More of this is true than you would believe.
That’s the text scrawled across the screen that opens the film and sets the audience up for a ride they will hopefully not forget.
‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ is one of those films that convey two things. First, its treatment of the subject matter negates what I have previously written about with conventions in film and opens up a new possibility. Second, this feature, if successful, will push forth a paradigm shift that is already, and has been for some time, occurring within small groups across the globe. It’s a step away from the mainstream thinking that holds most of our minds (in Western culture) in a vapid stranglehold.
The big deal with the mindset of this film is that it opens the doors of remote viewing and metaphysics in a way that doesn’t come off as completely hokey or unbelievable. The treatment is mostly in a light-hearted manner, taking an optimistic perspective that removes the ego from the equation by encompassing the element of error.
‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ is not so much a film as it is a way of life. It’s a cinematic experience that looks at the world in a different perspective, tying together various different “truths” and real events in a bundle that pushes a specific, metaphysical point across. The phrase “be all that you can be” is used in a joking way, but it is a simple way of summing up how this film incorporates diverse methods of looking at one’s self, one’s perception, and one’s ability. It’s a metaphysical journey that follows the paths of the shaman and healers, enveloping both science and that which lies beyond – the idea that there is much more to our universe than our microscopes and many of our minds cannot perceive.
The treatment of the subject, as aforementioned, is one of light-heartedness. I refrain from using the term “comedic” because the overall tone, while seemingly goofy at times, had a joyous optimism that didn’t really incorporate the usual stupidity of most comedies. These characters come across as awkward and strange, but they never appear unintelligent or moronic. It’s hard to place a specific term on them because many of them have their egos removed from the equation. The audience sees their errors, and so do they with their identities remaining intact. The best way to describe it is as if there’s a calming sense of complacency with “what” they are. These men are not trying to prove some cliché sense of masculinity or fulfill gender roles. They are riding out their destinies down a river – one with the current and looking for something to learn all the while.
What is interesting about this treatment is that this light-hearted approach doesn’t come on to the audience as too strong, as if demanding they believe in its ideas. Yet, it’s also not nonchalant or casual. The main character, through whom the audience is given this story, is confused, bewildered, and apprehensive about remote viewing and psychic abilities. In the past, I have argued that filming a topic challenging to mainstream beliefs works well only when presented in a very casual and “normal-feeling” setting. The best example of this would be Ang Lee’s ‘The Wedding Banquet’, in which a relationship between two men is shown in a way that does not bring spectacle to it. Some scenes may come across as startling, but the overall editing is slow and relaxed, as is the music. The conventions used are the same used to depict a heterosexual couple in any other movie. This creates a “normal” and “accepting” mood that helps transform the audience and allow viewers to accept and feel comfortable around lifestyles that may be viewed as “different” to some. ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’, as noted, defies this convention. This apprehensiveness and upbeat attitude works well to convey the themes in that it’s a slow build, a journey in itself, to accept this consciousness. It’s a humorous attempt at a mental rebirth. Be all that you can be, albeit slowly so your hard-wired programming can gradually embrace this new encoding.
This film is more of a philosophy than it is anything else. It’s a call action - a gateway to intrigue the mind to explore new dimensions of thought. Sure, it has its moments of social criticism (albeit a tongue-in-cheek attitude to avoid turning off those who disagree), but it’s an open door welcoming those who would listen to embrace a new way of thinking in a dark world. It isn’t really a comedy. It’s an attempt to offer a hand to looking into new ideology, a backlash against empty consumerism as it were to build a brighter future. Don’t let the other reviewers fool you by describing it as a “zany” or “outrageous” “spoof”. It’s not. It’s a modern day attempt at a mystical journey.
