#chisolm

Who is hotter?

Günün Filmi: The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Yönetmen: Antoine Fuqua

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‘İki Amerika’nın bir filmi

Benim yaşım sinemada kovboy filmlerini izlemeye yetmedi. Tommiks gibi çizgi romanlara da sonradan bakabildik. Fakat pazar günleri TRT-1 ekranına gelen Vahşi Batı klasikleri, çocukluğumun anılarındandır. Özellikle kışları… Küçük bir odada yanan sobanın üzerinde kızaran ekmekler, tereyağı kokuları, ballı ılık süt, televizyondan yankılanan Apaçi çığlıkları, at kişnemeleri, altıpatlarların çıkardığı kurşun vızıltıları… Ülkemizin efeleri, seymenleri sinemaya maalesef çok fazla aktarılmadı. Atçalı Kel Mehmet, Çakırcalı Mehmet Efe gibi efelerin hayatı beyazperdeye uyarlansa da, bugün bu değerlere dönülüp bakılmıyor. Fakat Batı’nın efesi diyebileceğimiz kovboylar, ABD’nin en önemli ihraç malzemelerinden oldu. Bugün bile hâlâ çok hasılat yapan kovboy filmleri çekiliyor.

DOĞU-BATI DÜELLOSU: LEONE-KURUSAWA

Aslında bugün en çok bilinen Kovboy filmleri, ABD ve Hollywood imzası taşımaz. Avrupa kökenlidir. Birçoğunda İtalyan yönetmenlerin imzası vardır. Bu yüzden genelde, “Spagetti Western” olarak bilinirler. Bu, bir tür haline gelmiştir. 600’den fazla “Spagetti Western” filmi arasında “İyi, Kötü, Çirkin”, “Batı’da Kan Var”, “Birkaç Dolar İçin”, “Benim Adım Hiçkimse” gibi gişede fırtına estirenler de çıkmıştır. Spagetti Western aslında Doğu sinemasından kopya edilerek meydana getirilmiştir. Sergio Leone'nin yönettiği ve başrolünde ilk kez Clint Eastwood'un yer aldığı “Bir Avuç Dolar” (Per un pugno di dollari-A Fistful of Dollars) filmi, Akira Kurusawa’nin Yojimbo (1961) filminden birebir kopya idi. Kurusawa, Leone’ye dava açtı, kazandı. Filmden elden edilen gelirin yüzde 15’i Kurusawa’ya gitti. YİNE KURUSAWA’DAN ETKİLENDİLER

Kovboylar, Batı’nın vahşi dünyasında halkın yardımına koşan Robin Hood’lar gibilerdi. Efesoylulardandır. Cesur ve merttirler. Evet banka soyarlar, para için her işi yaparlardı. Onlar ödül avcılarıydı. Fakat fakir halkın koruyucusuydular. Canlarını darda olan halk için tehlikeye atarlardı. Bunu şundan yazıyorum. 2016 yapımı Muhteşem Yedili, (The Magnificent Seven) filmini izledim. Film aslında bugünün kendi iç çatışmasını yaşayan ABD’nin bir tablosunu sunuyor. ABD’de günümüzün tablosu şu: Okyanusötesi emperyalist tekellere karşı, önce kendi insanımız diyenlerin (First America) mücadelesi var. Film, işte bu çatışma üzerinden de okunabilir. Aslında bu filmin tarihçesi de Doğu’ya dayanıyor. Yine bir Kurusawa etkisi görüyoruz. Film, Kurusawa’nin 1954 yapımı Yedi Samuray (Shichinin no Samurai) filminden esinlenme. İlk olarak 1960 tarihinde Western olarak çekildi. 2016 yapımı olan, bunun bir yeniden çevrimidir.

‘YANGINDA KAYBETTİKLERİMİZİ KÜLLERDE BULDUK’ Film, Rose Creek kasabasında geçer. Sanayici ve iş insanı Bartholomew Bogue, maden alanlarını giderek genişletmektedir. Çiftçilikle geçinen halkın elinden arazisini ucuza kapatarak adeta el koymaktadır. Buna karşı çıkanlar ise katliama uğrarlar. Bogue’un insana bakışı tekelci sermayenin insanı köleleştirici tavrına örnektir: “Eğer Tanrı onların kırkılmasını istemeseydi, onları koyun yapmazdı.” Bogue’un kocasını öldürmesi sonrası intikam yemini eden Emma Cullen, neyi var neyi yoksa kovboy ekibi toplamak için verir. Sam Chisolm önderliğinde muhteşem silahşörlerden oluşan yedili bir araya getirilir. Chisolm, kimlerle savaştıklarını ve sonucunun ne olacağını şöyle özetler: “Kötü adamlarla savaşmaya gidiyoruz, muhtemelen hepimiz öleceğiz.” Yani insan adına kendilerini feda etmektedirler. Filmde onları para birleştirse de, muhteşem yedili sonunda tekelci bir iş adamının altında ezilen mazlum çiftçilerin topraklarını savunan kahramanlara dönüşür. Emma Cullen’in de son sözleri çok anlamlıdır: “Hayatlarında ne oldularsa, burada, sonunda, her adam cesaret ve onurla ayakta durdu. Kendileri için savaşamayanlar için savaştılar ve onlar için de öldüler. Hepsi kendilerine ait olmayan bir şeyi kazanmak içindi. Muhteşemdi.” Muhteşem Yedili, bu konuda da 300 Spartalı benzeri bir etki veriyor. Chisolm’un “Yangında kaybettiklerimizi küllerde bulduk.” sözü daha bir anlamlı hale geliyor.

‘ŞAHİN’ HARRIS Mİ HEARTLANDCI TRUMP MI?

ABD’de seçim yaklaştı. Pusulalar üzerinde Demokratlar ve Cumhuriyetler, onları temsilen de Kamala Harris ve Donald Trump yarışacak. Aslında bu aynı zamanda ABD’deki iki siyasi çizginin çekişmesi de. Harris, yarıştan çekilen/çektirilen Biden’ın yerini aldı. Esas olarak okyanus ötesi tekellerin adayı konumunda. Dolar saltanatını sürdürme derdinde olan, bunun için küresel çatışmaları kışkırtacak şahin kanadın temsilcisi. Trump ise “Afganistan’a, Irak’a, çöllere niye para gömüyoruz” diyen ve önceliğin ABD’de olduğunu, bu kaynakların ülkede ve halka harcanması gereken bir çizgiyi temsil ediyor. Rus stratejist Aleksandr Dugin, Trump’ın daha önce Cumhuriyetçiler ve Demokratlar arasında kurulan “küreselci, liberal, tek kutuplu, Atlantikçi ve Amerikan merkezli” konsensüsü bozduğunu belirtiyor. (1) Dugin ABD’de iki medeniyet bulunduğunu şu sözlerle ifade ediyor: “ABD 2020, bu nedenle, birkaç değil, tam olarak iki medeniyetsel bölgeden oluşuyor: orta kısmı Heartland'dan ve Heartland'dan keskin bir şekilde farklı olan, aynı sosyo-politik sistemi temsil eder iki kıyı bölgesinden. Kıyı bölgeleri, Demokratların bölgesidir. Demokratlar tarafından Biden lehine ve Trump'a karşı seçim kampanyasında yer alan BLM, LGBT+, feminizm ve solcu aşırılığın (antifa terörist grupları) en aktif protestolarının odaklandığı yer buralardır. Trump'tan önce, ABD'nin sadece kıyı bölgeleri olduğu görülüyordu. Trump, Amerikan Heartland'ına ses verdi. Böylece ABD'nin kırmızı merkezi aktive edildi ve harekete geçirildi. Trump, siyasi seçkinler arasında pratikte hiçbir şekilde temsil edilmeyen ve küreselcilerin gündemiyle neredeyse hiçbir ilgisi olmayan bu ‘ikinci Amerika’nın Başkanıdır. Burası küçük kasabaların, Hıristiyan toplulukların ve mezheplerin, çiftliklerin ve hatta endüstrinin daha ucuz iş gücüne sahip olan alanlara kaymasıyla harap olmuş eski büyük sanayi merkezlerinin Amerika'sıdır. Burası terk edilmiş, ihanete uğramış, unutulmuş ve aşağılanmış Amerika. Bu ‘deplorables’in anavatanı, yani beyaz veya renkli olan, Protestan veya Katolik olan gerçek Amerikan yerlilerin, kökleri olan Amerikalıların anavatanı. Ve bu ‘Heartland’ Amerikası, kıyı bölgelerinin baskısı altında hızla yok oluyor.” “Bu savaşta iki Amerika birbiriyle çarpışıyor: iki ideoloji, iki demokrasi, iki özgürlük, iki kimlik, iki karşılıklı olarak birbirini dışlayan değer sistemi, iki siyaset, iki ekonomi ve iki jeopolitik.”(2)

SİLAH KININDA PASLANMAYACAK

ABD ekonomik olarak da geriliyor. 1980’de 880 milyar dolar olan ABD’nin millî borcu, 2019 yılında 22,7 trilyon dolara yükseldi. 14 Temmuz 2021’de bu borç, 28,5 trilyon dolar.(3) Bunun yanı sıra ABD tahvil piyasalarının toplam büyüklüğü 42,7 trilyon dolar. 42,9 trilyon dolarlık hisselerin rehin verilmesi yoluyla borçlanıldığını da hesaba katarsak toplam 85,6 trilyon dolarlık bir borç büyüklüğüne ulaşıyoruz. Bu sayılar, ABD’nin GSYH’sinin 4 katı kadar bir borç batağı içinde olduğunu gösteriyor.(4) ABD’de 38 milyon insan gıda yardımıyla yaşıyor. On milyonlar işsizlik parasıyla geçinmeye çalışıyor. Sağlık hizmetinden yararlanamayanlar büyük çoğunluk. Bir tek hastalanmama umutları var.(5) İşte bu ekonomik tabloda küreselci, liberal, tek kutuplu, Atlantikçi güçlerle “First America” diyenler arasında çatışma büyüyor. İç savaşın işaretleri görülmeye başladı bile. Hatta Hollywood’a İç Savaş (Civil War) anlatan, Trump’a “Geri adım at” mesajları veren film bile yapıldı. Seçimler öncesi silahlar çekilmiş durumda. Bir önceki seçim sonrası yaşanan Kongre Baskını, yakın zamanda Trump’a yapılan suikast, artık silahın kınından çıktığını gösteriyor. Tarihin cilvesi gibi: Amerika hep küçümsediği “çatışmaların eksik olmadığı Orta Doğu’ya” benziyor. Spagetti Western’ler yeniden piyasada. Ama bu kez beyazperdede değil, seçim meydanlarında. Tabiî bu iki seçenekten farklı olarak emekçi güçler de kendini göstermeye başladı: Redneckler. ABD halkının çözüm arayışları, derinleşerek sürecek. Hesaplaşma kaçınılmaz. O vicdanlı, mert, cesur kovboyların tarihe çıkış sahnesini yeniden görebilecek miyiz? İzleyeceğiz.

DİPNOTLAR:

general opinion: fall in a hole and die | don’t like them | eh | they’re fine I guess | like them! | love them | actual love of my life hotness level: get away from me | meh | neutral | theoretically hot but not my type | pretty hot | gorgeous! | 10/10 would banghogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuffbest quality: Leadership and sense of humor worst quality: Wrath, it’s an asset in some ways in terms of finding fiery vengeance on those who have wronged other’s but if it weren’t for Emma, in the end it would have killed himship them with: A happy family and a small farm to settle down onbrotp them with: Goodnight Robicheaux and Emma Cullenneeds to stay away from: Robber Baronsmisc. thoughts: This is Denzel Washington at his Denzeliness and I love every second. Sam really is the epitome of the paragon (being a hero who drives others to good just by being around them), while still being a flawed character with his own demons and I really wish there was more like him in the media. I love all his interaction with Goodnight and how you can clearly see their history without a huge exposition dump or the need for flashbacks.

Also, personal aside, Denzel Washington has no right to still look this good.  The man is 62.

I wanted to do one similar to the request Mod K got from the awesome anon! I tried to do some research to keep it within historical constraints and found an interesting tradition that they did in the West for New Year’s day so I decided to roll with it. – Mod T

Sam Chisolm

You and Chisolm were riding through a small town, headed to find a man with a warrant out for him. You still had a few days to ride before you’d be where you needed to be. In the meantime, you were amusing yourself with the thoughts of festivity. While you and your associate were riding through town, you couldn’t help but notice the bustle forming in the streets and the visitors going into the homes of friends and other townspeople. You couldn’t help your smirk as you glanced to Mister Chisolm. “What time is it?” you asked. The man glanced upward to the sky, his eyes narrowing at the brightness of the sun. 

“I’d say it’s about noon,” he answered and looked to you.

“And what day is it?” He shot you a questioning look before chuckling some and looking forward. 

“New Year’s Day,” he answered. You gave him a single nod. He pulled his horse to a stop and you followed suit, a grin spreading apart your lips. “But you don’t have a house,” he stated. You rolled your shoulders into a shrug and leaned a bit awkwardly closer to him.

“I would want more than oysters and champagne anyway,” you retorted. Without allowing him a response, you put your lips to his in a kiss made only awkward by your position. After breaking off the kiss, Chisolm returned his attention forward, barely masking the grin that threatened to creep along his face.

Joshua Faraday

You happened to no longer have a home and traveled with Faraday, who seemed to get kicked out of just about every town he ever set foot in. Due to this, you and he were bringing in New Year’s Day in a saloon. It was oddly empty, due to the celebrations. Most men were off to visit ladies and make their callings. An odd tradition but something you’d spent the better half of your years doing and now that you couldn’t, you felt almost empty without it. Faraday didn’t really seem to notice though, simply downing shot after shot of his chosen poison.

You watched him for a boy, an idea brewing in your mind. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the lack of anything else to really due or maybe it was even that you two were practically alone in the saloon. Either way, you decided to lean a bit closer. Faraday noticed and set his glass down, the start of a smirk tugging at his lips as if in anticipation of what you were going to do. You almost decided against it, but instead went for it. You kissed him and he eagerly returned it.

Vasquez

You know you had no one else to blame but yourself for giving up a proper life. Most days, you had no regrets; it was entirely worth it. You got to run around with an attractive man who spoke with a just as attractive accent, you were free to do whatever you felt like, and no one was there to bring you down. There were days like today, however, that you almost wished you were back in your previous life. 

You’d been keeping track of the days, too used to things like holidays and birthdays and other such things to let them go, and you knew today was New Year’s day. And instead of being home to greet gentleman callers, you were sitting on a log in the woods with a fire crackling in front of you. You’d been complaining for awhile, which Vasquez just let you do. He seemed to not really care and you wondered if he understood that it was quite a bit change. Eventually, though, he looked you square in the eyes with that adorable grin on his face. “We can still have some fun,” he stated. You stared at him for a moment before deciding he had a point. You moved over to him and kissed him, which he returned with pleasure.

Goodnight Robicheaux

You hadn’t heard from Goodnight or Billy all day. Then again, you also slept in later than usual thanks to the partying the night before. Everyone in town knew what today was and only the likes of Goodnight, Billy, and similar minds had the lack of decency to get drunk on New Year’s Eve. You hadn’t even remembered to make your New Year’s Resolutions; perhaps to stop drinking should be one. You were about to head out of your hotel room and find the other two when a knock sounded on your door.

You answered without hesitation and saw the Goodnight leaning against the wall. He studied you briefly as he pushed off of the wooden barrier. “How’re you feelin’?” he asked.

“Ready for more festivities,” you replied. The old man grinned and laughed a little.

“That can always be arranged.”

You held out your hand. “Calling card, please.”

“Doesn’t work that way in a hotel.” 

“Well in that case…” You leaned forward and kissed him, just a soft one on the lips, before pulling back.

“That it?” he asked, still grinning as he took a step closer.

Billy Rocks

You and Billy sat at the counter of a nearly empty saloon. You were both partially watching Goodnight as he tinkered away on the piano. A few lonely ladies were leaning against it, giggling and talking amongst themselves. You let out a sigh and nearly rolled your eyes; it was as close to a New Year’s celebration as you were going to get, without a house to call your own and a way to actually partake on the regular celebrations. Deciding you’d prefer conversation over the silence, you look to Billy.

“Have any New Year traditions?” you asked. He glanced to you.

“It’s not my New Year,” he answered.

“Oh.” You let out a small sigh and glanced to your drink. He mentioned it before; that they celebrate New Year at a later date, but it completely slipped your mind. You looked back to him. “Want to start a new tradition on this not your New Year’s day?” you asked, a smile twitching at your lips. He shrugged slightly. 

“Sure,” he responded. Your smile grew before you leaned in and gave him a kiss. He stared at you as you pulled away and you paused, not quite sure how he took it. “That’s limited to this day?” he finally asked and you couldn’t help your small laugh.

Jack Horne

You weren’t particularly thrilled by the thought of this New Year’s Day. It was a decent way to not spend it alone, you supposed, but living alone required you to prepare all of the food and gather all of the calling cards. This also meant you were going to be the one to clean everything up. All of this just so some gentlemen could come visit you and eat and talk, and maybe have a chance at something more.

It was around three in the afternoon when you got an unexpected visitor. Mister Jack Horne walked through your door. You couldn’t help your small laugh as you made your way over to him. “I don’t believe I got your calling card, Mister Horne,” you teased. The man looked toward the floor slightly and nodded a bit.

“No. You don’t,” he responded. “I just wanted to stop by and make sure no one was givin’ you a hard time is all.” You grinned some.

“No one yet. You’re welcome to stay and make sure no one does, though,” you replied before leaning up and kissing his cheek. You watched as his cheeks turned pink and he tried to keep from smiling.

Red Harvest

You had spent the day trying to explain to Red Harvest about the tradition of men going to homes to call on women. He didn’t seem to understand the significance of the tradition and why anyone would do that. To be honest, you weren’t sure why either. You knew why there were New Year’s Resolutions; to become a better person and overcome your sins from the year before. You could kind of see the point of having gentlemen callers on New Year’s Day but at the same time, it seemed kind of ridiculous.

“Do you have any New Year traditions?” you asked.

“It’s not New Year yet,” he answered. He passed you a glance. “My people have a ceremony.” You nod and the conversation falls into silence again. He pokes at the fire with a stick before glancing off into the mountains. You moved closer to him and he looked back to you with a silent question.

“Anything like this in your ceremony?” you asked before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. He stares down at you, a slight twinkle in his eyes before he looked back to the fire.

“For some,” he answered.

Emma Cullen

Emma didn’t have her house open, mainly because she was married. Previously, before Bogue killed Matthew. She opened her house to you, though, and you made sure to prepare the meal and keep her company. Over the course of the day, her spirits began to lift and you even got a laugh at one point. Things seemed to be getting better, even with the hustle and bustle going on outside.

You ended up staying much later than you should have, but Emma seemed completely revived by the time the sun set and you were leaving. You stopped in the door to say your good-byes before deciding to take your chance. “This is for you; since you missed out on the festivities,” you said before giving her a quick peck on the lips. You turned around much too quickly to see the pink rise to her cheeks despite the silent question in her eyes.

Teddy Q 

You were originally going to open your house up to gentlemen callers but decided against it. After everything that happened in Rose Creek, you didn’t really feel very festive for the New Year. Right around noon, when the festivities usually start, unless a family plans otherwise, you heard a knock on your door. When you answered it, Teddy Q stood outside with a shy smile. You let him in without hesitation.

He removed his hat as he stepped in and turned to look at you again. “Happy New Year,” he greeted.

“Happy New Year,” you answered. “I didn’t really plan on visitors,” you stated.

“I know. But I didn’t think you should be alone today,” he responded. His eyes moved around as if avoiding yours for a reason. And then the next thing you knew, he was leaning in and giving you a warm kiss on the lips. You paused for a moment, taken by surprise by his sudden boldness, before feeling the warmth swell into your cheeks.

Bartholomew Bogue

It was New Year’s Day and almost six o’clock in the evening. Your mother already scolded you for looking so glum; why she wouldn’t let you stay at your own house for this tiresome day, you didn’t know. She invited your sister over too, and all the gentleman callers seemed more interested in her and the conversation they could have with her, leaving you shut off at the corner of the table, laughing when it was polite to and nodding as if you actually cared. You were both excited to see six o’clock roll by and the visitors finally leave you in peace for the rest of the day, but you were also disappointed that you hadn’t seen the one man you had hoped to see. Your mother had hoarded all of the calling cards away, so you had no idea if he even intended to show.

Who is hotter?