B. J. Novak on Vengeance | Full Q&A [HD] | Coolidge Corner Theatre

B. J. Novak visited the Coolidge on Monday, July 18, 2022 for a preview screening of his new film VENGEANCE, and participated in a Q&A with Ben Brock Johnson from WBUR.
About the Coolidge Corner Theatre
Widely regarded as one of New England’s most beloved cultural landmarks, the Coolidge Corner Theatre is one of the nation’s most prominent independently operated movie theatres, run by the not-for-profit Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation.
Website: www.coolidge.org
Facebook: / thecoolidge
Twitter: / thecoolidge
Instagram: / thecoolidge
Letterboxd: letterboxd.com...
Giphy: giphy.com/thec...

[@melodyp9079]

I'm from Texas, and I was angry about how they made Texans ignorant. Then I realized that's just what some people think of us. It's was a great movie because the realization is that Texans have their opinions also about New Yorkers. The characters were amazing. Ashton K. did a great job. Bj did amazing as his character because there was a point when he fell in love with Teaxas. 10 out of 10!

[@dashx1103]

I did not at all take from the movie that Texans were "ignorant." I think there was real nuance in depicting Texans, and I think that made the movie really work.

[@小笼岁月]

so underrated movie, what a shame

[@aidanrivera2234]

This film was such a pleasant surprise. Reception of it was so quiet and even it's trailers don't do it justice.

[@FireinTheBowl]

Ashton Kutcher should get an Oscar

[@hahathatsgood]

"When Ben kills Ashton Kutcher, rejecting his message that the thing of ulimate importance is the recorded legacy, and then he goes and deletes the podcast- and yet that's a message being delivered in what will now be a core part of your recorded legacy on the world. So, do you think that's a question you're asking yourself? Also, what do you think, as a storyteller, are ways you can deliver these stories in ways that, I guess, don't fall into the [exploitative] trap of how the protagonist feels about the story you're telling."
Dang, what a question.
I guess the movie shows us how connecting with those around you on the basis of empathy and respect makes for the best art/journalism/storytelling. It also makes for a life well lived, and having the recorder on may just tempt you to exploit the place you're in rather than experience it. The way the family calls the son "El Stupido," thinking they're too smart and he's too dumb to understand they're insulting him- the boy knows what it means, and the family knows when Ben is being a condescending prick to them. You're exploitative when you're pointing the recorder at someone and thinking you're going over their head, like "wow these bumpkin rubes are giving me so much footage of them talking like ignorant hicks, i know so much that they don't, this is awesome-" when you do this, you're the one who looks like a clown. Empathy, respect, and humility keep the egg of your face. And when you prioritize the abstract idea of a story you want to put down on the record over the real people, and real emotions, that's when you end up like the villain who lets the girl die.

[@FireinTheBowl]

Ass. Spoiler alert??