#53: Into the Wild: Or, Into the Sean Penn

Into the Wild is an award-winning autobiography of a man named Sean Penn, who is an actor, a writer, a much-lauded grump, and a carrier of rifles through post-Katrina New Orleans. Sean Penn is also a man who really hates people who believe Americans have the right not to vote, such as General Snobbery mentors Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In fact, we have heard *rumors* that those who promote non-voting are quite often murdered by Sean “Sean” Penn himself. Thus, after this episode, we are both very afraid that Old “Man” Sean is going to off us with one of his many drones. 

That’s not to say we think you shouldn’t vote. But you know who DOES think you shouldn’t vote? Eddie Vedder! Ha ha. Just kidding. If that was true, then Sean “Penn” wouldn’t have forced him to do the music for this film. But the person who would likely say we shouldn’t vote it the one known as Chris McCandless, the stand-in for Sean Penn, minus the non-voting initiative.

Chris “Mac Daddy” McCandless was a guy from a city who had very rich parents. One of those parents is William Hurt, who represents Sean Penn’s abusive father (explored also in Tree of Life, which Sean Penn *reportedly* forced Terrance Malick to make). William Hurt is a bad guy in this film. He also thinks he is God. That’s silly. As Mel Gibson said, “Only Jesus is God.” 

But hey, maybe Chris “Light A Candle” McCandless had some Jesus in him. That might be why he sees a light when he dies at the end. That’s not a spoiler. Everyone knows that happened because many American teenagers are forced now to read this book. Because of that fact, most American teenagers watch this movie instead. Thus, Sean Penn has successfully brainwashed most American teenagers to think they should go to the Alaskan wilderness because it’s super cool and an Eddie Vedder soundtrack will follow you as you do it. You might even meet Vince Vaughn on the road. He’s super cool. 

So it’s a polarizing film about a polarizing character. Who is the Real Sean Penn? Will he stand up? Please? And if he does, will he have the courage to sue General Snobbery, as we have challenged him to do? Tune in to this episode to find out, dear listener. And if we never return after this episode, which is highly likely, it’s because Sean Penn murdered us both. 

#48: Fight Club: Terrorism, Nihilism, and Masculinity

“People ask me if I know about Tyler Durden.” So begins the film Fight Club, a movie that is about fighting and a few other things. Those other things include masculinity, corporations, and Meat Loaf. And of course Leto. Jared Leto, that is. If you haven’t seen Fight Club, then you haven’t seen Jared Leto get his face pummeled by the fists of Ed Norton. If you really hated him as the Joker in Suicide Squad, then you might enjoy that scene. But that would also probably make you a psychopath. But as long as it does not make you a “bro”, then you’re fine in our book. Just don’t blow up any buildings. 

Fight Club came out in the year 1999, the same year at The Matrix, American Beauty, and Office Space, all of which investigate the emptiness of the consumer lifestyle perpetuated by the American Dream. The Mummy also came out in 1999, which is of course referring to the B. Fraser (clap) version, and not the 2017 mistake starring Tom “Chilly T” Cruise. (#NotMyMummy). The Mummy did not investigate these themes. But it’s still great. 

Anywho, Fight Club has been quite the cultural milestone, a film that ranks #10 on the great IMDb.com’s top rated movies. Wow! That’s higher than Forrest Gump, and that movie has Hanx! This is a movie about a psycho. His name is Tyler Durden. His name is not Robert Paulson. Meat Loaf’s name is Robert Paulson. Tyler Durden is a guy who thinks that society needs to be obliterated so that humanity can revert to its primal state and start anew. The problem is, lots of bros think this is a great idea, because it means they get to blow shit up and punch people in the face. These bros are called “Space Monkeys” in the film. Leto is one of them. 

So this Snob travels many directions through this labyrinthine, incredible film that will be analyzed for centuries. Analyze away, fellow filmgoers, as long as you don’t think this guy is awesome and a savior of the world. Even Marla didn’t think that, and she actually cared for him. But do see this movie, and think about it. You can even talk about it. We think. 

Finally, we offer thanks to our three listeners, Dave, Angela, and Josh, for offering up such great questions whose consideration started this episode with such a righteous bang. We cherish all of you! And we cherish you too, good listener, as we move into the second year of this Snobbing Journey. 

#47: The Matrix

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Are you a virus? A disease? Then that means you're a human being, at least according to Agent (Weaving) Smith. 

Today, dear Snobfriend, join us for revelry and laughs as we Snob deep into the rabbit hole that is, The Matrix. Directed by the Wachowskis, The Matrix is much better than than bad movie, Inception. Perhaps the movie referenced the most on General Snobbery, The Matrix addresses deep questions of knowledge and being, including how the hell we know who the hell we are. And, there's Kung Fu. 

Sean and Matt are joined by guest and fellow Snob, Aidan, whose vast knowledge of The Matrix guides the conversation like Morpheus guiding Neo during that cool as fuck fighting sequence and that dope ass jumping test.

What can truly be said about The Matrix? What can be said about knowledge? What can be said about the world in which we live? Remarkably, less than we think. And that's a good thing. After all, Cypher thought he knew a lot and he got blown away by a ray gun. What a dick! 

Please, join Sean, Matt, Aidan, Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, Tank, and most of all, Mouse as we seek to battle the Agent Smiths that exist in the world and seek to keep our minds hardwired to those things which stifle our humanity. Snob on!

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