Post by klep on Aug 13, 2018 6:58:23 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/13: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
OBSCURE FAVORITES WEEK!
Note: This week's essay is contributed by Tom Peeler
It's surprising to consider that The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is an underseen film. Despite having a niche focus, what's truly remarkable about Kong is how every element within the film places it alongside some of cinema’s most iconic, crowd-pleasing depictions of athletic prowess.
The competitors followed by the crew of Kong are cut from some archetypal molds. Donkey Kong World Record Challenger Steve Wiebe is an everyman struggling with familial responsibilities and economic uncertainty, as he tries to put his long-untapped cognitive talents towards a higher goal. DK World Record Holder Billy Mitchell is a celebrated icon in the world of competitive arcade gaming AND a self made businessman in the world of hot sauce. Driven by pride, ego, and his skills with a joystick, Billy is the Final Boss that Steve is attempting to dethrone.
But despite these familiar trappings, The King of Kong is a unique beast in its it's own right. Filmed on separate coasts and charting decades of history, Kong uses its format not to tell the story of a championship season, or an all-or-nothing match, but rather the story of an entire sport. And it's in this subject matter that “Kong” finds its second most notable piece of unconventionality: for better and for worse, this is one of the most nuanced looks into the world of competitive gaming, in all of its glory, finesse, and toxicity.
While many stories of athleticism mine pathos and drama from hard hitting, physical matchups, the drama and heartache of Kong is derived from intense playthroughs of retro arcade titles. From the film's opening, we are given a guided tour of the history of competitive arcade gaming, and how the pursuit of glory in this realm has produced both legends and louses. And standing at the top of all these wanna-be icons is Billy Mitchell, a gamer unafraid to intimidate, humiliate, and outright manipulate in order to maintain his image and prestige.
Understanding the history of this sport, and one of its biggest players, enables the audience to understand the odds Steve Wiebe is up against. Steve isn't just attempting to top a world record, he's trying to displace a demagogue and his legions of supporters. The reality of this challenge arrives early in the film, when Steve's initial world record score finds him the target of Billy Mitchell’s associates, doing everything they can to scrutinize Steve in the hopes of discrediting him. What should be a friendly competition is a pretty, mistrustful affair.
And while Steve’s efforts are clearly documented as valid and fair, he is unable to compete with the resources of Mitchell, who uses his power to act as a gatekeeper into the very sport in which he competes. With each passing round in their rivalry, Steve uses what little money his family can spare to journey to events across the United States, all while Billy uses his wealth and connections to keep Steve at a distance, and at a disadvantage. Steve sets a world record in New Hampshire? Billy mails in a tape of an even higher score. Every punch has a counter.
What makes the losses sting the most for both Steve and the audience is the arrogance on display from Mitchell. Billy boasts that he is unafraid of meeting any challenges to his record, while also continually emphasizing his belief in competing face-to-face. Yet Billy isn't willing to put his tokens where his mouth his, ghosting Steve on every occasion, refusing to show Steve even the smallest amount of dignity.
Many of the great cinematic sports dramas feature an emotionally charged moment where our athletic protagonist, or team of protagonists, come face to face with their destined rival. Their sworn enemy. The ultimate obstacle on our hero's path to greatness. Memorable moments in this mold include Rocky Balboa’s tense first meeting with Apollo Creed in 1976’s Rocky, Brandon and Tommy Conlon’s emotional beachfront confrontation in 2011’s Warrior, and Team USA coming face to face with the Russian ice hockey team in 2004’s Miracle. There's a catharsis in moments like these, where all the pieces come together: the desire, the training, the emotional strain, and the personal lessons learned. This is the moment where everything adds up and the final challenge is ready to be met.
And yet, Kong chooses to subverts this moment. At the climax of the film, in the main event of a Guiness World Record arcade competition, Underdog Challenger Steve Wiebe flirts with what should be a fateful encounter with his rival, DK Master Billy Mitchell. But the moment is ultimately denied. Billy willfully refuses to face his opponent, throwing all the passive-aggressive shade in the world at Steve, denying him the sportsmanship stories like this are founded on.
It’s a low moment, and one that makes Steve’s journey seem in vain. However, it instead becomes a turning point in Steve’s life. Just as Rocky turns the hero’s professional loss into a personal win, Kong turns Steve’s failure to meet Billy, or top the world record on a grand stage, into a satisfying emotional victory. Steve worked to the best of his ability, showing humility and grace, and ultimately earns the respect of this small gaming community. Steve went the distance.
While it may be an obscure film by mainstream standards, The King of Kong is a champion among champions, a thrilling look into a sport that manages to be compelling despite its seemingly simple standards, physically unimpressive athletes, and instances of cruel interaction.
However, this is not where the fascinating story of Kong ends. In the years since the film's debut, the story of Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell has taken many unexpected twists and turns, leading up to a 2018 reveal that all of Mitchell’s records would be disqualified for being scored by illegitimate means. Defeated by his own toxic actions, Mitchell now stands in the shadow of Steve Wiebe and the other arcade athletes who have made Donkey Kong history. As the landscape of video game culture sinks lower and lower into the swamp of mean-spirited cruelty, it's refreshing to see someone who played the game so fiendishly get their just desserts.
It’s a story that just keeps giving, with no kill screen in sight.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/20: Touch of Evil
1950s WEEK!
In 1958 Orson Welles directed one of his most brilliant films, and the last he would do with a studio. Touch of Evil was cut to ribbons, and his extensive notes and recommendations were ignored, resulting in a film that was a shadow of what it could be. But now it has been restored according to his notes, and I'm very excited that it will be our next Movie of the Week! The restored cut of Touch of Evil is available on Netflix Instant.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 8/14: Mission: Impossible - Fallout
This edition of the podcast concludes by looking at the latest installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise and seeing how far things have come. Join us Wednesday for a discussion of the film, still in theaters.
OBSCURE FAVORITES WEEK!
Note: This week's essay is contributed by Tom Peeler
It's surprising to consider that The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is an underseen film. Despite having a niche focus, what's truly remarkable about Kong is how every element within the film places it alongside some of cinema’s most iconic, crowd-pleasing depictions of athletic prowess.
The competitors followed by the crew of Kong are cut from some archetypal molds. Donkey Kong World Record Challenger Steve Wiebe is an everyman struggling with familial responsibilities and economic uncertainty, as he tries to put his long-untapped cognitive talents towards a higher goal. DK World Record Holder Billy Mitchell is a celebrated icon in the world of competitive arcade gaming AND a self made businessman in the world of hot sauce. Driven by pride, ego, and his skills with a joystick, Billy is the Final Boss that Steve is attempting to dethrone.
But despite these familiar trappings, The King of Kong is a unique beast in its it's own right. Filmed on separate coasts and charting decades of history, Kong uses its format not to tell the story of a championship season, or an all-or-nothing match, but rather the story of an entire sport. And it's in this subject matter that “Kong” finds its second most notable piece of unconventionality: for better and for worse, this is one of the most nuanced looks into the world of competitive gaming, in all of its glory, finesse, and toxicity.
While many stories of athleticism mine pathos and drama from hard hitting, physical matchups, the drama and heartache of Kong is derived from intense playthroughs of retro arcade titles. From the film's opening, we are given a guided tour of the history of competitive arcade gaming, and how the pursuit of glory in this realm has produced both legends and louses. And standing at the top of all these wanna-be icons is Billy Mitchell, a gamer unafraid to intimidate, humiliate, and outright manipulate in order to maintain his image and prestige.
Understanding the history of this sport, and one of its biggest players, enables the audience to understand the odds Steve Wiebe is up against. Steve isn't just attempting to top a world record, he's trying to displace a demagogue and his legions of supporters. The reality of this challenge arrives early in the film, when Steve's initial world record score finds him the target of Billy Mitchell’s associates, doing everything they can to scrutinize Steve in the hopes of discrediting him. What should be a friendly competition is a pretty, mistrustful affair.
And while Steve’s efforts are clearly documented as valid and fair, he is unable to compete with the resources of Mitchell, who uses his power to act as a gatekeeper into the very sport in which he competes. With each passing round in their rivalry, Steve uses what little money his family can spare to journey to events across the United States, all while Billy uses his wealth and connections to keep Steve at a distance, and at a disadvantage. Steve sets a world record in New Hampshire? Billy mails in a tape of an even higher score. Every punch has a counter.
What makes the losses sting the most for both Steve and the audience is the arrogance on display from Mitchell. Billy boasts that he is unafraid of meeting any challenges to his record, while also continually emphasizing his belief in competing face-to-face. Yet Billy isn't willing to put his tokens where his mouth his, ghosting Steve on every occasion, refusing to show Steve even the smallest amount of dignity.
Many of the great cinematic sports dramas feature an emotionally charged moment where our athletic protagonist, or team of protagonists, come face to face with their destined rival. Their sworn enemy. The ultimate obstacle on our hero's path to greatness. Memorable moments in this mold include Rocky Balboa’s tense first meeting with Apollo Creed in 1976’s Rocky, Brandon and Tommy Conlon’s emotional beachfront confrontation in 2011’s Warrior, and Team USA coming face to face with the Russian ice hockey team in 2004’s Miracle. There's a catharsis in moments like these, where all the pieces come together: the desire, the training, the emotional strain, and the personal lessons learned. This is the moment where everything adds up and the final challenge is ready to be met.
And yet, Kong chooses to subverts this moment. At the climax of the film, in the main event of a Guiness World Record arcade competition, Underdog Challenger Steve Wiebe flirts with what should be a fateful encounter with his rival, DK Master Billy Mitchell. But the moment is ultimately denied. Billy willfully refuses to face his opponent, throwing all the passive-aggressive shade in the world at Steve, denying him the sportsmanship stories like this are founded on.
It’s a low moment, and one that makes Steve’s journey seem in vain. However, it instead becomes a turning point in Steve’s life. Just as Rocky turns the hero’s professional loss into a personal win, Kong turns Steve’s failure to meet Billy, or top the world record on a grand stage, into a satisfying emotional victory. Steve worked to the best of his ability, showing humility and grace, and ultimately earns the respect of this small gaming community. Steve went the distance.
While it may be an obscure film by mainstream standards, The King of Kong is a champion among champions, a thrilling look into a sport that manages to be compelling despite its seemingly simple standards, physically unimpressive athletes, and instances of cruel interaction.
However, this is not where the fascinating story of Kong ends. In the years since the film's debut, the story of Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell has taken many unexpected twists and turns, leading up to a 2018 reveal that all of Mitchell’s records would be disqualified for being scored by illegitimate means. Defeated by his own toxic actions, Mitchell now stands in the shadow of Steve Wiebe and the other arcade athletes who have made Donkey Kong history. As the landscape of video game culture sinks lower and lower into the swamp of mean-spirited cruelty, it's refreshing to see someone who played the game so fiendishly get their just desserts.
It’s a story that just keeps giving, with no kill screen in sight.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/20: Touch of Evil
1950s WEEK!
In 1958 Orson Welles directed one of his most brilliant films, and the last he would do with a studio. Touch of Evil was cut to ribbons, and his extensive notes and recommendations were ignored, resulting in a film that was a shadow of what it could be. But now it has been restored according to his notes, and I'm very excited that it will be our next Movie of the Week! The restored cut of Touch of Evil is available on Netflix Instant.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 8/14: Mission: Impossible - Fallout
This edition of the podcast concludes by looking at the latest installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise and seeing how far things have come. Join us Wednesday for a discussion of the film, still in theaters.