"retard Explotation Movies"

[BigDMcGee 3,367]

So, in a couple of thread, I saw a couple refrences to what I like to call "Retard Explotation movies", and I thought I'd share my thoughts on this genre with ya'll.In one thread, someone made a reference to Rainman, and I laughed, 'cause REM's are personal fav/hate of mine. In another thread, someone made reference to like Forrest Gump, and suggesting I don't. And I do like it, it wasn't what I meant in the post, but I have a major issue with it, as a movie, 'cause it is a REM. In movies such as Rainman, Forrest Gump, I am Sam, beautiful mind, they take people who are severelly mentally ill and or mentally below norm, and then turn their life into some heart warming story, and how you can have a meaningful and inspiring life, inspite of the fact you're a retard, bat **** crazy, or what ever. That you can still serve purpose in our world and our society, and more importantly, you can inspire the rest of clear minded america to do great things in their life. I mean, look what this 'tard gump can do!! And he's a TARD!! Just think what you could do, America!?!And then, when someone like like Tom Hanks or Dustin Hoffman shows the dramatic range and challenge of bravelly portraying 'tards, it's pretty much an auto-oscar. Think of the challenge poor D Hoffman had to have!!This kind of movie I find very conscending and exploititive of people who actually are autistic, or scitzophrenic, or a crippled 'tard ( or what ever gump was supposed to be). I think it really simplifies and minimizes the actually issues that are raised by having these conditions/disorders. More than that, I think movies like that today are a ( Sometimes)mild, watered down version of freak shows ( though a movie like "Monster, could be more literally so). But instead of just standing and gawking, we learn a heart warming lession from the freaks, and so then that's not supposed to be exploititive.

[XX44466XX 0]

The Ringer is a movie about someone exploiting the less advantaged. It was sort of funny. The real stars were Jed Rees and Geoffrey Arend.Yes, Rees is a Canadian.

[brvheart 1,768]

[BigDMcGee 3,367]

lock it up, if because I use the word " retard" but I do it, because I think that's the dirrection these sorts of films view the mentally handicapped/challeged/what ever term. From a very derogatory and exploititive point of view.

[princeof56k 0]

I've actually heard convincing arguments that playing a "mentally challenged" individual is one of the easier roles to play and that actors playing those roles shouldnt win Oscars because of that. The basic reason is that retarded individuals arent extemely complex. As a matter of fact their character is precisely designed to be very simple so that normal individuals can look their own complexity as their fatal flaw. But those same flaws are what makes normal characters much more complex. Most actors playing retarded characters are admired not for their fine acting job but for the sympathy of the character they played.For example in Rainman, Tom Cruises character, and his relationship with his father, was a much more complex role than Hoffman's autistic character. In Forrest Gump, Robin Wright's Jenny was much more complicated than the simple minded Gump.That said I still enjoyed both of those movies. As long as there are some good other characters in the movie and its well written, I usually like it. Now a movie like I Am Sam was purely exploitative. Not only did it have Penns retarded role but it also had Dakota Fanning as the innocent simple minded child. Thats a little to much for me.

[mrdannyg 274]

i think categorizing all those movies together is ridiculous.in rainman, you can argue it is exploitation, but an above poster argued well that the relationships involving Cruise are much more important.in forest gump, it is a source of hope, in that forest is portrayed as a simple, uncorrupted person, who does good. it reflects positively on human nature.and beautiful mind is completely different. it is both about a person defeating a mental illness, and is not about someone "retarded." not all mental illnesses are retardation, and Nash has an astronimical IQ.I haven't seen I Am Sam, so i can't comment. The Ringer seems to be nothing more than cheap exploitation.if you really categorize movies like The Ringer, Rainman and Forest Gump together, you probably have a terribly poor and simple of psychological and mental diseases and disabilities. If you feel any of the latter two are exploitive, you probably are not allowing for the movies being far more complicated than just "hey look at what the retard can do."and if you group a Beautiful Mind with any of those, than you're simply way off.

[Bill Porter 0]

DON'T FORGET DOOR TO DOOR!

[BigDMcGee 3,367]

i think categorizing all those movies together is ridiculous.in rainman, you can argue it is exploitation, but an above poster argued well that the relationships involving Cruise are much more important.in forest gump, it is a source of hope, in that forest is portrayed as a simple, uncorrupted person, who does good. it reflects positively on human nature.and beautiful mind is completely different. it is both about a person defeating a mental illness, and is not about someone "retarded." not all mental illnesses are retardation, and Nash has an astronimical IQ.I haven't seen I Am Sam, so i can't comment. The Ringer seems to be nothing more than cheap exploitation.if you really categorize movies like The Ringer, Rainman and Forest Gump together, you probably have a terribly poor and simple of psychological and mental diseases and disabilities. If you feel any of the latter two are exploitive, you probably are not allowing for the movies being far more complicated than just "hey look at what the retard can do."and if you group a Beautiful Mind with any of those, than you're simply way off.

I'm not grouping those movies together by the type of brain disorder they have, I'm grouping them together based on Hollywood's exploitation of those disorders.

[CobaltBlue 662]

Leonardo DiCaprio's character in What's Eating Gilbert Grape is another pretty famous film portrayal of the mentally handicapped. A lot of his detractors consider it his best work for tongue-in-cheek reasons.That said, I think it's a little odd that you're arguing against "exploitation" and referring to the mentally handicapped as 'tards' in the same ramble.As for The Ringer, I thought they did a pretty good job of not exploiting anyone. Knoxville certainly seemed to bond with his fellow actors.

[BigDMcGee 3,367]

Leonardo DiCaprio's character in What's Eating Gilbert Grape is another pretty famous film portrayal of the mentally handicapped. A lot of his detractors consider it his best work for tongue-in-cheek reasons.That said, I think it's a little odd that you're arguing against "exploitation" and referring to the mentally handicapped as 'tards' in the same ramble.As for The Ringer, I thought they did a pretty good job of not exploiting anyone. Knoxville certainly seemed to bond with his fellow actors.

guess folks don't appreciate irony around here. At anyrate, I don't make millions off of my posts on internet threads.

[turd ferguson 1]

The problem with your argument is that every protagonist has some major flaw that can be related to a large group of people. Just because mental retardation garners more sympathy and is more obvious than something like alcoholism, anger control issues, or an addictive personality doesn't change the fact that those people are being used for their stories as well. Any movie can be made to seem as though it is exploiting someone or something. The simple fact is that if there is a story to tell Hollywood is going to profit from it. Maybe you should get off your holier than thou horse for a minute, and stop preaching at everyone.

[keith crime 8]

my movie rules - no retards no southerners

[avsfan 0]

So, in a couple of thread, I saw a couple refrences to what I like to call "Retard Explotation movies", and I thought I'd share my thoughts on this genre with ya'll.sure a nuffIn one thread, someone made a reference to Rainman, and I laughed, 'cause REM's are personal fav/hate of mine. In another thread, someone made reference to like Forrest Gump, and suggesting I don't. And I do like it, it wasn't what I meant in the post, but I have a major issue with it, as a movie, 'cause it is a REM. Exploitation REm's uh this is defined in stone exploitation is bad. yeah ppl hate it when they hear that word Exploitation. Can't have that .Everyone hates that. Maybe Russ Meyer's is Bad for those tricky movies that you think exploit women but really celebrate women and exploite men. them men sure paid and pay to see them movies with the big boobs.I am getin off track but the term exploitation in movie is sort of perverted sometimes it depends on the movie and it's experience on the viewer. So back to REm'sIn movies such as Rainman, Forrest Gump, I am Sam, beautiful mind, they take people who are severelly mentally ill and or mentally below norm, and then turn their life into some heart warming story, and how you can have a meaningful and inspiring life, inspite of the fact you're a retard, bat **** crazy, or what ever. Whoa, I feel that a totally tormented bat **** retard crazy can live a life that others might find heart warming. Might be a cofused hellish experience for them but others may see someting that touches and warms their heart in thier story. for example;Forrest Gump's explorative detreimed naivette may encourages others to approach the world with a more open embracing attitude. Many normal ppl lose that opening and embracing attitude as they get older. Forrest Gump may touch those who have lost touch. Of course this does a real Forrest no good but it shares his experience. Is this really Exploitative? The way I see it Forrrest's experience is educational and worthy of hearing. Rainman, lets be honest here ppl are just freakin impressed by Rainman's abilities. Ppl want to have his abilities. Of course in the story we learn about the struggle this person endures and it brings us closer to Rainman because we are impresed with Rainmans ability we learn to relate to his real life dilema and thus his struggle. That helps ppl relate. Yeah, they got tricked by their I want super memory envy but in the end they learn about the life and struggles of another human being. I feel I am Sam and A beautiful mind perform a silimliar sharing of the human experience and add a big dose of overcomming struggle. Ppl really like overcomming struggle stories. they are important to ppl.That you can still serve purpose in our world and our society, and more importantly, you can inspire the rest of clear minded america to do great things in their life. I mean, look what this 'tard gump can do!! And he's a TARD!! Just think what you could do, America!?!And then, when someone like like Tom Hanks or Dustin Hoffman shows the dramatic range and challenge of bravelly portraying 'tards, it's pretty much an auto-oscar. Think of the challenge poor D Hoffman had to have!!Your just jealous cause you don't have a honorary degree from Santa Monica Community College.This kind of movie I find very conscending and exploititive of people who actually are autistic, or scitzophrenic, or a crippled 'tard ( or what ever gump was supposed to be). I think it really simplifies and minimizes the actually issues that are raised by having these conditions/disorders. True, but left on their own ppl wouldn't relate at all. so eh ehhh.More than that, I think movies like that today are a ( Sometimes)mild, watered down version of freak shows ( though a movie like "Monster, could be more literally so). Dude don't be the jerk that makes all the freaks unemployed. But instead of just standing and gawking, we learn a heart warming lession from the freaks, and so then that's not supposed to be exploititive.So right BigD so true.p.s. next time I should just read the post before responding. you being tricky and all.

[timwakefield 69]

Forrest Gump's explorative detreimed naivette

Please give a definition of this word. It could kinda almost be 'determined,' or possibly a crazy made up form of the word 'detrimental.'

[avsfan 0]

nah determineded.

[digitalmonkey 929]

The problem with your argument is that every protagonist has some major flaw that can be related to a large group of people. Just because mental retardation garners more sympathy and is more obvious than something like alcoholism, anger control issues, or an addictive personality doesn't change the fact that those people are being used for their stories as well. Any movie can be made to seem as though it is exploiting someone or something. The simple fact is that if there is a story to tell Hollywood is going to profit from it. Maybe you should get off your holier than thou horse for a minute, and stop preaching at everyone.

[mbreon 0]

The problem with your argument is that every protagonist has some major flaw that can be related to a large group of people. Just because mental retardation garners more sympathy and is more obvious than something like alcoholism, anger control issues, or an addictive personality doesn't change the fact that those people are being used for their stories as well. Any movie can be made to seem as though it is exploiting someone or something. The simple fact is that if there is a story to tell Hollywood is going to profit from it. Maybe you should get off your holier than thou horse for a minute, and stop preaching at everyone.

I second that.

[Demonde 0]

'Tard Exploitation

[mbreon 0]

'Tard Exploitation

Yipes.

[loogie 115]

[Mercury69 3]

I found Forrest Gump to be stupid, if heart-warming. Why? Well, the notion that this simpleton boobs his way through life following orders and generally being a super nice guy (which isn't wrong, by any means) is such a load of crap it makes me squirm. Maybe I'm too much of a "realist", but this guy would get his *** kicked in real life.Rain Man was a good film. From what I've heard, Hoffman hung out with autistic people for months prior to filming.I Am Sam, from all accounts, is a maudlin piece of crap by noted egomaniac Sean Penn.Dunno about others atm, going to get some lunch.

[loogie 115]

Maybe I'm too much of a "realist", but this guy would get his *** kicked in real life.

These are the movies, though. I don't go to movies to experience real life.

[brvheart 1,768]

These are the movies, though. I don't go to movies to experience real life.

QFT

[Mercury69 3]

Maybe so, but you wouldn't beleive the amount of people out there who emulate movies and TV on a daily basis. It's crazy...or is it RETARDED?!?!

[BigDMcGee 3,367]

The problem with your argument is that every protagonist has some major flaw that can be related to a large group of people. Just because mental retardation garners more sympathy and is more obvious than something like alcoholism, anger control issues, or an addictive personality doesn't change the fact that those people are being used for their stories as well. Any movie can be made to seem as though it is exploiting someone or something. The simple fact is that if there is a story to tell Hollywood is going to profit from it. Maybe you should get off your holier than thou horse for a minute, and stop preaching at everyone.

First of all, it's not true that every protagonist has some major flaw that can be related to a large group of people, though I'll conceed many do. My intention of this post wasn't to preach from a holy high horse ( nice mixed metaphor, btw!). I like gawking at 'tards as much as the next guy. I'm just not under the illusion that I'm doing anything but gawking. if you want to continue to unexamine the way you view REM's feel free, no skin off my balls.

These are the movies, though. I don't go to movies to experience real life.

True, but there is this thing called " suspension of disbelief" that a movie must do, in order for you to buy into the story. Apparently a tard Gump lucking his way through life is to unreallistic for our friend. I myself don't care so much about the realism of the story ( which of course, there isn't any) but the many other interesting, sub-textual things goes on with Gump. I actually like gump quite a bit, but it doesn't warm my Heart. Unfortunatly my cold, cold heart is two sizes too small.