Re: "Feed" group watch, Saturday 21st August, 9pm Eastern
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 1:53 pm
Hmmmm... "netflixing"... sounds like something Michael might do... 
Like many of you, I really had to work myself up to watch this one. It was one of the last DVDs of his that I bought (well, I haven't even bothered trying to pick up Blackjack or Man-Thing, so it was the last of the past projects that I intend to buy). Prior to ordering it, I had read the article someone mentioned on one of the Feed threads here (where Alex talks about being confronted by what he saw when he and his friends first discovered the feeder sites... I think there is a video clip as well with him talking about this day when he and his friends found these web sites and how it inspired the film).
That article is where I gained immense respect and admiration for Alex as an artist. It really helped me make up my mind to give it a go because Alex is a true artist in that interview: he is trying to be the lens through which he and viewers could try to understand this aspect of the human condition. That is what I love most about art - the ability to turn a mirror on "us" and make us see ourselves in both new/different and familiar ways. When asked what is my favorite quote, I usually give this one: You create your own reality. Because I fully believe this, I find it fascinating to see how others perceive existence and how they choose to live their lives (what is reality as they see it, and what insights can that provide to me as I decide how--and how not--to live my life). In this interview, Alex is doing exactly this and I think that's why it touched such a deep place in me. I had to see how he perceived this character.
And besides, the boy was nekkid... how could I pass up that small pleasure in life?
That said, the subject matter of this film still disturbs me, so I've only watched it once (well, I think I might have replayed a couple of scenes while I was watching it
). Let me just say I'm glad I had already seen Alex in Mary Bryant, The Shield and Oyster Farmer (and of course, ML) prior to seeing this film. The broad range of characters allowed me to see this as a part Alex was playing, and therefore it put the storyline at "arms length." Sort of how Grace said the "body suit" for the actress helped her keep a healthy distance from the disturbing reality presented in the film. As many have said, he is sooo different in this (just really, deliriously sick and twisted), that for me, it helped me experience it as sort of an out-of-body thing... basically, I watched him act. And again, not to repeat others, but it is fascinating to watch him interpret this psychopath (I know the film is trying to debate this point, but I fall down firmly on the "this is psychopathic behavior" side--knowing this is based on real events is revolting to me and why I had to keep the story at arms length and focus on the "performance" by Alex). So I look forward to watching it again with you all - it's been awhile since I've seen it. I can't wait to hear what different people think.
And I'll go see if the Feed interview is posted here in the media links or if I have it saved somewhere on my HD, so you can check it out before the 21st if you want (especially if you're still hesitating to watch). I think it is probably a bit spoiler-ish, if I remember correctly, but there's been so much discussion of this film on the boards that it's likely most folks know the plot by now.
... there is also an interview with him and the producer in Philadelphia on YT somewhere. It's a bit of a lighter look at the making of the movie... and he's adorable in that... 
