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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
S.F.W - The Complete Lowdown, October 31, 1999
It's begining to show it's age, but this satrical drama remains a topical dissection of the American facination with the cult of the non-celebrity. Stephen Dorff is the angry young man who is amoung a group taken hostage by camcorder-weilding anarchists. They force the networks to broadcast their tapes, but it's the rebellious Dorff who soon becomes the star attraction. Dorff is suitably surly as the man fighting against his 15 minutes of fame and there's good suppourting work from a pre-fame Reese Witherspoon and Jake Busey. Director Jefery Levy demonstrates a sympathetic understanding of ninties teenage alienation. Overall and interesting and enthralling movie that is well worth watching.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Film Way Ahead Of It's Time, July 25, 1999
By A Customer
Take a look at this film and you will be amazed at how it predicted the future -- from OJ to JFK jr. Also, how many films have there been since SFW that have dealt with the same themes, but not nearly as well? NBK; Mad City; Truman Show; Ed TV -- SFW is, quite simply, a work of genius -- even more amazing: the book was written by a 17 year old college kid in 1987! The film, while it parodies teen romance films, also deals with the way popular culture (not just the media) take a person or event, uses it to sell, sell, sell, then discards it, usually destroying it/him. The big cycle of pop culture. Check it out for yourself.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Obviously not for everyone, February 28, 2011
WOW! I'm always amazed and intrigued when I read such mixed reviews about a film.
I had no idea until now that this came out the same year as "Natural Born Killers," but while I watched it I was reminded of the same satiric, brutal, over-the-top portrayal of the hype that fuels a media frenzy. If that type of movie offends or disappoints you, S.F.W. will probably probably have the same effect.
The story was purposefully exaggerated and for the most part darkly comical, but it was also violent and raw. Besides being thoroughly entertained, I was reminded why I have no desire to be famous - not even for 15 minutes. I'd rather be invisible than have my life examined under a microscope and judged by people who form their perception of me based on what they have been led to believe or by something I've done at a certain point that doesn't represent who I really am as a person. Then again, that's often what happens in reality.
Obviously there are countless individuals who have adopted the "So F___ing What" attitude throughout history. I have no trouble imagining a film today (17 years later) that makes a parody of "W.T.F." becoming a national mantra and the results that might transpire.
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