Samuel Smith wrote:
 
>I mean, no audience member can possibly see the movie as a
glorification of mass murder.
 
Although I agree with most of his post, I must dissent on this point.
 
Technically, NBK is the story of a man and a woman who conquer their way to
happiness going on a murder spree in the process of which they purify their
souls from the stains of a corrupted society. As mad as they are, they are
WAY better than anybody else in the film. Everybody else is corrupted and/or
driven by greed/perversion or other similarly sleazy motives. M&M are the
only PURE creatures in the story: they are naturally born to do what they do,
and in this sense, they fulfill their nature in carnage. Therefore, for its
face value, the film reminds of Nietsche more than anything else.
Of course, this is just the face value. I can see how it could be said that
the film as a WHOLE, including the sympathetic approach to its murderous
heroes, could be interpreted as a strong social commentary. But Stone is not
Kubrick. In Shining, just to make an example, the style is such to remind us
at all times that, even if JN is the PROTAGONIST, we are NOT supposed to side
with him, but we should look at him like the scientist looks at the guinea
pig he's studying. In NBK, Stone goes to great lengths to make sure that we
identify with M&M from the beginning: we're sucked deep into their point of
view, and as horrified as we are with their crimes (but are we?) we can't
help but 'stay with them' all
As for the audience's reception of the supposed social commentary: I saw the
film twice, once at a DGA (Directors' Guild of America) screening, where the
middle-aged audience was more or less disturbed at what they saw, and
remained silent throughout the film. Then I saw it again in a suburban
multiplex just outside SanDiego: the audience, mostly male teenagers alone or
in small groups, cheered vehemently at every single murder, and quickly
started to incite the main characters to more killing. They didn't seem too
aware of any possible social implications of the film.
 
NB: I'm saying this not to deny the presence of a social commentary in the
film, but to show how SOME audiences could and WILL see the film as a
glorification of mass murder.
PS: Isn't that what the film is about, anyway? .... Just kidding!!
 
Riccardo De Los Rios
[log in to unmask]