#9: 9/11, 90s Movies, South Park, and the Death of the American Dream

A few final considerations of Air Force One lead Matt and Sean to synthesize several late 90s films into a singular theme: the collapse of the American Dream. What fears manifested in our culture leading up to the millennium? How is it that they seemed to anticipate the events of September 11th, the most catastrophic tragedy of our nation’s history? How did 9/11 affect our perception of films, where a filmic moment is suddenly cast across America's screens as reality and not spectacle? How has the Hollywood landscape changed in the wake of that catastrophe? We posit that a certain darkness is present in contemporary action films that cannot be found in most 90s films, a darkness telling us that all might not work out in a world where "terror" lurks in the shadows.

Films discussed include Ransom, American Beauty, Fight Club, The Truman Show, and Team America, with a particularly long segment dedicated to our most favorite of shows, South Park. Shout out to the great Roger Ebert for informing many of our thoughts. 

Links:

• Here's that great compilation of Harrison Ford frantically speaking about his family issues in several films. 
• Hillary Clinton chillin' in Cedar Rapids. 
• John Oliver interviews Edward Snowden in Moscow. 
• Roger Ebert trashes South Park: Bigger, Longer Uncut