This is the strongest - and most vicious - satire on the American "way of life" ever filmed. Although the Vietnam War was still going on - and still the focus of national attention - director Lear wisely avoids any mention of it, and thus any use of it for political purposes; he chooses instead to concentrate on how Americans of that period saw themselves - in other words, what most Americans thought was good about America, not any of the "social issues" that were dividing the country at the time.
Well, but what is this "good about America" that the film lampoons so unrelentingly? Most Americans think they have a religion - even though their ministers prefer showing up on the cover of Time magazine to living a good life. Most Americans believe TV newscasters keep them informed, even though they know that those people are just entertainers, really, reading script written out for them, that may or may not actually have something to do with current events. Americans want to believe that they are politically committed to some important cause or other - but they can get hysterical over matters as trivial as someone lighting up a cigarette.
The fact is, American morality is just a big balloon - it looks impressive but it's all hot air.
I should point out that satire can frequently be put to use to help with the improvement of social life, by pointing out attitudes that need changing - and, balancing this film off against Lear's television shows, there's little doubt that such is the case here. If the film still seems vicious - and it does - it's because Americans haven't yet stopped to think through the consequences of their attitudes - such as the thousands dead in Iraq, or the continuing misery of the poor.
I certainly hope the day will come when I can look back at Cold Turkey as a relic of the past, with nothing more to say. Sadly, that is not yet the case. America still looks and sounds pretty much like this today, and so the satire remains as potent as when this film first came out.
Oh, yes, and it is also VERY funny.
Well, but what is this "good about America" that the film lampoons so unrelentingly? Most Americans think they have a religion - even though their ministers prefer showing up on the cover of Time magazine to living a good life. Most Americans believe TV newscasters keep them informed, even though they know that those people are just entertainers, really, reading script written out for them, that may or may not actually have something to do with current events. Americans want to believe that they are politically committed to some important cause or other - but they can get hysterical over matters as trivial as someone lighting up a cigarette.
The fact is, American morality is just a big balloon - it looks impressive but it's all hot air.
I should point out that satire can frequently be put to use to help with the improvement of social life, by pointing out attitudes that need changing - and, balancing this film off against Lear's television shows, there's little doubt that such is the case here. If the film still seems vicious - and it does - it's because Americans haven't yet stopped to think through the consequences of their attitudes - such as the thousands dead in Iraq, or the continuing misery of the poor.
I certainly hope the day will come when I can look back at Cold Turkey as a relic of the past, with nothing more to say. Sadly, that is not yet the case. America still looks and sounds pretty much like this today, and so the satire remains as potent as when this film first came out.
Oh, yes, and it is also VERY funny.