sure the people involved in this project have some semblance of creative endeavour, yet I struggle to find any redeeming traits in this film what so ever.

So ignorant and uninformed is it with its subject matter, that quite frankly it's an humanitarian embarrassment. For truly enlightenment debate upon such issues one should explore Terence Mckenna, Bill Hicks, Alex Grey, Tom Robbins (Another Roadside Attraction), Daniel Pinchbeck, and the great Aldous Huxley (Island).

I confess I'm not a fan of the horror genre, yet this film veers towards poisonous propaganda. If todays two most valuable commodities are minerals and imagination, then what we see from the hegemony of American foreign policy and cultural exports is the subjugation of people, and authentic human exploration. This is a cultural example of Naomi Kleins "Shock Doctrine" ; in this case a sacrament of spiritual and personal insight, psilocybe semilanceata (liberty cap) is reduced by association to a similar fictional mushroom (the death head fungi) to something both frightening and deadly dangerous.

William Blake asserts "We must create our own systems or be enslaved by another mans". As individuals we must must explore our own realities on our own terms. Cultures for millennium have used entheogens to explore and enhance, yet we seemed to be tribally reduced to Starbucks, Bud, and Big Masc; 50,000 years of human evolution will in England give me seven years in prison for picking mushrooms: By who and why ? I leave to you to ponder.

We need to somehow reclaim our birthrights as evolving conscious beings, able to create and share. Do not waste your time with this film; go to a festival, a walk in the hills, or meditate, and pick your heroes wisely.

There is some vaguely interesting cinematography, yet it is lost within the context of such contrived drivel, if you do indeed buy into the Bud, Big Mac, and Nike mentality then watch it; for this is what you deserve.

The film is truly awful.

Naked (1993)

masterpiece

[10/10 · 11 April 2004]

"Don't waste your life" A security guard advises the nihilistic anti hero Johnny. This film is macabre, raw, and with dialogue as sharp as anything ever witnessed on celluloid. Mike Leigh created a dark brooding magnum opus with this portrait of early 90's London. His partnership with David Thewlis, who creates a fascinating and ribald character is simply astonishing. It is a performance that explores our very humanity.

This film investigates the existential angst as portrayed by the protagonist Johnny of what is to survive; the main character gradually reveals himself before us stripped of pretence and standing "naked" . Johnny's diatribes tinged with apocalyptic tones upon the nature of the universe and beyond are breath taking. Sex and violence under pin the narrative of this film, and with Jonny adhering to no personal boundaries he embarks upon a journey that takes the viewer upon an uneasy and ultimately rewarding journey .

The film is important as it shows the true power of the cinematic medium , and as a cultural reference to the pap produced by Hollywood; exposing the neutered offerings mainstream cinema is plagued with. This film shows Mike Leigh as a master of his art, expressed by the unique performances he elicits from his cast.

This work of genius will be stumbled across in years to come and be celebrated by later generations for its language, its mood, and its effect which makes us engage in our very existence. A true testament to a magnificent achievement.