Review of Medium Cool (1969) by Bradley P — 13 Jul 2013

"My audience doesn't care about what brought this on" as referring the the violence covered in the media. This takes place shortly after the opening scene which features a car accident that is inspected and shot by a news team and then after getting the footage, decide to call an ambulance. The condemnation of the media is on display when the cameraman also asks protestors to attack towards the camera in which the film camera through which the viewer sees is attacked and the style of cinema verite is evident which used in an extremely thoughtful and clever way. This clever pseudo-documentary film utilizes a cameraman for the news as the protagonist which allows the narrative to unfold in a voyeuristic type manor as we watch the protagonist constantly watch others.

Medium Cool laughs at the violence in our society by mocking it in the most obvious and logical way. Hexler uses music effectively in creating a humorous tone when a fight breaks out at a roller derby which cuts out instantly in order to reveal this disillusioned state of a usually romanticized violence in films and media. The crowd cheers for me when men pummel each other. "It's good for the soul to get away from civilization, don't you think so?" says woman who goes to Canada to get away from the madness on vacation.

The Third act mainly focuses on the 1968 National Democratic Convention and the protestors which ultimately culminated in a police riot.. As the organized convention takes place, the madness that is the riot ensues outside with a sharp contrast in music speaking of "Happy days are here again" while people are being bandaged up and taken out on stretcher. "People rarely say the real reason for things, big corporations never do. It's just politics, plain bureaucratic politics" Truer words were never spoken as this film is extremely insightful and thought provoking, albeit at times heavy handed. A definite film to watch for anyone who enjoys film as the story is not overly convoluted.