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Fri, January 6

Hostel

I think I saw Jessica Cutler (author of "The Washingtonienne") sitting near the front row of the 7:45 showing of HOSTEL.

What does it say about us, about our needs, that after this really nasty movie, the overall consensus that I heard all over the theatre was "they didn't show enough?"

Show enough? What else could viewers possibly have needed to see? Long scenes of torture? I think movies like this are more about what you don't see, the psychology of it all. That way you can explore your own imagination. See just how sick YOU are.

One movie-goer told the girls on line to the bathroom that the movie was "hilarious."

If I were to take a deep approach to the movie (and I probably am looking too deeply into it) I would see it is about exploitation in all its different faces and at different levels: Child exploitation, the exploitation of women, the exploitation of people who use drugs, people who use women, people who need things and would pay dearly for them. Exploiting the people they're paying those things for. Even the people being used and exploited are exploiting others in their own way. You never know which direction exploitation can come from.

For example, if I were to try to butter up a salesman in order to get good service, by acting very girly and cute and feminine--I am exploiting myself to get what I want. But at the same time he thinks he's "got" me, that his demeanor or charm has made me behave in this flirtatous way. He doesn't know it is an act, or that he is being used. He thinks he's getting the better end of the deal--the ego boost.

Sometimes life can be one big strip club. And even there I am not even sure who is getting used the most.

Posted by lexzog at January 6, 2006 10:43 PM

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