I thought this "horrible" movie was incredibly clever and hilarious. It is so sarcastic and interesting! I was laughing out loud to think of the ads saying "You are strongly advised not to shell out money for this film (397)" and that all the snooty art goers are intrigued by this concept and actually buy tickets to watch themselves on the screen as Himself and Mario film their stupidity! The sheer audacity! I'm still laughing.
Enough said.
I loved the way Foster Wallace described the movie-goers:
"they'd shell out for little paper theatre tickets and file in in their sweater vests and tweeds and dirndls and tank up on espresso at the concession stand and find seats and sit down and make those little pre-movie leg and posture adjustments and look around with that sort of vacant intensity" (397).
I thought this description was hilarious (and I could picture people doing and looking exactly like that, pretending to be all interested in the film but really being sort of bored). I also thought it was interesting that there were no individuals in this group--it was just one mass of people, completely homogenous, going to see some "arty" (ha ha) film.
I loved the bit about the movie critics lavishing praise and completely missing the point.
I would be very upset if I paid to see "The Joke".
but it would be hilarious.
When I read this passage I immediately recognized myself in the audience. I know I would pay to see a movie that I was advertised not to shell out money for--I'd be so curious! Plus I just love seeing bad movies that make me laugh. But I wouldn't be angry in the least for paying to see such a ridiculous movie because I think it's such a good/funny idea.