When Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers” came to American theaters last month, it was greeted with mixed criticism, some of which deemed the movie to be “a festival of debauchery” or “lacking in terms of plot,” using nudity and depictions of heavy alcohol and drug consumption to shock the audience.
As an avid fan of the film reading this criticism, have a small fact versus fiction about “Spring Breakers.”
The movie is neither “plotless” nor “the worst film you’ve ever seen.” In every interview, Harmony Korine has clearly stated that the movie is about a feeling, not an event. The imagery only helps you further develop this sentiment as opposed to drive you towards some point. Spring Breakers is all substance, not occurrence.
Other criticism towards the film pressed the fact that Korine casted Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, who are known primarily for their stunts in Disney Channel projects, in roles that portray them as “filthy” characters, unashamed of their actions as long as there’s a risk involved.
However, people fail to acknowledge that both actresses have been out of the network for years now, and the whole point of the movie — what gets the entire message across is the fact that, yes, these actresses are known for playing innocent roles. And that’s what the entire movie is about.
“Spring Breakers” is not about all the drugs and sex and crime and parties — although I guarantee you there’s more than enough of those to last you a year — but the four girls and the transformation they go through.
“Spring Breakers” clearly makes a point to reference the fact that it’s a “pop poem” to an extent, a hyper-depiction of modern American society and the values and morals they deem appropriate, bluntly set against the visuals and facts of a life of debauchery that the culture itself both valiantly glorifies yet sternly degrades.
It is just like every dumb spring break film you’ve watched, only 10,000 times louder and more impacting.
Yes, the film is graphic. Yes, “Spring Breakers” is raunchy and gruesome and even uncomfortable to a point. But all you’re looking at is a mirror being held to our society. None of this is “out of this world” or “completely unheard of.”
It’s exactly what people think spring break is about. Yes, it’s weird, but think twice before you call “Spring Breakers” a parody. Harmony Korine doesn’t play the role of the parodist here, but rather that of the critic.
I would definitely recommend the movie to anyone that had seen the trailer or is somewhat into art-films. Caution to the wind, however, you should not go into the movie theater expecting a party movie, because you’re going to get way more than you had wagered for. It’s a story, a reality and a critique of what it means to be a teenager or a college student.
Because of this, I firmly believe that “Spring Breakers” will become one of the biggest cult classics of our time.
