Difficult Men

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Difficult Men

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By Ben Elliott

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The history of movies is filled with bad men, from Louis B. Mayer to Harvey Weinstein — figures whose contributions to the industry have been marred by their abusive behavior. After the rise of the Me Too movement in 2016 brought more and more of these stories to light, it reignited the debate of how to ethically view the work of those who have committed reprehensible acts: Is there actually a way to separate art from the artist?

There isn’t an easy answer. Film is a collaborative process, and to simply ignore works associated with abusers would mean disregarding the efforts of countless other creative and technical contributors. Yet, to overlook not only the actions of these men but also the systems that enabled them would make us complicit in perpetuating their harmful legacies.

Lousi B Mayer (center) and guests, 1920

How to Come Alive With Norman Mailer, 2024

A path forward is beginning to emerge, as seen in documentaries like How to Come Alive With Norman Mailer, which opens at The Triplex this week. An influential author and pioneer of New Journalism who wrote 11 novels and won two Pulitzer Prizes during his decades long career, Mailer also had a well-documented history of misogyny and violence, including a near-fatal stabbing of his second wife with a penknife.

How to Come Alive doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of Mailer’s life (it's subtitled A Cautionary Tale, after all). Instead, it approaches its subject with an honesty that is often missing when we recount the lives of flawed figures. People are complex, and when we elevate them, we do so at our own risk. This documentary embraces Mailer’s legacy by confronting the full scope of his character, presenting a raw and authentic portrait that argues for his continued relevance while also making a case for why we must strive to be better than he ever was.

Showtimes

Showtimes Freakier Friday | 1:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM The Life of Chuck | 1:15PM, 4:15PM Highest 2 Lowest | 1:45PM, 4:45PM, 8:00PM The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg | 7:00PM

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