Che Age Gap?
"Over the past few days I've noticed something worth commenting on," writes Spoutblog's Karina Longworth. "A number of writers, including Keith Uhlich, Michael Joshua Rowin, Nick Schager, Leo Goldsmith and Daniel Kasman have written reviews which incorporate the criticism that Steven Soderbergh's Che is 'dispassionate', that Soderbergh has a 'disposable, inconsequential attitude' towards his subject, that the whole thing amounts to a 'prolonged and wearying exercise in disinterest.'
"I'm sure there are more examples out there, but I think the five of them plus me are enough for a focus group. All six of us not only write for what could be called 'alternative' publications, but we're all in our 20s or early 30s -- evidence that the 'new voices, with new perspectives' that Some Came Running's Glenn Kenny cites are in fact almost completely united in our 'exasperating" take on Che.
"Che's key defenders, Longworth writes, "are Kenny, J. Hoberman and Amy Taubin -- all veteran critics and our seniors by several years." What, I don't count?
"Which is not to say that the old guard is wrong just because they're the old guard, just as I hope no one is really shaking a fist in the air at 'these kids these days.' But I do think there may be something significant to the fact that the divide is breaking down this way. Are younger critics frustrated (or just bored) with Che because for the most part, we don't bring an emotional, historical or intellectual relationship to its subject to the viewing experience? Or are we just braindead children with the attention spans of infants? Or both?"
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 9, 2008 at 5:09 PM
comment #1
BurmaShave
says ...
Being 27, I can say I grew up under no mythology of Che Guevara, just a generation of douchebag peers who wore him on their chest. In my mind there is no difference between him and Tony the Tiger. How fitting it would be if Che's legend were killed by commercialization. And I'll take Bob Marley any day.
Posted by BurmaShave
at October 9, 2008 5:55 PM
comment #2
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Longworth seems to have discovered why the Emperor is running around buck naked.
I feel like I fall between the two groups, too young to have gotten caught up in the hero worship cult yet seasoned enough to realize there was great value in what he did. Having moral failings as your flaws does not erase your accomplishments (and, please, spare me your "Well that would apply to Hitler, Stalin and Mao too then" sophomoric responses).
Jefferson failed the slaves, FDR failed Americans of Japanese decent and every last motherfucker to this very day has failed the Indians.
Che's bloody acts in the name of Justice only make his character more interesting and if anything should be yet another warning that you ignore the plight of the poor and disenfranchised at your own peril. Because someone will come along to inspire and lead them.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at October 9, 2008 6:08 PM
comment #3
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
EDIT: only the "someone was intended to be emphasized.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at October 9, 2008 6:10 PM
comment #4
Glenn Kenny
says ...
Um, DG—Longworth DIDN'T like the movie.
And Burma—I would SO be into a biopic of Tony the Tiger. Really.
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at October 9, 2008 6:11 PM
comment #5
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Yes, GK, I understood that hence my sentence.
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at October 9, 2008 6:54 PM
comment #6
actionman
says ...
Nick Schager is a gigantic tool box.
I am 28 and I will learm more about Che through this film than I have ever learned about him before. I have a basic knowledge of who he is and what he represented but I never studied him in school, and I didn't really care to be honest. I am interested in Che as a piece of filmmaking, nothing more, nothing less.
I went to school at Keene State in New Hampshire and I saw a ton of Che posters on people's walls and I never quite understood why. A lot of stoner white kids.
I want to see Del Toro's performance (he's the best there is at the moment) and Soderbergh's cinematography.
Posted by actionman
at October 9, 2008 7:13 PM
comment #7
p.Vice
says ...
Haha. Have you guys not learned your lessons from City of God's gangster cliches? Hoberman, Taubin etc. were against the grain when they were in their 20s and 30s. Now they're status quo. The young guns will always be there and these Che dissers will get theirs in due time too.
Just keep that in mind as you cross the 30 barrier, Burma and Action. Your apathy is your own worst enemy.
Posted by p.Vice
at October 9, 2008 7:37 PM
comment #8
actionman
says ...
I wasn't dissing Che.
Posted by actionman
at October 9, 2008 7:50 PM
comment #9
Floj
says ...
Oh come on. I'm 27, saw 'Che' Tuesday, and thought it was great. I suspect, based on the reactions I heard on the way out of the theater, that "it's great!" is going to be the minority opinion no matter what the age of the viewer.
Posted by Floj
at October 9, 2008 8:52 PM
comment #10
BurmaShave
says ...
p.Vice, I'm pretty sure being disenchanted with Che Guevara hardly counts as apathy, especially when I was specifically referring to his message, whatever its merits, being so diluted.
Posted by BurmaShave
at October 9, 2008 9:07 PM
comment #11
Generic Cialis
says ...
Well I honestly think these writers don't take the correct decision, however they are free to express their critiques and different viewpoints. I don't support them, but I respect them.
Posted by Generic Cialis
at October 11, 2010 11:21 AM
comment #12
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 5:14 AM