Why didn't he just get new glasses - Focus (2002) Discussion

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

And as a Cobra fan we're supposed to take your word for that?

When you watch a movie like Focus it's best to use your whole brain. Not the one brain cell required for Cobra.

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[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] c-huddleston 18 years ago

If you'd bothered to read other threads on this site (there are not that many) you'd have seen my views on this movie, and how they fit or not with yours. How about this point?

"If it hadn't been the glasses it would have been something else - the fact that he was a shy, quiet guy could have been interpreted as having something to hide, for example. It reflects life in the playground. If you look or behave even slightly differently from everyone else you become the target of the bully. It was the same here."

However, since we're talking irony:

"You guys want to know how obsessed I am with this movie? Try this on for size.

"I actually attempted to write my honors film school thesis on Cobra as a microcosm of the 80's star driven action vehicle." - M Cobretti, on the Cobra boards. Irony?

Your profile: “Obsessed with the Stallone brothers since 1982.” Irony?

Clearly, for you, irony is something you do to clothes.

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[–] cluterhead 18 years ago

The movie is putting foward an ideology. Just because most people would go out and get some new glasses if they were in that situation, it doesn't make this a stupid movie. The point is that people were harrassing him because of they way he looked, if it wasn't the glasses it would have been something else (as has already been pointed out). Also, William H Macy's character doesn't really seem the type to rush out and change his appearance...he seems to have some degree of self-pride.

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[–] jaberna3 17 years ago

Well, partly for the same reason that he refuses to move, refuses to clap/cheer at the Union Crusaders meeting, refuses to take the downgraded position at his workplace . . . He's stubborn and has integrity, even if it takes most of the movie for him to act on that integrity. He stands for one view of America, while his neighbors stand for quite another -- and his view of America (act decently, live and let live, etc.) is very important to him.

Furthermore, once people (his coworkers, his neighbors, etc.) "saw" Lawrence as Jewish, they wouldn't magically "un-see" him just because he got new glasses. This is pre-McCarthyism, but it's still trial by accusation . . . and this whole movie is about the power of other people's perception of you.

Most importantly, this is a highly stylized movie -- the glasses are a symbol, not just a plot device. The meticulous neighborhood, the jaunty 50's sitcom music whenever Laurence steps out of his house (especially towards the beginning), the simultaneous grass watering -- this is an example of how this movie expresses its themes through symbols/motifs/images. The glasses work the same way. Laurence is learning to see what "us" and "them" is really about. He's learning the true meaning of prejudice, and community. He's learning to focus. Focus also applies to the scrutiny on him and, by extension, everyone in this time period -- notice how often Laurence and Gerty are WATCHED in this movie. Finally, the glasses emphasize the stupidity, the banality and randomness of bigotry -- its basis is as silly and superficial as a new pair of glasses . . . which makes it all the more monstrous, given its devastating consequences. In other words, you're right -- it is a silly premise -- but that's sort of the point.

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[–] bryanac625 13 years ago

Not to mention, if he changes glasses to look less Jewish, there goes the movie.

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[–] chamona13 16 years ago

did you watch the movie? he said that all the other glasses made him look more jewish......

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~*~Mystica~*~

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[–] fnj2002 13 years ago

No, it's not a silly film. What is silly is to focus on the glasses. The message of the story is to show how silly and wrong it is to base attitudes on stereotypes.

The message applies to a lot more than anti-semitism. It could apply to simplistic hatred of other races/ethnicities and sexual proclivities.

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[–] dini0519 11 years ago

Good point, even though others here have pointed out the flaws to that argument. I liked the movie though.

Dini

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