“The Interview 2014” is a comedy film that follows two journalists who are tasked with assassinating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The film stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as the journalists, who are recruited by the CIA to carry out the hit.
As they travel to North Korea under the guise of interviewing Kim Jong-un, they find themselves in a dangerous and hilarious situation.
The film received controversy due to its political themes and depiction of North Korea, but was ultimately released to mixed reviews.
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Review
Daring to Laugh at Tyranny: The Redemption of “The Interview”
Have you ever watched a movie that made you laugh out loud and cringe at the same time? That’s how I felt when I first saw “The Interview”, the 2014 comedy film that triggered a global controversy and cyber attack from North Korea, due to its satirical portrayal of Kim Jong-un, the dictator of the isolated nation. Despite its initial setbacks and mixed reviews, “The Interview” has become a cult classic that exemplifies the power of humor as a form of societal critique and resistance. In this article, inspired by Brené Brown’s candid and compassionate storytelling, I will explore why “The Interview” matters, how it works, and what we can learn from it about courage, creativity, and conscience.
First things first: what is “The Interview” about? The plot follows Dave Skylark (James Franco), a celebrity journalist who hosts a popular TV show called “Skylark Tonight” with his loyal producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen). When they discover that Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) is a fan of their program, they seize the opportunity to score an exclusive interview with him in Pyongyang. However, before they leave for North Korea, they are approached by CIA agent Lacey (Lizzy Caplan), who asks them to assassinate Kim Jong-un with a poison strip provided by her agency. At first skeptical but excited by the prospect of becoming heroes and saving millions of lives from Kim’s nuclear threats, Dave and Aaron agree to carry out the mission. But as they get closer to Kim and learn more about his personal life and beliefs, they start to doubt their mission’s morality, efficacy, and feasibility. Hijinks ensue as they try to evade detection by Kim’s regime while grappling with their own ethical dilemmas.
On paper or screenwriting software alone, “The Interview” may seem like a shallow and silly concept, full of bro humor, banal jokes, and predictable twists. And to be fair, some of the humor is indeed crass, juvenile, and repetitive. Franco’s performance as Skylark is both endearing and irritating, as he oscillates between clueless goofiness and sincere introspection. Rogen’s acting as Rapoport is more understated and sympathetic, as he tries to balance his friendship with Skylark with his professional integrity. Park’s portrayal of Kim Jong-un is a highlight of the film, as he brings a surprising nuance and depth to the character beyond the caricature that many Westerners have of him.
However, what makes “The Interview” more than just an average comedy is its underlying messages about power dynamics, propaganda, empathy, and accountability. By using Kim Jong-un as both a target and a lens for their satire, writer-directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (who also co-wrote “This Is the End”, “Pineapple Express”, and “Superbad”) expose not only the absurdity of North Korea’s regime but also the hypocrisy of American media culture that values entertainment over education or activism. They also acknowledge their own privilege as white men from wealthy backgrounds who can afford to make fun of politics from afar without facing serious consequences (until they did). Through Dave’s transformation from a shallow hedonist into a reluctant hero who questions his own motives and values, the film invites us to reconsider our own complicity in perpetuating harmful stereotypes or regimes without examining them critically.
Additionally – what are your thoughts on how Brown would approach this topic?
Technical Data
- Runtime : 113
- Release : 2014-12-25
- Genre : Action, Comedy
- Cast : James Franco as Dave Skylark, Seth Rogen as Aaron Rapaport, Lizzy Caplan as Agent Lacey, Randall Park as Kim Jong-un, Diana Bang as Sook
- Crew : Francine Maisler as Casting, Ben Waisbren as Executive Producer, James Franco as Executive Producer, Kathy Driscoll as Casting Associate, Julian Ashby as Art Direction
- Popularity 34.993
- Budget : $44,000,000
- Revenue : $12,342,632
- Company : Point Grey Pictures, Columbia Pictures
- Summary : Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapaport run the celebrity tabloid show “Skylark Tonight”. When they land an interview with a surprise fan, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, they are recruited by the CIA to turn their trip to Pyongyang into an assassination mission.
- Tagline : The Film Hackers Tried To Get Banned
