One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema • Hacker News Board

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#21

Post by BryantD » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 12:22 PM UTC

tcbawo wrote: post #12

BryantD wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, that’s McHayle’s stage name too. Regardless, I think it’s a fair observation that French 75 is cartoonish at times. This is not a movie about how great revolutionaries are, although it is a movie about how necessary they are. PTA also certainly makes some odd choices around minority characters.

Watching this movie, I did not get a sense of glorifying violence in any way. If anything, it glorifies resistance to authority. The strongest and most successful members of the resistance (like the Sensei) avoid confrontation. It's the violent ones that end up detracting from their cause. Funnily enough that character's name is Perfidia, which is the Latin word for treacherous. To anyone considering watching, it is…

I tend to agree with this, although I’ll note that I don’t equate revolution with violence. Often but not always, and Sensei sure has weapons at hand, for whatever that’s worth.

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#22

Post by BoorishBears » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 4:16 PM UTC

rakejake wrote: post #19

BoorishBears wrote: post #2

I prefer this review for its accuracy: https://boxd.it/beixJD

The review does not mention Deandra (played by Regina Hall) at all, among other black characters who weren't negative representations per se. Deandra is very prominent in the second act of the movie and her responsibility and dedication to the mission is quite apparent.

It's implied that me and all the people who identify with that review watched the movie, watched her portrayal, and didn't find it to override the issues present.

But if you want to throw the old "there's some good ones", go ahead.

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#23

Post by BoorishBears » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 4:38 PM UTC

gjgtcbkj wrote: post #4

BoorishBears wrote: post #2

I prefer this review for its accuracy: https://boxd.it/beixJD

Yep really sincere reviews use the word jungle pussy. The right wingers are just grabbing them all the time.

I unironically love that it's so brazen that you thought the review made it up, and I don't blame you.

Mind you it's her stage name, but she typically isn't robbing a bank on stage (her most iconic song is about healthy food at Trader Joes.)

PTA wasn't forced to use the name, but it wreaks of PTA loving the chance to use it while having cover from obvious it is (as you demonstrated)

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#24

Post by rakejake » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 5:24 PM UTC

BoorishBears wrote: post #22

rakejake wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The review does not mention Deandra (played by Regina Hall) at all, among other black characters who weren't negative representations per se. Deandra is very prominent in the second act of the movie and her responsibility and dedication to the mission is quite apparent.

It's implied that me and all the people who identify with that review watched the movie, watched her portrayal, and didn't find it to override the issues present. But if you want to throw the old "there's some good ones", go ahead.

Well there are no "good" characters in this film so how would one add a positive portrayal of blacks? Maybe "Pat" could have also been black but he's an ex-bomber turned paranoid junkie.

I think the character traits were what they were because the story doesn't work otherwise. I don't think it was PTA's express intention to showcase negative black stereotypes.

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#25

Post by BoorishBears » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 5:53 PM UTC

rakejake wrote: post #24

BoorishBears wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's implied that me and all the people who identify with that review watched the movie, watched her portrayal, and didn't find it to override the issues present. But if you want to throw the old "there's some good ones", go ahead.

Well there are no "good" characters in this film so how would one add a positive portrayal of blacks? Maybe "Pat" could have also been black but he's an ex-bomber turned paranoid junkie. I think the character traits were what they were because the story doesn't work otherwise. I don't think it was PTA's express intention to showcase negative black stereotypes.

Yeah, another strawman.

You're more intent defending PTA than trying to speak to the actual review's sentiment, so I assume there's some personal hangup there.

You're not a bad person for liking flawed media, but making flawed arguments to try and blank Black people and their reception crosses into it for sure.

Re: One Battle After Another: PTA and the Death of Revolutionary Cinema

#26

Post by rakejake » Sun, Oct 05, 2025, 6:51 PM UTC

BoorishBears wrote: post #25

rakejake wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well there are no "good" characters in this film so how would one add a positive portrayal of blacks? Maybe "Pat" could have also been black but he's an ex-bomber turned paranoid junkie. I think the character traits were what they were because the story doesn't work otherwise. I don't think it was PTA's express intention to showcase negative black stereotypes.

Yeah, another strawman. You're more intent defending PTA than trying to speak to the actual review's sentiment, so I assume there's some personal hangup there. You're not a bad person for liking flawed media, but making flawed arguments to try and blank Black people and their reception crosses into it for sure.

Unless the filmmaker has a track record of misrepresentation or negative representation, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt.

In any case, if the movie irked you that much, I don't think there's anything I can say to change that. Peace out.