Wednesday, June 12, 2019

HOI Punk

It seems I got a tendency to get burned out at some point in the weekend. Even happened before my issues with depression. Drinking till I couldn't feel feelings was the remedy, but the bankruptcy and job status leaves me in an introspective rut. May just be beating myself up about leaving my copy of "SLC Punk" at my best friends this time.

I was meaning to review it for the next issue of 309diy (available at Co-Op Records or 309thezine.blogspot.com) since it's been 10 years from it's original release. The biggest problem is leaving it at the residence of two of the fellow writers after telling them my idea.

Stef might do the peace just to spite me (it's a best friend thing), and her fiance isn't much of a writer, so he could figure my idea would be easier than coming up with his own. If he did, I'd just find it funny to see him have the nerve to do something like that.

In the end, their two year-old probably prevents them from getting a chance to watch it.

Reviewing SLC Punk was something I was looking forward to since I couldn't recall ever watching it from start to finish. I've seen every scene, but never consecutively. Thinking about another awkward film experience, "True Romance" comes to mind.

Stef and Chris picked me up the screenplay before I saw the flick. Still, I haven't gotten around to reading it. The finished product is definitely not up to par with other Tarantino scripts, but it was also directed by Tony Scott ("Top Gun's" director and the less-talented brother of the overrated Ridley). One would like to think that the high priest of Quentin would not treat a script that way from a directorial standpoint (as an actor, totally different story).

The awkwardness of Punk stems from when it came out, and my perceived values at the time. Raised in Morton (I was born in a hospital across the river thankfully...P-Town represent), so the conservative nature just made me feel that punk rock nature and anarchy were ridiculous.

When I look back at how I originally viewed "Fight Club", I was definitely into it for the manipulation and charisma of the narrator. And yeah, the concept of fighting just for kicks always entices me. Not the anarchy, especially as a supporter of capitalism. The chaos was clever, but only a few steps above "Jackass".

Of course in 1999, I hadn't grown up, but I don't ever regard myself as materialistic (a side from the bribes my parents gave me for achieving stuff, but that's just being a good son). Perhaps I haven't grown up still. I'm still out to get rid of that sofa problem. Frustration is, I've taken care of the accessories for modern living, I just can't afford to get a place to put it in.

No, I haven't grown up, but I've kept learning. And as someone who likes to learn, I've picked up on how much the world gets fucked up based on principles that have been bastardized. It has annoyed the shit out of me, and I just want things to be put in the right places. Suddenly, the loud noise which directed the poetry that was "Never mind the Bullocks" made sense and Nine Inch Nail was more than just, "Well at least my life isn't one of those songs."

So watching the bits and peaces of Punk meant something to me. The downer ending which just shows the hypocrisy of life sucks, and I almost felt like it's our duty to change it. But again I hadn't grown up, so I just haven't grown beyond pissing people off (hence the lack of a local wrestling career).

Still, I never focused on SLC Punk as a critic, so I might still be missing something. Imagine how that'll kill my self esteem if that's the case.

SLC Punk! (1998) - IMDb
www.imdb.com

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