Lions for Lambs

Well, I did it. For the first time in nearly a year, I saw a film at the theatre. The distinction goes to Lions for Lambs, a movie I mentioned before because it was filmed, in part, at both of my alma maters, Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University. The trailer in the earlier post gives you a good idea of the Pitzer exterior shots, though it was fun to see the hall director’s office doubling as a professor’s office used in a series of scenes.

Technically, I was even more excited to see my CGU classroom’s part in the film. Specifically because that's not just any classroom from my college, but the main classroom I spent my time in, more than 100 hours in the past year. That's where I zoned out and pretended I cared about teaching; it was like serving time. It was also where I defiled a teacher's Van Gogh art, acted selfishly, and first was recognized for winning a thesis award. Observe the chairs that tilt back every so slightly: I ever so slightly tilted back in those chairs frequently. I can't say that my classmates and I were ever as antagonistic as the "students" in the clip, more often we were disinterested, but I can point out that that chair that Robert Redford sits in on the far side was the seat I sat in most often. Brag to your friends: Kevin shared a seat with Robert Redford -- and vice versa.

It's also interesting to note that I was displaced from my class once while this scene was being filmed, meaning that I was directly affected by this movie. Admittedly, however, that's the only way I was affected by Lions for Lambs. Although it's supposed to be some grand thought piece on the state of politics and media, it was pretty boring and simple. It made me feel smart, though, as I could anticipate the film's every move, not that there were many moves made. The characters were annoying, the plot was slow, and I learned practically nothing. At first I thought I could at least commend it for being evenhanded politically, since the conversations between characters of different leanings bounced back and forth, albeit slowly. But then the film suddenly stops on the liberal side on all acounts, even though the points it ends with aren't particularly strong or moving. Heck, I agree most readily with the liberal sides presented in the film, and it was still utterly painful.

Except for the parts that showed the locales dear to me, during which I cheered, overall I give this film a big fat meh. Maybe I'll try going to the movies again next year.

It's also interesting to note that I was displaced from my class once while this scene was being filmed, meaning that I was directly affected by this movie. Admittedly, however, that's the only way I was affected by Lions for Lambs. Although it's supposed to be some grand thought piece on the state of politics and media, it was pretty boring and simple. It made me feel smart, though, as I could anticipate the film's every move, not that there were many moves made. The characters were annoying, the plot was slow, and I learned practically nothing. At first I thought I could at least commend it for being evenhanded politically, since the conversations between characters of different leanings bounced back and forth, albeit slowly. But then the film suddenly stops on the liberal side on all acounts, even though the points it ends with aren't particularly strong or moving. Heck, I agree most readily with the liberal sides presented in the film, and it was still utterly painful.

Except for the parts that showed the locales dear to me, during which I cheered, overall I give this film a big fat meh. Maybe I'll try going to the movies again next year.