Exploring Socio-Economic Marginalization - Movie Review Sample

Introduction

Literary tools like films are not only entertaining resources but also avenues for exposing the socio-economic marginalization, oppression and degradation in the societies (Ciampaglia, 2015). Like any literary form, John Huston utilizes “Fat City” to condemn the high expectation and illusion of success the many individuals often have but do not work hard to attain such life (Ciampaglia, 2015). The ironic title “Fat City” is interesting because it shows that everybody wants a good life, but often not everybody gets such a life (Ciampaglia, 2015). Nonetheless, rather than investing the time, dedication and all might to fight the internal battles before succeeding, many people need the easy way out, which eventually lead to a desperate and unproductive life or alcoholism and failure (Ciampaglia, 2015). Therefore, assessing the fascinating and astonishing elements in the film “Fat City” and its particular relation to recent experiences prompt deep understanding of life struggles and human ambition and purpose.

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Boxing Drama Movie

“Fat City” is an unrelenting boxing drama movie directed by John Huston featuring renowned casts like Stacy Keach (Tully), Jeff Bridges (Ernie), Susan Tyrell (Oma), among others (Ciampaglia, 2015). The film denotes the despicable life of Tully, a former boxer past his prime and the ambitious 18-year old wannabe boxer Ernie. Since he lost the biggest fight in his career, and his wife, the infamous Tully turned to alcoholism, cannot secure a decent job and blames his failure on his boss (Ciampaglia, 2015). Meeting the young Ernie, he tries to connect him with his boss and manager to mould Ernie into a boxing champion (Ciampaglia, 2015). However, due to his inability to sort his life as he’s pressured by the wife to pick fruit and earn money to sustain the family, Ernie cannon concentrate on the game, miserably loses his first fight, breaks his nose, and gets kicked out of the subsequent competition (Ciampaglia, 2015). Moreover, the film exposes the illusion of success that many individuals possess but fails to achieve because of their mediocrity and irresponsibility (Ciampaglia, 2015). Huston cunningly juxtaposes their lives as they are both overwhelmed by the desperation and monumental misery of their current status. They two protagonist characters interestingly mirror each other as Ernie see what he will become, a washed-out pug with no bright future but dehumanizing day labour, while Tully sees ho he was, a mediocre wannabe confiscates in a town with limited prospects (Ciampaglia, 2015).

Interesting Elements

It is interesting how the film depicts the hopelessness on the protagonist characters while also portraying their high optimism (Ciampaglia, 2015). Although the boxing industry is filled with significant corruption and craftmanship, Tully, a renowned fighter, way past his prime still holds on the hope that one day he will still make it while Ernie clings on to boxing despite constantly losing (Ciampaglia, 2015). For example, after losing the biggest fight of his career, and parting ways with his wife, the 29-yer old Tully, resort to alcoholism as he contemplates a comeback into boxing career (Ciampaglia, 2015). Like many people, Tully clings on to the idea and illusion of success despite being an underdog and a loser in life. Rather than focusing on other avenues to earn a living, he demeans every available job until he becomes too desperate to begin picking fruits and vegetables with immigrants to survive (Ciampaglia, 2015). Nonetheless, he still depicts massive optimism to achieve success in the boxing industry (Ciampaglia, 2015). Both Tully and Ernie expect to become boxing champions and succeeding in the industry despite being unable to overcome their battles and internal conflicts (Ciampaglia, 2015).

Surprising Elements

Consequently, it is surprising realizing that many people prefer blaming others for their misfortunes and problems instead of taking responsibility for their mistakes and wrong decisions (Ciampaglia, 2015). For example, after losing the biggest fight in his boxing career, Tully blaming Ruben, his boss and manager for mishandling his last match, his failure and current pathetic life although the boss struggled to secure for him a platform to success (Ciampaglia, 2015). Astonishingly, rather than dedicating all his might to boxing to succeed, Tully, like Ernie only engages in the sport to escape the dehumanizing jobs like topping onions and being paid pennies (Ciampaglia, 2015). For example, without focus and dedicated training to improve his fighting skills, Ernie loses his first fight, breaks his nose and gets knocked out on his next competition, a move which completely shut down his boxing career (Ciampaglia, 2015). It is surprising that although Tully has not achieved anything in his boxing career, the young and talented Ernie spends more time with him, a failure, and follows his advice instead of looking for a competent trainer to help him develop his skills (Ciampaglia, 2015).

Application

The film portrays how sometimes people have inconceivable illusions and desperation that drive them into engaging in anti-social behaviors (Ciampaglia, 2015). Like Tully, who is convinced that he was bound and destined for greatness despite not achieving any medal or championship titles, many people cling to unproductive and unrealistic dreams, which prevents them from engaging into constructive work to uplift themselves from the bottomless abyss of suffering and poverty until it is too late (Ciampaglia, 2015). Although he had a chance to change his life, he wasted his life in women and alcohol and not desperate for one last chance to triumph, but life rarely gives second chances, and people must depict dedication, and sense of responsibility to achieve their goals and objectives instead of clinging to baseless illusions after wasting the productive years (Ciampaglia, 2015). I believe Tully represents individuals who wasted their youths and prime-age on cheap thrills and pleasure when they could work and change their lives but are now desperate for second changes to achieve an unrealistic dream they hold in their mind.

The film is a relevant piece of literature that denote human nature behavior and ambitions. Huston correctly accounts the everyday experiences and conditions that many people succumb in contemporary society (Ciampaglia, 2015). For example, engaging in anti-social behavior such as alcoholism and drug abuse when one fails to achieve his objective has become a common trend today. Like Tully, we often find it convenient to either blame other people for our mistakes, and failures rather than taking responsibility. Instead of conducting an assessment to explore and understand the strengths and weaknesses to improve on the vulnerabilities, people prefer engaging in uncouth conducts like alcoholism. From personal experience, I once engaged in the undesirable and unproductive blame game, blaming everyone for my vulnerabilities and oversights that deterred me from achieving my goals. While it is a dangerous trend, it remains a common human trait for many individuals.

Conclusion

Conclusively, John Huston did an excellent job in his depiction of failure in the film “Fat City.” The film cunningly shows how sometimes people’s vision and illusions prevent them from being realistic or pragmatically viewing the world. Despite repeatedly failing and now beyond boxing prime, Tully’s illusion of success deceives him that he can still succeed in boxing when given another chance. His illusion of success while failing in real life not only made his wife leave but also turned him into an alcoholic with no future. The film portrays the status of many people fail because they are unable to assess themselves and uphold a realistic view of the world but continues to hold on an impossible and unrealistic dream.

References

Ciampaglia, D. (2015). Glutton for punishment: Fat city and the night of boxing soul. Paris review. https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/11/18/glutton-for-punishment/.