MovieChat Forums > Heart of the Beholder Discussion > Holy Crap.........I am stunned

Holy Crap.........I am stunned

posted 18 years ago by sfannan
13 replies | jump to latest

Alright, a little background first. My local video store is called Video Library, so when I went into the video store and saw this movie, it was accompanied by an article detailing the five film awards, as well as a article explaining this was not the same video store. Anyway, I made the poor decision to rent and pay for this movie.

Two hours later, I found myself struggling to finish this movie. I will first admit that this movie did have good intentions and was based on a true story that needed to be told. But this has to be one of the worst movies I have ever watched in my life. There are so many places to start. The acting was terrible beyond belief. So lame I cannot even describe. The script was even more lame. The entire feel of the movie was like a bad Lifetime movie. Just because the movie was independent does not excuse the fact that it was awful. I just don't see how anyone could have enjoyed watching this picture.

And to add to the dissappointment, there were scenes that didn't even make any sense. The video store owner was a computer expert and fixed computers for all of his friends. In what world did that job exist in 1980? And what was the deal with the scene with the false teeth and the blowjob. Just nonsense.

I just do not understand how this film could have won th awards it claims to have won. If there is ANYTHING at all to learn from this movie, it is that stories like these should only be told in documentary form.

[–] DarleneTipton 18 years ago

Sorry you didn't enjoy the film, as so many others have. It has won five best feature awards, including both audience and jury awards. And, FYI: The first home computers were sold in 1975; the Apple I was introduced in 1976. The video store owner worked for IBM as a computer tech and did indeed fix his friends' early home computers. As for the false teeth? That's a fact that the lady in question specifically asked us to put in the film. The prosecutor insisted that she service him in that fashion, and she was disgusted by it. If you would like your rental fee returned, please contact us at our website and I'll be happy to refund your $2.

[–] mrheckman-1 18 years ago

How old are you? No computer technicians in 1980? What year do you think computers, even home computers, were invented?

[–] hurleyjdh 18 years ago

This is obvious - another effort by those who would prevent this movie from being seen to deprecate it. The writer isn't old enough to know that the IBM Desktop was invented in 1972 and it wasn't much after that Windows made its first appearance.
I'm 71 and used all of the devices. It is too bad that the enemies of this wonderful movie keep trying to prevent its distribution. It's a wonderful movie son. You ought to take the time to see it. if you like I'll send you a DVD. Send me your home address and 1.54¢ shipping and you'll have it in short order.
Jimmie.
173 Ojibway Ave
Tavernier, FL 33070

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] DarleneTipton 17 years ago

This is Ken Tipton the writer/director of Heart of the Beholder. I'm surprised by the computer chatter about when and where what happen in regards to computers, so let me throw in my two cents considering the fact that I was there.

I started working for IBM in St. Louis in 1978 in a new division called GSD, General Systems Division. FE (Field Engineering) repaired the key punch machines and other mechanical printers, collators, etc. as well as the powerhouse mainframes like the IBM 360 and 370.

We repaired small office computers such as the System 32, the 3741 & 3742 Dataprocessor, and others. My expertise were the sensor based controllers like the IBM 1800, System 7, and Series 1.

I started my video stores in April of 1981 and by Christmas of 1983, each of my stores had an IBM XT table top computers handling our transactions.

Speaking of the IBM 1800, it was 6 1/2 feet tall, 15 feet long, and weighed in at 1400 lbs. My current home computer is 1 mil times more powerful. A picture of the 1800 is at this link -

http://www.rivercityent.com/Beholder/HeartOfTheBeholderBackground.aspx

[–] HiRez_L 17 years ago

I can verify that there was plenty of work in computer repairs in 1980, as I lived in St. Louis and worked repairing computers and writing software in 1980. My best friend's Dad was a programmer at the time for McDonnell Douglas, and he had been working on computers there since the 60's.

[–] nullcore 17 years ago

Well, I suppose that settles that.

I'm actually watching the movie for the first time right now (episodically, on the website - very cool of you, by the way). Judging by the first half, it seems you have much to be proud of, and this nonsense about lame acting is, well... lame. Performances are well delivered all around.

I have to say though, the denture scene caught me a bit off guard as well. However, now that you've claimed it to be historically accurate, I don't see how you could have not included it. Not that there's anything wrong with oral sex, sans teeth, but it wouldn't have hurt to ask nicely. And don't drink from them. Foul.

[–] godcharles 13 years ago

Ken, I am a life-long res of STL. How many shops did you have, and where were they located? Thanks. CKB.

[–] marushia 16 years ago

Actually Windows was quite a bit after that (at least available to the home user). My grandfather worked at IBM back in the 50's - we had punch cards all over our house for years (I'm 30 but I remember this from childhood). I also remember using DOS until at least 5 or 6th grade and I was born in 77!

But you are correct in the fact that computer jobs were available for a long time, especially through the govr, DOD, IBM, and Apple. Not to mention early Intelevision, Atari, Commodore, Texas Instruments offerings. Brings back memories of Pong, Frogger, and Space Invaders!

[–] sjbrumage 17 years ago

I was unable to watch more that a few clips of the movie. Politically I'm a liberal atheist, if this matters to evaluate my opinions. So, while I agree with the message of the movie and have complete sympathy for what Mr. Tipton and family had to endure, I have to call the film what it is: propaganda.

The poster may nit-pick on a few facts that he seems to have gotten wrong anyway, but he did mention one thing that immediately resonated with me. This should have been a documentary. As a dramatic reenactment, it lacks credibility. If it's based on a true story, which I do not doubt, why not tell the story directly?

I'm not really meaning to bash the producer/writer, in fact, I support him. I just wish he did not aspire to make a relatively smarmy and uncompelling movie about what should be a frighteningly pertinent and real experience that he had to endure. If anything, the dramatic format when executed in an amateur way detracts from the message. Despite agreeing with it, I react as negatively to this movie as I do to sunday morning christian propaganda from the far right. Icky in either case.

There are too many flaming nut-jobs like Fred Phelps (http://www.godhatesamerica.com/ghfmir/main/index.html) who hide behind the veneer of Religion and exploit the very freedom of expression they seek to deny others. We must recognize the mentally ill for what the are and not be decieved. You cannot white-wash toxic hatred by wrapping it in a flag and a bible. Unfortunately, we must tolerate their reprehensible and toxic invective alongside our most noble aspirations. The antidote for hate-speech is more speech, not less.

So, I applaud Mr. Tipton for his courage. But, ah, your movie...? Sorry.

[–] spaced_out49 17 years ago

Definatey would have worked better as a documentary. Obviously it shows some things that people try to keep under wraps but everything else aside it really did feel like a bad lifetime movie. If I hadn't been watching it on the internet where i could skip through it a bit i would never have finished it.

[–] bobarinobobalucci 17 years ago

I haven't seen the film but will very soon. They can always shoot a documentary as well. The current explosion of interest in atheist/humanist/religious criticism means there is plenty of room in the market out there. Just look at how many watched the BBC series "The Root of All Evil" and the sales figures for books like "The God Delusion", "God is Not Great", and "The End of Faith".

You could find someone to bankroll this kind of documentary much easier than just two years ago. Someone can buy the rights from the family if they don't have time to work on it themselves. Heck, I'd put in a couple thousand myself if the terms were right.

[–] 17 years ago

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