Movie Reviews from Hell
Liberty Stands Still
| Director: | Kari Skogland |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2002 |
| Rating: |
 |
In Liberty Stands Still, a woman named Liberty Wallace, the owner of one of the worlds largest gun manufacturing firms, is put under the scope of her own companies rifle in the middle of a busy street for over an hour. Behind it, is a man who's daughter was killed by another kid in school, also using one of her companies guns.
The movie plays a pun with her name, of course, and the relation of gun laws, the second amendment, and the public's freedom to bear weapons.
But really, in the end, I found it only plays with the topics. It introduces many of them, but it doesn't really lead anywhere really concrete. Maybe it was an inquisition into the right to carry arms - meaning the movie would just like to bring the issue into discussion. Why? People were discussing the issue long before this movie came out. I'd rather hear a concise and well argued standpoint to the issue.
In the end, the only thing that stood out for me was simply the situation and the play of words with Liberty's name. But honestly, I think the same message could of just as easily been communicated using a static piece of artwork - like a poster. Assuming people knew who Liberty was, and the work was crafted well, I think it could have the same impact that this movie did, in a hell of a lot less time.
The movie is interesting while you watch it, but only because you're curious to find out what this whole thing is about, and what's he big point. The dissapointment happens when you realize there isn't really much of one.