WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION
US, 1997, 92 minutes, Colour.
Gabriel Byrne, Ben Kingsley, Mimi Rogers, Jeffrey Tambour, Ileana Douglas, Paul Mazursky, Chris Mulkey, Kathy Baker, Jason Lee.
Directed by Stephen Surjik.
Weapons of Mass Distraction is a cable telemovie, focusing on the press barons of the United States, their struggles for power, the dirty tactics that they use for their television outlets and their acquiring of sports teams. The key is that whoever owns sports teams has the key to public opinion as well as to the programs of mass distraction. The focus of course is on Rupert Murdoch and other moguls like Ted Turner.
The film was written by Larry Gelbart, creator of M*A*S*H. It is very satirical, sometimes over the top - with aspects of the plot that seem beyond belief. For those enjoying the satire, this exaggeration highlights the lengths to which the moguls would go. Those who want a more realistic critique may find it far too much. The two moguls have family who are just as bad as they, have a team who are able to investigate and find any hidden secret, especially of politicians, of sports personalities, of media personalities.
Many of the aspects of the film will confirm the prejudices of those who dislike these moguls. The plot is basically plausible - and makes one wish that it were not, especially as regards financial corruption and morals blackmail by the moguls of politicians who will give them what they want. The cast is very strong, Gabriel Byrne and Ben Kingsley being most persuasive as the two moguls and Jeffrey Tambour bringing a touch of humanity as well as complete devotion to the moguls in his role as the assistant.
1. The impact of the film? Plausible or not? Exaggerations? The truth behind the satire? The moguls as targets of the satire, their families, the people who work for them, the victims of their blackmail? The glimpse of an ordinary couple and their family glued to the television - and the consequences?
2. The wittiness of the title and its aptness?
3. The Californian settings, the empire of the moguls, homes, offices, planes? The selected remote meeting places? The contrast with the home in Arizona?
4. The nature of the humour, American satire, its bitterness, its truth, verbal wit, visual wit? The strength of the performances - especially the two leads as non-Americans?
5. The nature of power in the contemporary world, especially in the United States? Money, revenue, the control of television stations, the ratings, stealing personalities? Money from sport, revenues, power over the teams, the personnel? The nature of television? The irony of people glued to it?
6. The portrait of Lionel Powers, the name of his empire, his son as his henchman, Alan as doing all his dirty work? His first wife and her absence, his second wife and Leticia, her love for him, sexual relationship, with Leticia? The revelation of her background, the sex change, Leticia as his daughter? The film's comment on family? Powers and his owning the teams, his wanting to buy a new one, his television network, his exposing the girl on the children's program and then hiring her? His using the coach of the football team for his dirty work? The offer to Messenger's assistant and her taking it? Seeing him in action, ruthless at meetings, avoiding meeting Messenger, their actually meeting in the desert, their confrontations, sending mutual videos? His not wanting his son to fly - and his helicopter death? Sending Alan to the penile surgery, his operation, the innuendo about sex and power? The corruption of the politicians, the phone calls, the Senate hearing, his final appearance, his meek presentation and people applauding? The seeing of the tapes about his wife, his finding the information about Messenger's father? The finale with the co-owning of the teams, shaking hands?
7. The portrait of Julian Messenger, his story about his father - and its being exposed at the end, that he was kapo in the concentration camps and corrupt? Messenger and his grandsons, the build-up to the wedding - and the exposure of the conduct of one of them just at the wedding? His pushing on? His wanting to own a football team? The ratings, the children's show, losing his star? His contact with the senator, the photos of the senator's misbehaviour? The press conference, the wife standing by her husband - and later trying to shoot him? His exposing Powers' secrets, sending videos? The meeting? The build-up to the finale, his thinking he had one? The tape about his father? His doing a deal, co-owning the team?
8. The women, Ariel and the long story of her background, her love for Lionel, his discarding her? Leticia? Messenger and his family, his assistant? Using her, sexual relationships, discarding people?
9. Alan, devoted, doing all the research, the dirty work, going to the penile surgery for Powers? His own relationship with the young man, their phone calls? Trying to stop Tony Powers from flying? His injuries in the crash, his finding out by phone that he was fired? His going to the top of the building and jumping?
10. The couple in Arizona, forever watching the television, their children? The programs, the gossip? The husband losing his job, trying out for other jobs, to sell peanuts_? His drinking, his clashing with his wife, hitting her? His picking up the woman in the bar, his children seeing their sexual activity from the bus, his stealing the boxes, the police chase, it being on television, avoiding the bus yet its being hit by the truck, the death of his children, crashing into his home? The irony of the telemovie being made about them and their appearing on television - the final images of the film?
