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Be sure to check the Web for a review and interviews with creators of “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story.”
‘Why We Fight’ is powerful By BRYAN BARNETT Daily Titan Staff
“Why We Fight” is the film “Fahrenheit 9/11” should have been. While Michael Moore’s subjective style ambushed his point, Eugene Jarecki’s much more objective film drives the same point right through the heart. After main character, Wilton Sekzer’s, son was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks, he e-mailed military personnel to get his son’s name on a bomb headed for Iraq. After certain facts came to light, Sekzer, a New York City cop and Vietnam veteran, was forced to reflect on whether he avenged his son or defaced his name. Jarecki uses a few Moore-like tactics, such as exposing debatably immoral documents, but the movie never feels irresponsible or fabricated. He starts the film with Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell address, in which he warns against the rise of a “military-industrial complex.” Most of the interviews draw a connection between the American government and the capitalist phenomenon of industry’s profits from war. Fascinating people from around the globe give surprising testimonials, especially the witnesses to the Baghdad bombings. They all add strokes to the bigger picture Jarecki creates, one that paints America as a war-mongering, capitalist society where no one is willing to stand up and say no. But the best part about “Why We Fight” is that it doesn’t focus solely on America’s war with Iraq. It sets out to find the trends that ignite war. History plays a big part here. The wider scope of the film gives it a deeper, more permanent feel, which is why it won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year. Even though “Why We Fight” won’t be in theaters until January, the relevance of this film to America and its looming “military-industrial complex” is profound and timeless.
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Johnny Knoxville and Leonard Flowers star in “The Ringer.”
‘Ringer’ set full of pranks By CARMELLIA MUNGUIA Daily Titan Staff
Peter Farrelly raises his arms, his shoulders sway and his pelvis jolts forward. He tells the story of one of his funniest moments while making “The Ringer.” During filming, Johnny Knoxville pulled a prank on co-producer Marc Fischer. On the set, Knoxville takes a cattle prod, comes up to Fischer from behind and sticks “it up his ass.” While Farrelly tells the story, Ricky Blitt, “The Ringer” screenwriter, also known for the series “Family Guy,” listens and Knoxville secretly pokes his head in the room at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. Knoxville knocks the hat off his head and runs away. Farrelly, accustomed to such antics, continues with his story. Knoxville shrugs his shoulder and laughs. “The Ringer” is the story of a modestly competent, but nice character, Steve Barker (Knoxville) with a dull job. Bored Barker works up the courage to ask his boss for a promotion that is unexpectedly granted. Barker’s first assignment is to fire the longtime
janitor, Stavi (Luis Avalos), who he befriends. Barker, afraid to hurt Stavi’s feelings, offers him a job mowing his lawn. While mowing the lawn, Stavi accidentally loses his four fingers and lands in the hospital with a $28,000 bill that must be paid immediately. Barker, feeling responsible for Stavi’s misfortune assumes the responsibility to pay for his surgery. Barker’s uncle Gary (Brian Cox), who has gambling debts to resolve, talks a remorseful Barker into joining the Special Olympics as a mentally challenged athlete. During his two-week stint Barker’s mentally challenged competitors wise up to his scam. However, they go along with it in order to beat the arrogant longtime winner. Although the movie pokes fun at, and indelicately handles stereotypes, it also shows “normal” people with their flaws. This inspirational movie shows competent, witty and cynical people with mental challenges. After the first 20 minutes of the movie, viewers aren’t sure whether to laugh, but it becomes apparent that this crew pulled a well intentioned film together.
