MovieChat Forums > The Ultimate Gift (2007) Discussion > Right wing propaganda

Right wing propaganda

posted 17 years ago by center52
36 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this over the weekend; wanted to point out some other subtle right wing messages (in addition to the anti-abortion messages already discussed here):
-on one of the videos, Red complains about the taxes on his money
-the final gift, where the grandson ends up donating all of the fortune in order to build the home for sick children and their families, is a statement that government health care is unnecessary and that private charity is sufficient to provide for poor families. Unfortunately this is not the case!

OK movie for kids but if you get annoyed by subtle ideological messages in your movies, avoid...

[–] augustrosenstein 17 years ago

So what, now it's not allowed to complain about taxes? That makes you right-wing extremist? Or you are not allowed to make donations because people will thing you're rich bastard bored with money, who wants to abolish the state?

I don't think that the writers, given the whole direction the movie goes, had that in mind. But I guess the devil reads the scripture as it suits him...

[–] wolfinspirit 17 years ago

> So what, now it's not allowed to complain about taxes?
> That makes you right-wing extremist? Or you are not
> allowed to make donations because people will thing
> you're rich bastard bored with money, who wants to
> abolish the state?

> I don't think that the writers, given the whole direction
> the movie goes, had that in mind.

I agree. I think the fact that FOX Faith has a preview at the beginning of the movie works against them (even though they did no more advertizing than any other movie distributor) because people are reading into EVERY little line in the movie. They're seeing "messages" that simply aren't there.

These things aren't hidden messages and supposed right-wing agenda. They are the character development that others are complaining doesn't exist.

[–] silverbullets 13 years ago

Wow, at first I thought the comment that began this thread was trying to be funny. Actually, it's kinda hilarious.

I agree that maybe the FOX Faith preview might have made people suspicious, but the distributor is the distributor. Just like I'd want right-wing people to approach stories they suspect of being distributed by what they believe to be a left-wing distributor, I think it's fair to say that the OP was ludicrously closed-minded.

I'm totally not a right-wing person and don't appreciate REAL "right-wing propaganda"...but PLEASE. A character who's a billionaire from Texas and is in the oil business isn't going to complain about taxes? Realistic, not propaganda. A mother who obviously loves her daughter more than anything says her best decision was choosing to have her baby 10 years ago? Realistic, not propaganda. (And last I checked, a mother making a choice to have a baby is very much in line with what's *supposed* to be the pro-choice message, just as much as the other perspective.)

No comment about philanthropy that helps families who can't live together due to their children being in treatment having anything to do with an anti-government-healthcare message. Holy cow. Okay, sorry, I do have to comment. REALLY?! If you wanted to pull some 'message' about that plot element, wouldn't it be saying something about why healthcare reform is needed?! (And if you knew any families like this, you'd know that usually financial problems are there due to messed up insurance issues!) But I don't see how anyone could get a moral out of this story element unless they were trying to artificially extract something. The dude's life was changed by this girl and her mother; his idea makes sense.

Propaganda is when you force elements into a story for the purpose of trying to manipulate the audience's thinking. Elements that naturally lend to the story and are true to the characters? Uh, that's called good storytelling. If anything, this was the best "family" genre film I've seen in ages. I actually approached it with major hesitation because I normally don't like films in that category. But this was just a good *story*, and well-made to boot. Plus, it lacked a good deal of the predictable cuteness and moralizing that you tend to expect from this genre--and whatever "moralizing" was in the context of the character giving last words to his grandson (again, natural/realistic, not manipulative/propaganda). Now that I've seen it, the film's initial cynical reviews feel so exaggerated that they come off as more about urbane critics afraid to look un-urbane. I wonder how many movie-goers misjudged it like me when it came out b/c of those reviews...they harshed on it as thought it was supposed to be a high-budget artsy drama (which I do like). PLEASE. If anything, The Ultimate Gift was refreshingly complex for its genre.

[–] JuanMatus 17 years ago

It sounds to me like you have been victimized by *collectivist* propaganda. Do you hate all rich people? Do the rich oppress the poor? The workers?

Do you just LOVE your government? Do you love having your own money taken by the state to do with as it wishes?

Do you actually believe the government can do a better job of caring for those in need than can privately funded charities? (If so, I have a marvelous bridge for sale -- unbelievable price, dude!).

What is the sound of a slave who believes himself a free man?

Gad.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ak6702 17 years ago

Were you tied into a chair and forced to watch?No then don't complain

[–] JosiahSilas 17 years ago

I think you're reaching with both of those.

Now I'm not saying the movie didn't support some ideologies (especially in regards to the rich), I'm saying your reasons backing it up suck.

--
Don't make me take off my sunglasses!

[–] Deadman96 17 years ago

Yeah, but if you look at the family it bashes the rich also. Look at how they act at Thanksgiving, at the will reading, etc. Gus, Red and, not 'til the end of the movie, Jason were the only decent rich people in the movie.

As was said before, you don't have to be right wing agenda to complain about taxes. My mom is a card carrying Democrat who hates taxes.

the final gift, where the grandson ends up donating all of the fortune in order to build the home for sick children and their families, is a statement that government health care is unnecessary and that private charity is sufficient to provide for poor families.
I think maybe you have a very anti-right wing attitude to even remotely get that idea. Because IF private health care was doing a good job, a place like that wouldn't be needed. I am dumbfounded as how you watch that and even see that. I watched that and saw a nice story of a guy who learns some good lessons in life and did something good with an inheritance. But maybe I am naive. Yeah, it did impart some basic Christian values, but I think you are looking for things and finding them where they aren't.

[–] wolfinspirit 17 years ago

> Yeah, but if you look at the family it bashes the
> rich also. Look at how they act at Thanksgiving,
> at the will reading, etc. Gus, Red and, not 'til
> the end of the movie, Jason were the only decent
> rich people in the movie.

No this movie does not bash all rich people. If that were true, it would be bashing the people who run FOX as well. FOX does not like to bash anyone affiliated with themselves.

If anything, this movie "bashes" rich people who act, think, and behave like this particular family did. It bashes those who put greed and money before people. It bashes people who only look pay attention to others who will bring them even more money and wealth.

===

On another note (because I don't feel like starting a separate post just to reply to someone else):

As for the grandson donating all of the fortune he is given (at that point in the movie) in order to build a hospital and home for sick children and their families, it is NOT a statement that government healthcare is unnecessary. It IS a statement that those with money shouldn't forget about the rest of us. It is a statement of thanks and dedication to a friend (the girl with cancer) who taught him about what is truly important in life.

It seems as if some on this message board want to turn this movie into a left vs. right-wing argument. Keep this in mind. FOX itself is very right wing. As a company, they generally wouldn't bash the right-wing, because they would be bashing themselves. The right wing generally preaches Christianity heavily, but is also very Big Business. Go figure.

[–] rather_not 17 years ago

So do you do this kind of in-depth search for hidden political messages in all flims? I presume you've done the same for all the other movies, including the ones who espouse opinions with which you agree? Or are you only annoyed by "subtle ideological messages" that are opposed to your own positions? The others are all okay?

A narrow-mind is a terrible thing. You obviously took none of the good messages from the film, but prefer to nit-pick over rather insignificant details.

[–] SPazzo_1493 17 years ago

I agree with the OP exept for the part about the taxes. Though I can see the point he/she is trying to make. They are saying that the right wings hate losing their money. Which I agree with.

Dear sexy knickers I don't half fancy you meet me outside at 5:30 and we'll get it together

[–] Guamley 14 years ago

"I agree with the OP exept for the part about the taxes. Though I can see the point he/she is trying to make. They are saying that the right wings hate losing their money. Which I agree with."

Congratulations, that was one of the dumbest statements I ever heard.
So you're saying the right wing hates losing money, but us enlightened lefties, why we just love losing our money, its like really cool.
*beep* liberals really are mentally disturbed.
Good gawd.