The film is not simply a story of betrayal. Bobby's assassination of the idol is reminiscent of John Lennon's death. At the age of 40, the great rocker was shot by admirers in front of his apartment. The man who killed Lennon was named Chapman, and he had just asked Lennon to sign his autograph a few hours ago.
Can't remember the last time I fell asleep watching a movie, but this 160 minute movie made me fall asleep twice until the gunshot of Bobby killing Jesse woke me up, and then, just Saw the last 20 minutes that was amazing.
I remember that in 2007, Pitt won the Best Actor in Venice because of this film. At that time, some media questioned Zhang Yimou, the chairman of the jury, and Zhang replied, "I think this is his best film, and we have seen his efforts and progress." And so on.
The film is not simply a story of betrayal. Bobby's assassination of the idol is reminiscent of John Lennon's death. At the age of 40, the great rocker was shot by admirers in front of his apartment. The man who killed Lennon was named Chapman, and he had just asked Lennon to sign his autograph a few hours ago.
It would be very interesting to delve into the psychology of a Bobby and Chapman. After Lennon's death, people kept asking Chapman: Why did you kill the idol? He replied: "I had a voice in my head that kept telling me 'Kill him! Kill him!' so I did it." Was there a voice in Bobby's head when he fired the gun? what about shouting?
Looking back on his entire mental journey, many things are worth pondering. The reasons that prompted Bobby to start are roughly as follows:
1. For the Governor's Bounty. For that amount is more than what they have robbed of the train;
2. Because of the accidental killing of Jesse's cousin, he is afraid of retribution after being noticed by Jesse;
3. Worry about Jesse killing someone. As the government's pursuit became more and more intense, Jesse became more and more nervous, and all day long suspected that his brothers would betray him, so he questioned and eliminated one by one, putting everyone in danger. The two Bobby brothers were also in a state of panic. Although his brother was still hesitating, Bobby decided to strike first.
4. Want to be a blockbuster. Bobby, who has long been looked down upon and ridiculed for so long, has always dreamed of becoming a Jesse-esque legend. And when Jesse unloads the pistol, the perfect opportunity for overnight fame suddenly appears: kill the feared train robber Jesse! Even a sneak attack from behind! At that moment, there must have been a Chapman-like hallucination in his mind, believing that the assassination of Jesse was the will of God.
So, under the great temptation of fame and fortune, the young man pulled the trigger. He was too impatient to miss this fleeting opportunity, and he didn't even care that Jesse's wife and children were next door. It's just that the young man is not deeply involved in the world, and he doesn't understand that "shooting his own boss" is a taboo in all corners of the world. Therefore, in the end, Bobby failed to become a red man supported by the government, but he carried the notoriety of "betrayal" all his life and was unhappy until he became someone else's ghost.
"Idol worship", from a subconscious point of view, is about hoping that I can become such a person and reap the same glory, fame and fortune. Bobby adores and follows Jesse fervently, with no more than a desire to one day "be like Jesse," which used to be his life goal. When this goal cannot be achieved, it will go to the other extreme. The more fanatical the worship, the more distorted the psychology. Therefore, fans do not actually love idols, but love themselves.
The most exciting part of the film is that in order to become famous, Bobby and his brother go to the stage to perform the scene of shooting and killing Jesse in person. As a result, after repeating countless times, my brother finally put himself into the role of Jesse, and he suffered a nervous breakdown and committed suicide. This is reminiscent of the traditions of "parody" and "carnival" since Rabelais: people watch and glutton endlessly on this stage, which is both real and illusory, until the Dionysian on the stage is regarded as real. God's offering (the death of Bobby's brother).
So, Nietzsche said: "People begin to enter the twilight of idols."
Finally, by the way, analyze the character of Jesse.
He is a calm, ruthless, cold-blooded sharpshooter, and his most fatal weakness is -- suspicious. The biggest enemy of any suspicious person is himself, and Jesse is no exception.
When the government's bounty keeps increasing, so high that it exceeds the amount of robbery, the inner unease grows. In fact, the brothers under his command may not want to report him, and even Bobby didn't even think about killing him at first, but after the idea of suspicion, the idea is like a tumor that cannot be eradicated. Doubtful, Jesse doubted everyone around him, even keeping the gun within arm's reach when taking a shower, and glancing at others with worried eyes while playing with the kids. This suffocating doubt tormented him so deeply that he could not breathe, and at last he said, "I have become my own trouble."
Aware of this, Jesse "stepped out of his personal ego, out of existence (Heidegger's) as a worry", and was suddenly relieved. He took off the pistol that he never left his body, and "put down the butcher's knife" as the Buddha said. He also let go of all the pressure and tension, fear and war in his heart, and calmly accepted the arrangement of fate. When he picked up the whisk to clean the dust from the frame, he could actually see Bobby raising the gun from the reflection of the glass, but he didn't dodge, but continued to stand there, like the crucified Jesus.
At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus already knew that "one of you has betrayed me", but he did not flee or even resent the betrayer, accepting the arrangement of fate (here embodies a kind of redemption). This is the difference between God and man. In this sense, at the moment of death, Jesse has changed from a simple idol in the eyes of others to a being close to God.
On 2009.2.10
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