Moviegoer Reflects on Violent Films Amid Minneapolis Unrest

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The Moviegoer, a local film critic, reflects on how recent news of violence and unrest in Minneapolis has impacted their experience watching movies, particularly those that depict violence. The critic discusses several films they've seen recently, including revisionist westerns and coming-of-age stories, and how the narratives around violence and its consequences are integral to the 'great American myth'. However, the critic notes a disconnect between the characters in these films who denounce violence, and a significant portion of the population who seem to embrace it without understanding the nuance.

Why it matters

This piece provides insight into how current events can shape an individual's perspective on and experience with consuming media, particularly violent or intense content. It highlights the complex relationship between art, violence, and societal unrest, and how a film critic navigates that landscape.

The details

The critic discusses watching several films that depict violence, including Sam Raimi's 'The Quick and the Dead' and Sam Fuller's 'Forty Guns'. While these films contain violent scenes, the critic notes that they also have characters who are reformed and regretful of their violent pasts. The critic also describes watching two coming-of-age films, Jess Franco's 'Lorna the Exorcist' and Tamara Jenkins' 'Slums of Beverly Hills', which the critic found to be 'emotionally violent' in different ways. Throughout, the critic reflects on how the narratives around violence in these films relate to the 'great American myth' and the disconnect between those narratives and the real-world embrace of violence by some.

• The critic watched the films over the past week.