The Interview
The Interview
(2014)
A Review by Grant Kanigan
Directed by: Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen
Written By: Dan Sterling, Seth Rogen
& Evan Goldberg
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen,
Randall Park, Lizzy Caplan
Diana Bang
Rating: 14A
Release Date: December 25th, 2014
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Diana Bang, Seth Rogen & James Franco in The Interview
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Free speech is the cornerstone of democracy, no matter how dumb, offensive or misinformed it may be at times. If someone approaches you with an idiotic or misinformed opinion, approach them with yours. The truth prevails; like Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote in her biography of Voltaire: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." When free speech is curbed, it leaves the powers that be with a grip on our very thoughts. One doesn't have to look far in history to see the throes of fascist and/or totalitarian dictatorships and the damage limiting free speech has, (Stalin starving millions to death, the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Holocaust). It stifles the freedom to think, feel and disagree. How awful it is then, when a narcissistic, megalomaniacal and stupid leader has the gall to try and stop a couple of goofy North Americans from expressing their dislike of his totalitarian, and cruel dictatorship. Throwing their integrity and first amendment rights out the window, Sony executives chose their profit margins over their rights. Thankfully, after a massive public outcry, and commentary from the President himself, The Interview finally got it's release on a plethora of independent screens and online. After such a massive and damaging spectacle, it'd be a shame if it sucked.
Thankfully, The Interview lives up to it's stars' pedigree. Known for their profane, crass and absolutely silly humour, (Pineapple Express, This is the End & Superbad were all excellent comedies), Franco, and Writer/Director team Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg have another gut-busting, hedonistic spectacle of hilariousness.
The Interview follows Dave Skylark, star of Skylark Tonight, an entertainment/interview talk show, and his best friend/producer of Skylark Tonight, Aaron Rapaport. After discovering their show is a favourite of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the pair extend an olive branch and soon find themselves flying to Pyongyang on a mission to interview the infamous dictator. However, the CIA has other plans. Before flying to North Korea, the pair are debriefed and trained to assassinate the very man they'll be interviewing. As always with Rogen & Goldberg's films, nothing goes as planned.
As I've mentioned in earlier reviews, Rogen's films have a habit of slyly adding social commentary in their subtext. However, The Interview's commentary is mostly overt. We understand from the film and real life journalism that Un really is a totalitarian, violent and moronic creep, yet The Interview approaches him as a human being. Franco, as Skylark, sees himself in Un; lonely, desperate for friendship, and alone in excess. In some ways the two become foils for the paths fame and power lead. We see that yes, Un definitely suffers from megalomania, but that's in part because of the way he was raised and likely mental illness. As well, Diana Bang, as Un's right hand woman Sook shows that there are a mass of people in North Korea desperate to just lead normal lives. As with most countries, The Interview shows that politicians don't necessarily represent the views of their people. It's in this way that The Interview avoids what could have made it a pretentious and offensive film. North Koreans are both the heroes and villains of the film, and ultimately it's on their terms how The Interview plays out. By humanizing North Koreans and showing them as a competent and passionate group of people, (via a select few characters), The Interview avoids dangerously easy racism and xenophobia.
Not only is the film intelligent in it's exploration of international politics, (and it is; just because Rogen makes stoner comedies doesn't mean he can't have some insightful thoughts on international warfare, and to discredit him for that is flimsy ad hominem argumentation), it's absolutely hilarious. No, it doesn't have the subtlety of Chaplin's work, or Mel Brooks' To Be or Not to Be, but the jokes, puns, and silly slang come so quickly, one can't help but laugh, and although it's a hit or miss style, most of the jokes hit home. The continually building joke about appealing to a person's desired qualities is thoroughly funny, and expertly executed throughout. Seth Rogen is funny playing to his strengths, and the supporting cast does great work, (especially the Korean actors), but the film belongs to it's two biggest heads: Franco and Park. James Franco, as Dave Skylark is likely the stupidest man to ever grace the silver screen. Sublimely goofy, loving and rude, Franco's vision of a hedonistic television producer obsessed with Lord of the Rings is the funniest thing about The Interview. You'll either find him grating and annoying, or ridiculous and endearing. Park, in the touchy, challenging role of Kim Jong Un is perfect. Going from vulnerable, and silly to depressed and furious, Park's role as the straight man to Franco lifts both performances to stellar heights. Park is truly the star of the film.
The cinematography, while casually stock, is occasionally brilliant. The final, explosive scenes of The Interview would be right at home in a Bond film. As well, the quick shots of bitten fingers, exploding heads, and deadly fireballs lead to the first time in ages where I've seen gallows humour that was actually humorous. That, coupled with Park's performance lead to a final, poignant shot underscored by laughter where we see that Un's downfall is his own hubris. Sadly, like many times before, the truth is often stranger than fiction, and the real life Un is threatening war over a movie that really isn't all that insulting, just honest.
Overall, The Interview is a violent, profane and absolutely ridiculous film. Either you'll love it or hate it, yet most people with a keen sense of humour will find themselves in the former group. Somewhat accidentally, The Interview has become a bastion of free speech. Do yourself and society a favour and watch it. I'll close off this review with the closing words of Ray Bradbury's explosive Fahrenheit 451 regarding limiting freedom in the name of security:
"Stuff your eyes with wonder," he said, "live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there were, it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away. To hell with that," he said, "shake the tree and knock the great sloth down on his ass.”
Rogen and Co. may play stupid; but at least they have the balls to shake things up.
Grant's Rating: 4/5 Stars
Seth Rogen & James Franco in The Interview: "Frodo Baggins"
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