#thebeachbum snoopdogg zacefron matthewmcconaughey moondog director harmonykorine stonerflick cinematography stills review

[moviefestuk]

The Beach Bum, 2019 • 6.5/10

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You ever been to a party with a friend who is off-the-scales slaughtered, and thinks everything they say or do is comedy gold, when in fact they're unbearably annoying 95% of the time and occasionally funny for that teenie tiny 5%, well, 'Beach Bum' is that, and considering I've been that "friend" a fair few times myself, I know first-hand how hard it can be to endure at times.

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Mr. McConaughey stars in a role that generally feels like it was written for the Texan stoner, and he dons the character like it's second nature: a womanizing, burnout poet who's loved by all and phased by nothing. But although it's a role which seems like it was meant for McConaughey, it's a slight deviation to the characters we accustom him with, meaning, he talks a lot slower and a lot less.

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Moondog really doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone, and that includes family, whether it's failing to keep up with his daughter, or staying out of jail, being faithful to his wife, or even writing his next book, which is what earns him a living, he relentlessly fails to put others first or care about what's important, so audiences face a constant barrage of unlikeable traits and scenarios, and it's not easy to handle. The most compassion the man can muster up is with a bloody stray cat, like come on man, get your priorities right! He's only committed to one thing, and that's having fun, and while that's okay for a teen or young adult, its not acceptable for a 40-50 year old man with a wife, kids and a career. He's essentially high on life, as well as everything else he can get his grubby little hands on.

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Life is a nonstop party for Moondog, and the audience is pulled into his world and all its craziness, at times its involuntary, but you're still sucked in. He's like marmite, you'll either love or hate him, but whether you hate him or not, you cannot take away the fact that he's living life his way, and he won't let no man, woman, rules or regulations get in the way of that. But, what is the point in this film or Moondog? Given, sometimes it makes you feel envious of Moondog and his way of life, especially if you live a life with barely anytime to think, let alone party, but then as you begin to contemplate the thought of leaving your life for his, you abruptly snap out of it because one of his vile actions will make you realize you don't want to be anything like him, and you wouldn't even trade your hectic work schedules and caffeinated kids for one second of his pathetic life.

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Director Harmony Korine has made another movie with outrageous characters who live in total excess, but unfortunately 'The Beach Bum' doesn't quite work like 'Spring Breakers.' As I try to admire the fact that Korine's writing and character development, or lack there of, really got under my skin, its outweighed by the pretentious-ness of it all. He also re-teamed with "Spring Breakers" cinematographer Benoît Debie, who gives the film a much needed glow, and he brings with him his trademark beautiful, hazy atmosphere.

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All in all, I'm all for the next best stoner flick, and yeah, McConaughey did the best with what he had, Benoît Debie shone the brightest, the outfits are colourful and outrageous, and Martin Lawrence has a brilliant cameo with a truly hilarious scene! But other than that, this film doesn't really have much else going for it, unless you can relate to the lesson of; "don't give a fuck about anything, period!"