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Date Posted: 08:47:41 09/14/07 Fri
Author: Trys
Subject: Re: John from Cincinnati
In reply to: EJetson 's message, "John from Cincinnati" on 08:04:28 09/13/07 Thu

John from Cincinnati is New Testament mythology set against a backdrop of SoCal surfing. Improbable? Two things: First, Jesus didn't go around saving the righteous. Second, what better way to send a "divine message" than through pop culture. (Thank God it wasn't Britny from Cincinnati, eh?)

The archetypes are all present--usurer, prostitute, holy man (which Mitch wrongly considers himself)--as are the themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption.

Lynx, thank you for the term "mirror," which is a great description of much of the dialogue. Ed O'Neill's character called it "parroting," but "mirroring" is more accurate. It's interesting to note how the different players respond when John gives their words back to them. The less spiritually enlightened ones, like Cissy, think John is a retard. The ones who are more willing to explore the theme, like Linc, actually hear a message. I think scripting that kind of dialogue would be more, not less, difficult.

I am still chuckling over the irony of "No, I got my eye on you, Bill!"

To Lynx's analysis of Freddy's spiritual nature, I would add that he strikes me as someone with, perhaps, a very strong system of superstitions, which isn't that different from religion. He says early on that he doesn't know why he told the Ice Cream Man to sell Butchie bad dope. And he has a prophetic dream about Shawn. He knows something is going on, not that he necessarily trusts it. He may be a bit unlikely, but hey, he's fun.

My favorite thing about John from Cincinnati was that it made me wonder how I would react to witnessing an all-out miracle. Which of those people would I be? Would I be apostolic, like Linc or Dr. Smith? Would I be a doubting Thomas, like Bill or Freddy? Or would I just pretend none of it was even happening, like Cissy? Is it possible to know?

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