#zapruder films

[yurithebandtheshow]

Matt Johnson: I'll say that every single piece of work I've ever been involved in I'm always playing the same role, which is, I am always playing the imaginary childhood friend, beckoning the protagonist to return to their childhood. And I mean this is my archetype, and I've played it in all my films, all my movies are about this..."

Kazik Radwanski, Deragh Campbell & Matt Johnson in conversation with Adam Nayman - Matt and Mara (2024) Cinema Guild Press Release

BlackBerry (2023)

The Dirties (2013)

Operation Avalanche (2016)

Nirvana the Band the Show web series (2007-2010)

[chop-sewycide]

My favourite part of any Matt Johnson project has got to be the yaoi montage

[crumb]

The NTB gang playing the romhack of Goldeneye 64 created by Luca Tarantini that has skins of Jay and Matt for the playable characters. (via IG)

[pink-carnelian]

This is what it’s like posting about the dirties on this website

[action-index]

This post will be completely different from the rest of my posts, mainly because it will be an analysis of a movie, rather than fanart. I really love Matt Johnson's work so I wanted to give The Dirties appreciation by mentioning something that I noticed about the ending scene that I don't think anyone else has talked about.

Warning: LE SPOILAZ, mentions of death

THE DIRTIES and The Symbolism in the Ending Scene, Whether Intended or Not Intended

(aka Symbolism when Matt finds Owen at the end of the movie and how it connects to the rest of the film.)

Something that never really gets noticed in the ending scene that I feel is given not enough credit is the symbolism found in what both Matt and Owen wear at the end. This could be poking at straws but even if it wasn't intended, it adds so much to the movie and just wouldn't feel the same if Matt and Owen were wearing different clothes for this scene. It mainly connects to the colors of the shirts they wear and how they connect to the general conflict between Matt and Owen within the story.

First, let us look at Matt's "WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR THE BAD GUYS" shirt.

Even when glossing over the very massive warning sign stitched in bold font, this shirt does provide some symbolism alluding to Matt's character throughout the film. Obviously a warm color, a bright, unavoidable orange.

Warm colors, more specifically in this case, orange, often provide symbolism of say, enthusiasm or energy, which Matt definitely showcases in the movie, to when he's excitedly and innocently boasting about his idea for his film project to even when he hauntingly plans to kill his own classmates. They also provide symbolism of frustration and immaturity, which Matt also showcases.

This reflects his actions in the shooting scene, where he enthusiastically ends two people's lives, his own taunting words as he kills them reflecting the frustration he felt from the words they said to him. The color reflects his actions perfectly.

Now secondly, let us show Owen's shirt:

Now the symbolism may be more weaker on this one compared to Matt's obvious warning sign of a shirt, but do bear with me here.

Obviously Owen's plain light sky blue shirt is a cool color, showcasing a passiveness and honesty, and reflects Owen's more preserved character and his preference to stay away from confrontation, compared to Matt's more enthusiastic drive.

However, the trait that seems to shine more when he wore this blue shirt in the shooting scene, is his preference to not be confronted. He actively tries to avoid Matt and runs away, fearing for his own life. He did not want confrontation because he feared for his life.

Now that I've explained the symbolism found in both shirts, I would now like to get to the point of the whole essay, is how Owen and Matt wearing these shirts near the end says so much about their character when in the same room, especially in such a tense seen as this.

The main thing I got from these outfits is that it reflects not only their personalities, but how Matt and Owen are almost complete opposites to each other.

Of course they do rub off on each other in the movie, but that's a regular thing that happens when hanging with friends; their traits start to rub off on you and influence you.

But without that, Owen is a much more unconfrontational, passive, and shy character, passionate but not wanting to exactly be the center of attention. Meanwhile, Matt is the most likely to make himself known, to share his want to be respected, show his ambition. Very much social opposites, an introvert vs. an extravert.

Blue and orange are ALSO directly opposite colors too.

I feel the best way to fully end this off and end this long rambling session is: take the shirt colors and then the concept of yin-yang and try to relate it to the, intended or not, symbolism found in the shooting scene and the outfits worn, and how it reflects Owen and Matt's characters and overall relationship.

The yin and yang are meant to be representations of direct opposites, that balance each other out. When Owen, the more passive, begins to separate himself from Matt, the enthusiastic, Matt falls apart, mainly because Owen was his only friend. The balance no longer exists. He begins to wallow in his self-isolation and ends up committing the massacre that soon takes the lives of two people. The shirt colors, both clearly oppositional, reflect the yin-yang relationship, their own personalities, and the balance they had and how it all circled back around to this very moment.

Thank you for listening.

If anyone would be down to tell their thoughts on this analysis, do let me know! This is my first time doing something like this, and I'm not usually much of a writer, so I REALLY WANT YOUR FEEDBACK. Have an amazing day :)

[mifhortunach]

“You want to be brothers-in-arms, to have him to yourself… to be shipwrecked together, (to) perform valiant deeds to earn his admiration, to save him from certain death, to die for him - to die in his arms, like a Spartan, kissed once on the lips… or just run his errands in the meanwhile. You want him to know what cannot be spoken, and to make the perfect reply, in the same language.” -- The Invention of Love / Tom Stoppard

this got out of hand

[mysteriesoflovee]

❤️

[stalebrownies]

what about HIM

[jiimjaaam]

save me nirvanna the band the show the movie

[commiegoth]

Heyyy Zapruderheads! I'm super broke rn but the BlackBerry (2023) dvd just came out and I wanna buy it. Would anyone want to commishy some fishies from me so I can afford it (and maybe like groceries and stuff too or w/e)?

Keychains are laser-etched plywood and around 4" in length. $25 US shipping incl. for the set of two. Maybe a little more for itnl. shipping but I'm trying to keep it cheap. Message me for more details 🐟

[ohgoditsnathan]

me whenever i'm about to go in public with makeup on

[chop-sewycide]

Trying to track down a copy of The Dirties (2013) on DVD in the year of our lord 2024 is proving to be the world’s most difficult task. Matt Johnson I am ripping you apart with my teeth I beg of you let me purchase your old-ass movie in a physical form

[sock-pot]

Personal The Dirties (2013, Dir. Matt Johnson) headcannon is that yeah Andy was there also filming until right around that scene in the basement after Owen gets hit by the rock. Then he bails because yeah ok Matt’s pretty fucked probably best not to associate with him for that sequel he wants to make, Jared can film that himself.

Anyways that’s how my brain explains the multiple camera angles for some scenes and Matt saying “you guys want some popcorn” despite there being only one named cameraman.

[pink-carnelian]

okayyy centerfold

[action-index]

If you've read my previous post about 2013 Matt Johnson directorial debut The Dirties, you've seen me talk about the intended/unintended symbolism I found near the end of the movie, discussing about the in-movie character, Matt, and his relationship with Owen, another main character within the movie.

This essay will too delve deep into the aforementioned "yin-yang" that is Matt and Owen's friendship, but will also touch on the purpose of certain details and themes in the movie that not many touch on when analyzing the movie.

If any of you have any thoughts or feedback, do tell me in the replies, or you can always direct message me! I'm happy to see what other people think, especially if you are also into Matt Johnson's work, and the analyzing of movies and their themes. I'm not the best writer, so if I use incorrect wording or I seem vague or inconsistent, please let me know and I'll try to explain or answer the best I can! I would love feedback. Thank you. :)

WARNING: LE SPOILAZ

THE DIRTIES, the Want to be Noticed and the Want to be Seen as an Equal to Others.

(aka Matt and his struggle to want an audience, the importance of Owen in his life, and food for thought about the cameras and what they represent.)

CHAPTER I: THE WANT FOR RESPECT AND ATTENTION.

Many people, at some point, demand the respect of being seen as an equal, or the center of attention. This becomes more true once they seem deprived of being seen as such or from having positive feedback and they end up taking drastic measures or have not-so-ordinary reactions to when their last sources of attention or a relationship with someone who they deemed a close friend, is threatened.

This behavior is especially seen in the character of Matt Johnson, played by the titular actor and director of 2013 film The Dirties. A troubled and usually bullied outcast in a Canadian school, his personality bleeds energy and enthusiasm, a personality yearning for someone to reflect that energy. His only opening to this is his best friend Owen Williams, played by the titular actor and co-star to Matt in the movie.

Matt constantly wants to be the center of attention, constantly being the more energetic of the duo. His passion and drive to be a film director, as seen in the movie, is proof of such. He has the drive to create, as seen in his dedication to create and show off his student film, also titled "The Dirties". His pushing to the beyond of what was required is proof of his want to showcase his creations to the audience, even with the risk of being belittled and shamed by a slip-up or embarassment.

However, in Matt's case, the worst-case scenario happens once he and Owen are forced to give in to their film teacher's ideas to censor the film, and he becomes more outcasted by his peers.

His morale starts to lower and his want for attention starts to add on to his growing hatred for the bullies in his class. It comes to the point where he first starts to devise his first plan for the Dirties, now seeking attention and respect by any means necessary. In his seeking for an audience, he ironically begins to isolate himself from others, only finding solace in Owen as he starts to devise the first blueprint for his plan to demand respect for him and Owen, justice for the both of them.

It is around this point in the movie where my theory for the cameras and what they mean for the inner conflict within Matt starts to come into play. My belief is that the unseen yet mentioned character "Jared", named after Zapruder Films member and camera operator Jared Raab, starts to leave the story as a side character the first times Matt starts avidly talking about the plan for his shooting, possibly around the scene with the locker measurements, possibly due to either being uncomfortable with the things discussed as a character in the story, though this is just a theory since Jared has no speaking lines. Note that Jared is last mentioned during the locker scene. Also note that the cameras still continue as if it was found-footage, however, and I will get into this later in Chapter II.

As he continues to plan the shooting, conflict arises when Owen starts to hang more with his year-long crush Chrissy, who Matt continuously throughout the story deems a "Dirtie" out of jealousy and the threat of having his only opening and friend taken away from him. He constantly tries to make up reasons as to why Chrissy should be taken out of the equation, even saying that they should "kill her".

As this conflict happens and begins to arise, he starts delving more into his plan, where he constantly starts reviewing the school blueprint, visiting his cousin Nelson with Owen to try to attempt to try out, and then steal guns, his constant analyzing of author Dave Cullen's book "Columbine", based on the real-life 1999 Columbine High tragedy, and his producing of a hitlist, targeting mainly those who hurt Owen. Everything planned was completely unaware to Owen as of then, and thus causes suspicion and tension between Owen and Matt. This then leads into the confrontation scene where Owen mentions his concern and frustration with Matt and his behaviors following the creation of their student film, seemingly ending their friendship. Losing his only friend and having no other people to bounce his energy of, without an audience to project his ideas onto, everything starts to descend and break down for Matt.

CHAPTER II: VULNERABILITY, SELF-ISOLATION

Now: the camera. My belief is that without someone to talk to or give him attention, he begins to truly think of himself as being in a movie and snaps. He starts talking to himself, imagining himself under the view of the camera, talking to nothing exactly the way he would to Owen. My idea is that the fourth wall breaks near the end of the movie add more to the plot and is a more symbolic approach to how deep Matt is in his own destructive thoughts and isolation from others. As much as he felt the need to show his drive to create, he now starts to show his drive to destroy.

He feels now the only true solution to gain the respect and equal attention he never fully had by a massive group of people, is to create an opportunity to kill his peers, justice for him and for Owen like he wanted, but serves as what he believes as the only way to show and prove himself to an audience he never truly had. It gets worse oncs who is essentially his other half and his only source for attention is no longer there to talk him down from the situation he has himself in.

The camera represents a source for him to dive deep into his self-destructive thoughts, and his want for attention that he felt he never had. As more of these thoughts arrive as well, we can start to see more self-destructive behavior from Matt, to the dismay and concern from Owen. He starts picking fights with his peers, most specifically the ones who he saw hurt Owen, mainly people such as Jackman. He starts becoming more prone to angry reaction, even getting inspired enough to start threatening dorky outcast Laren, arguably someone lower on the totem pole of high school popularity than Owen or Matt, to try to gain attention by self-destructive behavior and prove himself. This all happens the moment he starts to find solace in the fictional, unrealistic audience he starts to gather in his mind once he isolates from others, looking directly at the camera he thinks is there, and Owen begins to notice such behaviors with major concern, leading to him and Matt's confrontation near the end.

This moment gives him the final push to commit to "The Dirties 2", and Owen's later attempts to try to contact or mend back their relationship seemingly fails. The want for an audience, his own self-destructive behavior, and his lack of respect from others ends now in tragedy, the fate of both Matt and Owen left to speculation.

CHAPTER III: CONCLUSION, SUMMARY AND ADDED THOUGHTS.

As we begin to end this essay off, I need to state here that this is not to say that Matt was justified in what he did at the end of The Dirties. This essay is mainly meant to delve deep into his character, to try and seek an answer as to why the character of Matt did what he did, and his reasons for committing to such an atrocity, DO NOT come out of this thinking his decision was the right one to make or that he is not mainly responsible.

Now with that out of the way, the idea to take away is that the character of Matt is one that demanded respect and the admiration from his peers, a creative mind now tainted with the thought to destroy. The camera, a representation of the thing he looks toward when he feels isolated and has no one left, talking to a nonexistent entity providing no answers, only leaving him to push for his deluded goals. His behaviors toward others, a reaction to being disrespected and thrown to the wayside by his clsssmates. His relationship with Owen, the only balanced and mutual relationship he truly had, broken by his own isolation and push for attention and respect. Ironically in his pursuit, he drifted away the only person he loved the most out of anyone. The Dirties is a depressing tale, and the symbolism and the way the story is told is so unique that it needs to be deconstructed and put back together, to be dissected and to be delved deep into. The story of a sad kid who pushes everything he ever loved away out of jealousy, the demand for respect and attention, only to end up with none of it at the end.

Thank you for reading.

thedirtiesthemovietheanalysis

[fipindustries]

a new film by matt johnson!!!!! creator of the dirties, operation avalanche and the show nirvanna the band the show. one of my favourite filmmakers of all time.

finally! ever since his show was left in limbo back uh... 2018??? jesus christ, i’ve been staving for more from him and here it is at last!

personally i cant fucking wait