The Parallax View

I have to be honest, even after watching The Parallax view, I was left confused. I wasn't sure if it was me and I missed some key things along the way or just wasn't getting it, but all the pieces weren't neatly fitting together for me. So had to go to the internet and refresh myself on what it is exactly that I just saw.

Upon doing a bit of research, I found that I did see all the major points to the story and am a bit more clear how all the events strung together. So what was keeping me from putting it all together? I think it was a lack of a resolution. And I think maybe that was the goal of the movie, there is no resolution. You either accept what you are given and move on, or you stop and ask "What really just happened here?" Maybe I was expecting them to wrap it all up into a nice tidy little package, tied with a bow and served up on a silver platter like some of the films of today. But that clearly isn't the style of some of the films of the 70s. Not only that, but they make you wait for it.

You are never really told why the Senator in the beginning was assassinated in the first place, so already the story is shrouded in mystery. Then when the panel come-on and declares it the work of a one gunman, which we all see it clearly isn't, the hole of mystery deepens even more. So OK, it was the work of a lone gunman. Everybody accepts it and goes on. So why start killing all the witnesses? Why now, so much time later? OK, The Parallax Corporation, they're in the business of finding and training assassins. Who is hiring these guys? The shroud of mystery continues.

The montage scene was a intense scene. When it started, it seemed pretty black and white with imagery and word making sense. But then when the words and images start twisting and suddenly, there is no sensible relation between the two, you are left with one thought – nothing is what it seems. And this relates to this movie in a big, big way. Lone gunman? Nope. Town sheriff? Nuh-uh. Typical corporation? Not even close. You think you've got them fooled into thinking you're an assassin? Guess again, you're the patsy. Even the music of the film with its combination of patriotism blended with overtones of a suspense thriller. Nope, with The Parallax View, nothing is what it seems. I guess that's why they call it The Parallax View. Because when you're looking through the eyes of The Parallax Corp, you're not really sure what you're seeing, or not seeing.