I got a chance to see a screening pre-release. I fucking loved it. Told everyone I knew to make sure they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss it. Then I started to read the reviews and seriously questioned what movie it was they were talking about. Sometimes I just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get it. Glad you did.<\/p>\n
Ken Alterwitz<\/p>\n
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Yes Yes. \u00c2\u00a0We watched it last night and today everyone is talking about it. Is it wrong to say this is as close to a perfect film as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve ever seen? \u00c2\u00a0No it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not wrong \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that good<\/p>\n
Barry Schneier<\/p>\n
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I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll ck it out. But the\u00c2\u00a0nincompoops are you and your wacko liberal morons who in a year have emboldened China, Russia and Iran, alienated and endangered Israel, destroyed the US economy, let the Southern border go to hell, injected racist mandates that disproportionately hurt minorities, and fueled the toxic wokeism tearing our country apart. God help us from the further damage y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all will wreak in the coming year.<\/p>\n
John Hanley, Jr.<\/p>\n
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Watched it last night. Was so glad. Laughed my ass off<\/p>\n
Roots of Creation<\/p>\n
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Agreed! Terrific movie!<\/p>\n
Norman Prusslin<\/p>\n
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Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up is definitely for thinking people.<\/p>\n
Not for everyone.<\/p>\n
But. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m with you Bob.\u00c2\u00a0 Watch it! \u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s great.\u00c2\u00a0 And the ending?\u00c2\u00a0 What a hoot! \u00c2\u00a0 Just great.<\/p>\n
Bobby Tarantino<\/p>\n
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Agreed. Thanks for this, Bob. Except, republicans won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t watch this. Trump supporters won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t. Climate deniers wont either. We can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get it thru to them. They won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hear nor see the message until it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s too late then they finally look up.<\/p>\n
Like Trump now supports booster shot. Wtf too little too late.<\/p>\n
Shirley Wu<\/p>\n
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Truly an amazing film.\u00c2\u00a0 I tend to be someone doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like political commentary as much, because we get SO MUCH of it and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not often done well.\u00c2\u00a0 But this was really amazing, especially given that we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know where the story is going.\u00c2\u00a0 The whole thing is hard to predict and keeps you guessing.\u00c2\u00a0 I thought of it as a comment on Trump but my friend that I watched it with saw it thought it was a larger comment on human nature. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The scene around the dining room table was truly amazing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
HappyRon\u00c2\u00a0Hill<\/p>\n
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Just saw it \u00c2\u00a0– funny as hell but enough truth to make it sad at the same time. \u00c2\u00a0 A very unexpected enjoyable watch, but felt a little mind fucked afterwards.<\/p>\n
Clay\u00c2\u00a0DuBose<\/p>\n
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I watched it yesterday and texted everyone I knew to watch. I agree 100%.<\/p>\n
Happy holidays.<\/p>\n
Linda<\/p>\n
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“Best Picture Of The Year”……..Best Social Commentary…Best Look In The Mirror !!<\/p>\n
Great review Bob<\/p>\n
Mark Carter<\/p>\n
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I LOVED it – and because of the crazy cast and that there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been so little buzz I assumed it was mediocre or bad. I LOVED IT. Wish everyone would see it. Cause there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a BIG ASS COMET HEADING OUR WAY – and we need that kind of panic and intensity and global unifying and ACTION. And yet depressingly and scarily we live in the world of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153fake news\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – but so not the time for that crap. Trump (and\/or his ilk) has a history of bringing down every company and person and now country he has touched. Hoping that doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apply to the frickin PLANET. Up to us all to counter all this and fight back LOUDLY (thus the capitalizations). Honestly not sure how we get there. Brave new world of living in our own silo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d news sources – not sure how we get back\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.<\/p>\n
Maybe Fox News somehow gets taken down? Would sure help.<\/p>\n
Thx Bob – Happy Merry<\/p>\n
Peter van Roden<\/p>\n
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This movie left me with the feeling that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had a good run, we had the chance to NOT fuck it up, instead we made the same narcissistic choices until the very end. We got what we deserved and then visited it upon the rest of humanity, due to our insatiable need for control and the pursuit of more.<\/p>\n
Funkright<\/p>\n
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Yeah watched it Friday thought it was great<\/p>\n
I particularly liked that they held up the bullshit and pure danger that is the Mark Rylance character<\/p>\n
They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the ones who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve got us into this shit and need the finger pointed relentlessly at them.<\/p>\n
NICK HANSON<\/p>\n
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Bob I loved the movie. IT is the perfect metaphor for the pandemic. Half the country won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look at the science. They won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even look up and the truth is right their in the sky. I do have a question for you. I am sitting here with a friend and we are wondering when this happened to our country. When did the truth become non believable. My best guess is it eroded away over time. Ever since they shot Kennedy and we never found out the truth. Or maybe when Bush and Chenny lied about weapons of Mass destruction. Can you pin point a moment when the shift occurred. Or was it like this for decades and Trump just brought it to the surface?<\/p>\n
Andrew Kastner<\/p>\n
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I agree about Don’t Look Up.\u00c2\u00a0 What were the reviewers watching? Most said it was a depressing eco film.\u00c2\u00a0 What!?? Great Satire, has to be watched closley\u00c2\u00a0or you will miss all the funny bits<\/p>\n
Rick Klufas<\/p>\n
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Is there anything other than a worst case scenario for humanity? If half (or more) of us are just acting on emotional impulse, stuck in a Pavlovian cycle that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s exploited by big-tech sociopaths, how is there any hope? I really want to read something other than a doomsday perspective, but it seems pretty hard to find.. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m constantly haunted by the Fermi paradox.<\/p>\n
The rain in LA was a nice moment of Zen for us after hearing Leo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s final lines. Shit man.<\/p>\n
Julian Hoffman Beech<\/p>\n
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Amen Bob. It was almost depressing how accurately the film depicts how our society today would react if an extinction level comet was actually hurtling toward Earth. If Idiocracy was a prescient look into what was to come, Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up is the look into what now is.<\/p>\n
Zach Ziskin<\/p>\n
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Just watched it. Loved it. Sadly, feels like that could happen!<\/p>\n
Richard Stumpf<\/p>\n
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I loved it for all the reasons you cite, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll give it 2nd best picture of the year, right behind \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Belfast\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
Tonehenge<\/p>\n
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Have you lost your mind? \u00c2\u00a0I was looking forward to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, but it was awful. Awful. \u00c2\u00a0I felt embarrassed for the star-studded cast.<\/p>\n
The only reason I finished watching the film was to see all those obnoxious people get destroyed. \u00c2\u00a0(I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a lifelong democrat, by the way, in case you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re thinking I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m on the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d side of the political spectrum.)<\/p>\n
Amanda Gerrish<\/p>\n
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I am a moderate Republican, I saw the film as you say an equal opportunity offender. While it does have its blatant attacks on the Republican structure it also attacks, Steve Jobs\/Elon Musk\/Zuckerberg\/Jeff Bezos morphed type of character who ultimately leads to the end of the world. While Meryl Streep is clearly meant to poke fun at Trump, and her son Jonah Hill, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Trumps kid\u00e2\u20ac\u009d being chief of staff. Peter Bishwell, Bash owner clearly is poking fun at the billionaire democrat tech Constituents impact on politics. That character in real world is clearly more the democratic limousine\/jet liberal, Silicon Valley elitist. Even though in this film he is portrayed as a supporter of the pseudo Republican President. That isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really where those characters in real life align with politically. \u00c2\u00a0I thought it was a brilliant movie, a sad, witty and extreme satire on todays world. \u00c2\u00a0I would agree with most of what you said, other than as I pointed out the confusion between Silicon Valley elitist aligned with a Trump character type president. That was a bit of a miss, propaganda, but I understand how and why it was used incorrectly to tell the witty story. \u00c2\u00a0The film couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t attack Trumpers and tie in Silicon Valley elitist at the same time accurately, even though the film does.<\/p>\n
John Loos III<\/p>\n
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Of COURSE, half of the country ( the DON’T-look-uppers) panned it..But us JUST-look-uppers will rave about it for years..<\/p>\n
I went back and read McKay’s interview in “The Atlantic”..Elucidating read..Makes me really miss the DVD extras’ “Making Of” option.<\/p>\n
I was SHOCKED to discover McKay brought those horrible Will Ferrel movies to fruition.What an evolution..<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
James Spencer<\/p>\n
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Saw it today and couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t agree more. This is a fantastic satire that hits all the right marks and perfectly balances the absurd with the searing truth of what it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like to interact with the world today. I loved it. There are so many angles here, they are almost too numerous to mention. The sad truth is, I can see this happening. Covid or comet – we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re screwed.<\/p>\n
Exactly – ignore the reviews. This is top tier satire. Laugh while you squirm.<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas to you and happy New Year.<\/p>\n
Marc McDonald<\/p>\n
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Two thumbs up!<\/p>\n
Keenan Moran<\/p>\n
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\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look up\u00e2\u20ac\u009d infected and spoiled my Christmas Day.
\nIt is easily the the most unabashed cash grab I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen in a long time. It makes the Marvel re-purposing juggernaut look like a conscientious health documentary.
\nYes, it is a mirror on current USA insanity, but is executed in a way that simply condones and clears ground for more of the same.
\nDiCaprio\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s willingness to embrace \u00e2\u20ac\u0153fame\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and Streep\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Cruella-like presidency depiction, do nothing other than make those who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already bought in to the truthless madness, feel vindicated and comfortable reaching to tweet into the void.<\/p>\n
And this from someone who lists The Big Short in my Top 5 of all time.<\/p>\n
I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m amazed you like this Christmas release. And disappointed.<\/p>\n
Short the USA. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so over.<\/p>\n
Many thanks
\nTrevor Gilchrist<\/p>\n
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Watched if last night. Had heard nothing about it before. The whole family enjoyed it from start to finish. Would have been easy for it to be crap but it wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t.
\nAs you say, perfectly captures the zeitgeist.<\/p>\n
Geoff Ellis<\/p>\n
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Agree, great movie, and so surprising that the world does get destroyed…. And Mark Rylance, my favorite actor, in such a perfect role!<\/p>\n
Schuyler Bishop<\/p>\n
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It’s fucking great. Network meets Dr. Strangelove (maybe not as great as either of those films, but pretty great nonetheless).<\/p>\n
John Henry Jones<\/p>\n
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So it seems we had the same viewing schedule this weekend.<\/p>\n
So here is the fun fact: to me (European Republican) this was all about corporate and politics in general I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t label it but if anything I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve detected strong LGB tones, some anti-Fauci satire (I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m the science) and Bill Gates \/ Elon Musk reminiscences.<\/p>\n
Sure, Trump is part of this landscape I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t disagree but we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re looking at a much more vile global concept today which McKay captured but will the people be able read between the lines I doubt it.<\/p>\n
J Semrau<\/p>\n
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It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s interesting that you see it as almost an anti trump movie. I think it works just as well as an anti Biden movie depending on your individual political bias. Either way it a FU to the way the politics has worked since the 80\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s.<\/p>\n
Thank\u00c2\u00a0you,<\/p>\n
Brook Chivell<\/p>\n
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We saw\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up” last night, loved it, will watch it again. The reviews that I saw were critical, maybe they didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like the way the media was portrayed, poor things. I think Trump\u00c2\u00a0supporters will do fine with the movie, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plenty of shots taken at all *sides* of America\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s divisions. Streep\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s character was an amalgam of all that is wrong with politics, almost like a grafted Trump\/Hilary. They could have named her Hilary Trump without changing her character.<\/p>\n
Hank Linderman<\/p>\n
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I gave it a D-.
\nTerrible movie.<\/p>\n
Dave Barnes<\/p>\n
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I agree. I saw it on Netflix at home. Just about the only thing that actually goes to the heart of the ignorance and division in the US today.<\/p>\n
David\u00c2\u00a0Pearl
\nnyc<\/p>\n
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Watched it last night.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s a modern day Dr. Strangelove.<\/p>\n
Steve Waxman<\/p>\n
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Adam McKay, WOW! I laughed and cried, it shook me to my core. Glad you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re talking about it. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brilliant filmmaking and important.<\/p>\n
Jack Ross<\/p>\n
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Once again in total agreement and one of my first responses was the scene where DiCaprio loses his shit reminded me of Network.
\nPeter Roaman<\/p>\n
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I was praying you would see this and then report back. I blasted a big group of friends with a must stop everything and see It as I felt exactly as you did. Then for\u00c2\u00a0some reason I checked to see what rotten tomatoes gave It. A blogger I read says that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the authority. They gave It a 50. 50?! \u00c2\u00a0Did I miss something? \u00c2\u00a0I gingerly walked back a bit of my best movie ever recco but then stopped. Screw It I said.\u00c2\u00a0I love It and although I feel so disconnected to our world these days, I knew I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be alone on this and be damned to those who don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel\u00c2\u00a0what I did. The movie is glorious and as sad as\u00c2\u00a0It is on so many levels, I needed this more than any other movie of the year. The Power of The Dog a close second.<\/p>\n
Thank you Bob. Your writings are so important to me and todays column made me feel like a million bucks.<\/p>\n
2 quick side notes\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6..<\/p>\n
Leo is as legit as they get. I was a little curious about his age as well so I went IMDB. His list of movies is scary. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re hard pressed to find a bad one. He delivers and crushed It in Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up.<\/p>\n
Lastly, Dylan at Budakan has my favorite version of Its All Right Ma. When he sings that line the crowd knows It and loves It. That song should\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been in this movie. Harsh to say but if any of your readers didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know that was his lyrics, then I feel for them.<\/p>\n
Happy new year Bob.<\/p>\n
Lee Posner<\/p>\n
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Agreed on the Oscar. A good back to back watch is Matrix to remind you and your tribe along with Streep\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s character that the Blue Pill you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re addicted to is destroying the world. Y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all called back the missle envoy that might have destroyed the Asteroid \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 to feather your personal agendas nest and line your pockets . If your tribe ever wakes up and looks past the ratings and likes and polling .. here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the reality of the tribes greed, bias and terrible judgement \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153 US Navy Warship Pauses Deployment After COVID-19 Outbreak Among \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc100 Percent Immunized\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Crew.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00c2\u00a0Comforting that BASH and NIH are running our National defense after decimating our Healthcare system. \u00c2\u00a0Have another Blue Pill, pick a scapegoat and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look up.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n jb<\/p>\n (Note: a Trumper)<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Jennifer Lawrence held the movie together. Especially her obsession over the General charging her for free snacks.<\/p>\n Matt .mac<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Hi Bob yes and no? For me satire that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so obvious doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t work so well. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m surprised you liked it so much. The real 4 years of Trump and the shit he is still getting away with is tragedy not satire!<\/p>\n Alan Segal<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Word! From Norway. _______________________________________<\/p>\n 100%love this movie Bob<\/p>\n Lauren Edwards<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Wow…you know how to insult people.<\/p>\n Michael K. Clifford (Note: a Trumper)<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Nailed it once again\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 Incredible\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6. You are a rock star Bob Lefsetz.. Sharon<\/p>\n Sharon<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Barely got through the 1st 30 mins and I don’t think i’ll be making a 2nd attempt<\/p>\n Chris Xynos<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Agreed 100%. This is nail on head stuff.<\/p>\n You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, this film will more than suffice.<\/p>\n Thanks for the tip!<\/p>\n Dave Duggan<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Hi Bob – Totally agree. Just finished watching it with my daughter and Belgian boyfriend. Didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know whether to laugh or cry. And both of them got the sendups and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153role models\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for the characters. Very well executed film.<\/p>\n Boyd Allen<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Hi Bob,<\/p>\n I respectfully disagree with your review of Don’t Look Up.<\/p>\n I found it a sub par black comedy. Much like the film adaptation of Catch -22 it suffers from a lack of nuance and imagination – but then again maybe that’s the point.<\/p>\n Regrettably, I didn’t laugh once but I’m glad you did.<\/p>\n Maybe I’ll wait for a bit and try it again.<\/p>\n Thanks for the suggestion. Keep’em coming.<\/p>\n Cheers,<\/p>\n Jay Aymar<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Bravo Bob. \u00c2\u00a0I had sent u same recommendation as your friend<\/p>\n But you Left out very important factoid.<\/p>\n The WALL STREET JOURNAL review. \u00c2\u00a0The review should be the epilogue of the film.<\/p>\n All fatuous intellectualized pretentious criticism that is EXACTLY what the film decries! Refusal to look at the imminent destruction of the planet vis climate change. Talks \u00e2\u20ac\u0153art talk\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Republican and Manchine talking about MONEY<\/p>\n Can you breathe that? Can you drink that? \u00c2\u00a0I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like to serve them up A nice bowl of gold.<\/p>\n King Midas. \u00c2\u00a0Where r u?<\/p>\n Keep those columns coming<\/p>\n Joan Levine PhD<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n You nailed it! This is NETWORK of the new era. I watched this on December 24th, it’s release date, for the same reason you did. Adam McKay.<\/p>\n It’s not great, but the social and political satire in this film resonate with though\u00c2\u00a0of us who feel like people are becoming more and more stupid as we try and live our day to day lives.<\/p>\n Without giving away the movie in case other people see this, it was interesting how the roles of the President and Chief of Staff were done for this film.<\/p>\n Hope all except the pro-Trumpers get to see this.<\/p>\n Thanks as always for your take.<\/p>\n Randy Schaaf<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Thanks, Bob, for the heads up, but I was going to watch it regardless of the reviews, for all the reasons you listed. Wikipedia, though, includes a quote from the LA Times’ Justin Chang, which I believe sees the big picture:<\/p>\n “Nothing about the foolishness and outrageousness of what the movie shows us\u00e2\u20ac\u201dno matter how virtuosically sliced and diced by McKay’s characteristically jittery editor, Hank Corwin\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcan really compete with the horrors of our real-world American idiocracy.”<\/p>\n Larry Butler<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t look up \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you risk getting bird crap in your eye.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now I understand why you embrace the uninformed Covid positions that you do \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you waste your time watching crappy movies on Netflix and listening to your pipsqueak demigod media whore Fauci, instead of reading factual information that would better educate you about Covid.<\/p>\n JW<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n In a Twitter thread praising “Don’t Look Up,” someone replied that they turned it off halfway and that Jonah Hill’s character was “unlikable.” Someone replied back saying that the whole point was that Hill’s character is unlikable. That exchange encapsulates our country’s current situation.<\/p>\n Gordon Chaffin<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n I watched it. Sadly, I feel I need to start by saying I am not a Trump supporter. I’m a fan of DiCaprio and Adam McKay. I’ve watched The Big Short multiple times. This didn’t work. It tried too hard. It tried to do too much. If you want to make a satire, go all the way. You’re right that there are some really funny moments, but it’s too long, too pretentious, and too preachy. If you’re looking for satire that captures the inanity of American life, just watch The Simpsons.<\/p>\n Jason Ward<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Watched it last night. Pretty average. Didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what it wanted to be. At least we have yet more proof that Di Caprio shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be allowed anywhere near comedy. The jury\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still out on Lawrence.<\/p>\n Pete Smith<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n The times I have hit pause because I was laughing so hard. Jonah Hill\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lines are glorious as they seem like throw aways at the end of scenes.\u00c2\u00a0 Saw Cate Blanchett in opening credits and was certain she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cast as the President, had watched the trailer, then Meryl Streep\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name comes up and it was an \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh Damn\u00e2\u20ac\u009d moment. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fun and I still have 57 min left. Fully entertained in a way which has been lacking. Stir in some IRL social commentary and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brilliant.<\/p>\n -Paula Barron<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Just brilliant. Could be best pic. Thanks for alerting me.<\/p>\n Kenneth Freundlich<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n You are spot on with this movie.<\/p>\n Nick Sproviero<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Don’t Look Up is an excellent film…I laughed and cringed as I also was reminded of our politicians most likely response.\u00c2\u00a0 After living through the politicalization of a health pandemic it is\u00c2\u00a0an easy transition to consider how they would respond\u00c2\u00a0to a planet extinction event.<\/p>\n Can’t imagine\u00c2\u00a0a greater departure from “following the science”.\u00c2\u00a0 Unbelievable \u00c2\u00a0to see how easily we quickly put innocent children in harm’s\u00c2\u00a0way, freely using them as a shield\u00c2\u00a0to protect the very sick and elderly all for a virus with\u00c2\u00a0a 99.84% survivability rate and most harmful for those with an average age of 80 and multiple comorbidities. What were we thinking? A shameful embarrassment of epic proportions that\u00c2\u00a0I believe\u00c2\u00a0will be a stain\u00c2\u00a0on this nation’s memory longer than our experience in Vietnam.\u00c2\u00a0 I guess leaving these important decisions to highly conflicted politicians\/bureaucrats\/Corporate Interests with an average age over 70 was an obvious mistake.<\/p>\n Stay safe,<\/p>\n Ed Kelly<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Just watched this with my daughter who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a sophomore in college. \u00c2\u00a0You were absolutely right with your synopsis of this movie. \u00c2\u00a0It was fantastic! We recently watched Network as well. \u00c2\u00a0I just hope my daughter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s generation is smarter than ours and can find a way. The similarities are unnerving!<\/p>\n Theherlihyfamily<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Not that great<\/p>\n Chris Lynch _______________________________________<\/p>\n Thank you for wasting a couple hours of my time watching this poor excuse of a movie. The first few minutes of the film caught my attention, as a friend discovered a new comet a few years ago, which is now named after her.<\/p>\n After that, I found it hard to stay awake with the less than engaging plot. DiCaprio and Lawrence did a good job with their roles, as pros should, but the film had the feel of a movie that they needed to do to fulfill a contract commitment. I could see no connection with reality in this thing.<\/p>\n As to comedy, event the worst skits on the current iteration of SNL have more humor than this extremely predictable film.<\/p>\n Best picture of the year? No way in hell! Were you paid to promote this piece of crap?<\/p>\n Terry Watson<\/p>\n (Note: a Trumper)<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Thanks, Bob. I just saw it 2 days ago.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I mean I wonder what they’ll say when they watch this.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d My first thought when it finished. Pondering the answer is really part of experiencing the film. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m afraid we can guess what it is.<\/p>\n Robert Bond<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Loved this so much Bob.<\/p>\n Leo & Jennifer \u00c2\u00a0can do no wrong & it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so great to finally see Leonardo on Netflix.<\/p>\n Writing was spot on and the cast were a 10\/10.<\/p>\n Spot on<\/p>\n Regan Lethbridge<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Saw it last night Bob. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s simply an incredible film poignant and at times very funny and very current in our climate and timbre. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0And I would say Leo and Jennifer are quite good to understate my thoughts.<\/p>\n Chris Apostle<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Didactic overload…<\/p>\n Suffers some\u00c2\u00a0from wanting to teach and tackle too much.<\/p>\n Marty Bender<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t agree more. I think along with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Idiocracy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, these are the most perfect portraits of the modern society.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Flavio Marchesin<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n The comparison to Network seems spot on. I say seems because I was too young at the time to see it or understand it. But I do remember seeing it for the first time and understanding that it captured something real and visceral. Time has also shown its urgency to be correct. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wild that I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t name another movie that has come close to that since Network. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not sure why that is. Maybe the temperature in the country has to reach a fever before art starts to even attempt to reflect it. Like, you just can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t deny anymore what it is happening. _______________________________________<\/p>\n watched on on saturday, on a whim, totally unknowing, hearing or paying any attention to anything\u00c2\u00a0about\u00c2\u00a0it. \u00c2\u00a0it was a goodie! nothing what i imagined it to be nor having a thought provoking\u00c2\u00a0ending.<\/p>\n Wayne Forte<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n I can never get over the dichotomy between how smart some of your takes are and how bad your taste is.<\/p>\n Morgan Wallen being the worst one. This movie is awful, to compare it to network is shameful.<\/p>\n BTW I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m 27 and a liberal so your standard baby boomer or crazy republican defense wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t work.<\/p>\n Two Feet<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Yes, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s excellent.\u00c2\u00a0 Many things I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found weird about the US, especially since moving back last year, are articulated in this movie.\u00c2\u00a0 Hopefully it will click where it needs to.<\/p>\n Jennifer O’Sullivan<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brilliant. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m telling friends it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Dr. Strangelove meets Idiocracy to get them to watch it.<\/p>\n Hope you stayed through the credits for the TWO easter egg codas. That was the funniest part.<\/p>\n Zachary Goode<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Thanks\u00c2\u00a0for the heads up, Bob. I always appreciate your recommendations on what to watch. I got your email yesterday and watched Don’t Look Up last night. It was terrific! My take was a mash-up of Dr. Strangelove and Idiocracy with a sprinkle of Wag The Dog. I enjoyed every minute. And today I’m seeing this film recommended left and right by friends on Facebook. The buzz has begun.<\/p>\n Doyle Davis<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Initially this struck\u00c2\u00a0me as a swing and a miss, but your point: “Don’t judge the movie as a movie. Judge it as a cultural expos\u00c3\u00a9” is what turned me around at least a little.\u00c2\u00a0 “Wag The Dog” and “Idiocracy” are both reference points …even “Dr. Strangelove,” with Ron Perlman’s one man mission aboard the missile echoing Slim Pickens’ famous bomb rodeo ride. These are movies that serve as time capsules of a sort. They say to future generations (assuming they exist), “some of us knew what was happening!” Whether this movie can move the idiot needle even a little remains to be seen. I assume any MAGA types will recognize simply that they are being mocked and their defensive reactions will bury any chance of self-examination.\u00c2\u00a0 As broad as the strokes are in the movie, they still may prove too subtle for Trumpers. The most intelligent among them will likely argue it’s an invalid or exaggerated metaphor.\u00c2\u00a0 And as a movie, it wouldn’t have had to go full “Airplane” or “Brooklyn 99” but it still could have been much funnier with better writing. Some of the dialogue is just superfluous and the fraternity humor in places is pointless.<\/p>\n Jim Neill<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Yes, yes, yes – spot on. A great film, and you’re *so right* about the parallels with the Big Short. Take away the comet bit, and we’re living out the same two storylines in a single, conflated tale. People should be prepared for what’s ahead of us\u00c2\u00a0 – a real-life mashup of Big Short and Don’t Look Up playing out around the world in 2022. Most people won’t know it’s happening until it’s happening… and we will be fed minimal (and often patently false) information in an attempt to preserve our socio-political and economic structures, however broken they may\u00c2\u00a0be.<\/p>\n Thinking about this tweet from Caitlin Johnstone (@caitoz):<\/p>\n A lucid and well-informed examination of the world’s problems will keep bringing you back to this one fundamental issue: that Earth’s inhabitants\u00c2\u00a0are being psychologically manipulated at mass scale into organizing themselves in ways that serve the powerful instead of the people.<\/p>\n We’re about to hit the reset button.<\/p>\n Food for thought.<\/p>\n Happy new year,<\/p>\n josh nelson<\/p>\n he \/ him \/ his<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Bob: you were right about\u00c2\u00a0Don’t Look Up. We loved it. Netflix needed that. I was beginning to question their quality control.<\/p>\n Patrick Reilly<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Saw it and loved it. Thanks, bob!<\/p>\n emiltonmyers<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n You and I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t always agree. I am on the left side of things but distrust them too these days, do we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re pretty much good on that.<\/p>\n I differ w a fair amount of your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rock is dead\u00e2\u20ac\u009d talk, but i digress\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a great interviewer ( LOVE YOUR PODCAST)<\/p>\n And this movie?????<\/p>\n Spot on. A snap shot of Amerka today. LOVED IT!!!<\/p>\n Sincerely, _______________________________________<\/p>\n Agreed just watched it last night! Me and the Mrs. loved it. It is a sad commentary on our current ridiculous circumstances. I loved how they pointed out the absurdity of some of the lefts virtue signaling and un-affective sloganeering and awareness events. The Republican bullshit was easy and on full display but they did not ignore the left.<\/p>\n Mazi Ray<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n More like a tragedy than a comedy. Mike Worsfold<\/p>\n (Note: a Trumper)<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a good film, Bob, but best picture of the year will be The Power of the Dog.<\/p>\n ELF<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Thank you for your recommendation of the Netflix movie, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Look Up\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n John Lennon and Jim Morrison have both been quoted as saying that they won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t describe what their lyrics mean because that is the job of the listener.<\/p>\n That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what makes art so spiritual.<\/p>\n I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure the movie will be interpreted in different ways depending on the agenda and the personal political leanings of each particular audience member.<\/p>\n Is the comet analogous to a deadly virus or a long-term lethal vaccine which destroys our immune systems? Are Leo and Jennifer Dr. Fauci or Alex Jones? Is the rich nerd a globalist Bill Gates or a greedy Republican capitalist? Which audience is Meryl Streep urging to not look up, the Left or the Right?<\/p>\n Thought provoking is a good thing, because it invites us to look outside of whatever fixed ideas we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re stuck in and negotiating our life around.<\/p>\n And that movie sure is thought provoking.<\/p>\n Thanks again, _______________________________________<\/p>\n I love your commentary and think you are so incisive. I’m also anti-Trump and can’t stand him and his ilk.<\/p>\n But for you to call “Don’t Look Up” the best film of the year is an atrocity.<\/p>\n It’s lazy, indulgent, tedious, and ham-fisted. Every gotcha is telegraphed a mile away. It is yet another one of those sub-genres where they stuff the movie full of famous actors and put all of their faces on the posters, like “The Cannonball Run.”<\/p>\n Sure, there are deserved targets, and boy does the film tell you what the targets are, as the actors portraying them dance and mug and jig on the stage.<\/p>\n But to each his own.<\/p>\n My bigger problem is this is further proof Netflix is destroying cinema. In past years, movie-goers would have ignored it and it would have been designated a bomb. But now, with inscrutable metrics, a flat monthly fee, and a business model relying on puffery and press releases, no one is held to account. All we get reflected back at us is praise and participation medals, while the actors get in on the action and collect big paychecks without accountability. And to watch a movie about the end of the world, when its true result depicts end of Hollywood is so heart-breaking. What is the wreckage that Jonah Hill climbs out of at the end? Mann’s Chinese Theatre? The escaping space ship is what Don’t Look Up is for its actors. If only the broncosaurs could start eating them in real life (or at least scare them a bit into becoming real artists again).<\/p>\n You’ve said as much on other topics. That’s why I’m stunned you loved this movie.<\/p>\n Anyway, no worries \/ who cares, keep up the great work, love your writing.<\/p>\n Tim Doyle<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n This is a head scratcher of a recommendation. \u00c2\u00a0Movie is terrible. \u00c2\u00a0Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t mind the premise but too many modern cliches wrapped into one movie\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6and I only made it a little over an hour.<\/p>\n Steve Barth<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n Just watched last night and waited to read what you wrote. Sunday morning my sister texted me about it. Then I saw 3 friends post about it on Facebook and then Jeff told me to watch it when I called him Sunday afternoon. It will be interesting to see the traction it got when it moved to streaming. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never had that many recommendations for one movie or book in the same day. My sister never recommends anything like that. Does hit home.<\/p>\n Amy Madnick<\/p>\n _______________________________________<\/p>\n It sure would be refreshing to read at least ONE review from you without comparing it to ANYTHING political.<\/p>\n Ron Jones<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I got a chance to see a screening pre-release. I fucking loved it. Told everyone I knew to make sure they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss it. Then I started to read the reviews and seriously questioned what movie it was they were talking about. Sometimes I just don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get it. Glad you did. Ken Alterwitz _______________________________________ Yes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-movies"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p96vPs-4JH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18209"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18210,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18209\/revisions\/18210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDavid Gjester<\/p>\n
\nVentureCatalyst<\/p>\n
\nKeller Williams, Agent
\nShamrock Holdings, LLC<\/p>\n
\nThank god the comic relief, but watching it was like watching a documentary about Covid, the MAGA era and climate change in real time. I loved the performances and the writing. And it looked great. But it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hard to watch it and not bemoan the state of our country.
\nSo thanks for the review that pushed me over the line to watch it. Well worth everyone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time. But probably it will preach to the choir.
\nCheers Bob!
\nChristian Lane<\/p>\n
\nRobert Garcia<\/p>\n
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d had enough by 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
\nRich Nisbet<\/p>\n