In one of the most bafflingly relaxing films of this entire year, Harmony Korine has... umm... done it again? The Beach Bum is one movie that I was not sure what to expect from and I still haven't fully processed. Korine's stoner comedy is full of mismatched characters, fantastic music, Matthew McConaughey truly in touch with himself, and weed. Lots and lots of weed. Throughout the course of this film, I learned to absolutely adore the style that Korine has established and the script that he wrote. A perfect mix of existential atmosphere and laid-back humor, this movie is surely one that I will not soon forget. Despite the lack of general direction, I can see why this story has resonated so strongly with cult audiences. And one thing for certain is that even though this film is ridiculously bizarre, I had a much better time watching this than I have most other movies this year.
In the humid bowels of Florida lives a man by the name of Moondog (Matthew McConaughey), who truly lives life by his own rules. His free spirit and easygoing personality are reflected in his writing, as he has been tasked with publishing a new novel of his famous poetry in order to claim a large inheritance. With the help of a vast cast of characters and their offbeat happenings, Moondog sets out to get inspiration for his writing through any means possible. There is so much to love about this pot-fueled adventure, both written and directed by the peculiar Harmony Korine. His script is one of the best parts of this film, as it makes for a perfectly simple adventure for this weird creature of a man to stumble through. Whether or not he meant to make it this way, this movie comes off as a stoner's version of The Odyssey. The exact details might not be there, but the way that Moondog adventures through Florida from one character to the next while trying to attain one little goal is very reminiscent of Homer's epic novel. The Beach Bum might actually be more entertaining, however, as the pure heart and absurd shenanigans that occur throughout this movie are so quintessentially perfect for its tone. This film will definitely not be for everyone, but the way that the offbeat humor and music work together in every scene makes this story memorable as hell. Besides Korine's pleasant and simply fun script, Matthew McConaughey is what really brings this film together. His performance as Moondog is surely out there, but there is no denying that he was born for this role. McConaughey has never been more McConaughey than in this film and I am very glad that Korine was able to bring out his genuine side to make for such a crazy character. In fact, all of the casting in this film is great, from Isla Fisher as Moondog's wife Minnie to Zac Efron as Flicker, an absolute vape god. None of the performances in this film are really standout, but they really didn't need to be; the fact that they all had so much fun making this indie comedy is cinema enough to me.
Audiences will always have different sensory reactions to certain films, but one universal mood that Korine has absolutely nailed in this film is relaxation. The Beach Bum is such a strangely comforting movie and despite the dangerous and often life-threatening events that Moondog goes through, I could not help but to sit there and breathe easy. As this protagonist is venturing around Florida looking for ideas for his newest poetry novel, he encounters so many different things that would make a sober man shiver. Since this movie is from Moondog's point of view, however, everything is truly taken with a grain of salt. We see through the eyes of Moondog and those eyes do not sense anything as being out of the ordinary. This direction practically rid me of my anxiety for an hour and 35 minutes and even though the general storytelling was a bit lackluster, that is exactly what you would expect from a comedy of this subgenre. I rode this wave of carelessness the whole time all while knowing that Korine would spit me out in the end without a scratch on my back. Another aspect of the film that helped this atmosphere was the framing narrative of Moondog's poetry. Each piece that he wrote applied to a various part of his adventure; perhaps it was just McConaughey's voice, but there is something so sweet and calming about the way Moondog viewed life. Above the directorial surface, however, there are prevalent themes throughout this movie that help enrich it on a whole other level. As Moondog confronted many different people, many of them turned out to be Miami's most wealthy. This never swayed this character's opinions of people, though, as money truly meant nothing to him. Seen even more so in the flashy spectacle of an ending, this movie reveals itself to also be a huge "fuck you" to capitalism as it provides comfort in a time when stress should be taking over. Just like Moondog, Korine does not care whether or not you paid good money or even have a strong opinion of his work. He just takes what life gives him and has a good time with it.
Who knew that an indie film with Matthew McConaughey as a creature from another dimension could be so anxiety-reducing? The Beach Bum has truly provided everything that I could have asked for. While this film is definitely not geared towards a good majority of audiences, I found the strangest comfort in watching Moondog as he adventured through the weirdest parts of Florida. From the wealthiest of the upper class to the absolute bottom of the barrel, everyone can learn a thing or two from McConaughey about how to simply chill out and let life run its course.
My Rating: ★★★½
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