June 07, 2004
Supersize Me
The movie "Supersize Me" is about consciousness. In this case, the object of focused attention is fast food. Morgan Spurlock , the protagonist/producer eats exclusively at McDonald's for a month, and maintains his consciousness (and ours) throughout by hiring a cadre of doctors (he thanks his ex wife's health insurance company in the credits for paying all the medical bills - three MDs, 600 tests) and physical fitness experts to measure his slow demise at regular intervals. His girlfriend, a vegan chef (!), reports on his diminished sexual prowess, and he regularly reports on his mood, which doesn't improve. It's hard to keep up your spirits when you are being told that your liver might be cirrhotic before you finish filming your deadly diet.
Meanwhile, in his deteriorating condition, Spurlock travels the US talking to lawyers, lobbiests, fast food afficionatos, school lunch ladies, and first graders (who recognized R. McD.'s photo better than that of George W or Jesus... little comfort), and taking shots of gastric bypass surgery (not for the feint of heart, attached fat is even more unattractive without skin) and big bellies.
There are fabulous animations to illustrate statisitics and nutritional information .
It's hysterically funny, as the truth often is. Just like Michael Moore standing in front of a nuclear missle in a plant in Columbine, interviewing the puzzled CEO about why he thinks there is increased violence in high schools.
I fell asleep at the very end of the movie, but I am told it took him months to regain his health and lose the excess weight he had gained.
Comment by a loved one. "It was the first time I couldn't finish my popcorn at a movie."
Photo note: A housegift, perfectly chosen for yours truly. These little (2" long) piggies are sold by the pound (@$24.95) in Chinatown candy stores. They are filled with candies that have the texture of chewing tobacco and the slight flavor of spruce. Fabulous for dieters.
Posted by Dakota at June 7, 2004 06:26 AM