Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Good, the Bad, and the Intense, Searing Pain

Saw Public Enemies the other day. There are no spoilers ahead, so don't worry.
At one point, a bad guy has been shot in the head and is in the hospital. He's screaming in pain because the bullet is pushing against his eye and inflaming his brain. One FBI guy is keeping the doctor out while another is pushing on the bad guy's eye, trying to get him to reveal some pressing (no pun intended) information. The main character seems uncomfortable with this, and it seems the intention was that the audience be so as well.
All I have to say is, Why should we be?
Let's look at the setup:
We have a crook, who regularly kills and badly maims people, mostly police officers (who protect the innocent). He deals out incredible damage and pain on a regular basis, pain similar to what he is experiencing now. He chose to do this for his own benefit - he is not a soldier or some fighter of injustice - he is a thief who has grown wealthy and comfortable on a mound of blood and skulls.
We have an FBI agent, who is trying to prevent others like this man from killing and maiming even more innocent people. He is enhancing the crook's pain - the pain being a direct result of his criminal lifestyle choice - to prevent people who have chosen good lives from suffering.
Is it okay to hurt someone who hurts others to keep good people from being hurt? Is it okay to protect and coddle someone bad if it will result in the pain and deaths of the good?
Stupid Hollywood.

Stay Super.