View on the Parallax View

The Parallax View, huh…what to say about this film by Alan Pakula…I am confused about being confused on this movie. The story line wasn’t confusing, I don’t even know if I liked the movie. The main connection I make with this movie is through that this company has a parallel escalators and everyone who rides them is pretty relaxed…just kidding. I understand it’s connections with conspiracies and that what we are told is may sound clear but might not always be as a true as it sounds. I think the most powerful message from this movie came from the beginning and end. I feel that this movie is attacking the judicial system more than anything else. The shot with the zoom in into the judges as they explain that this is a hearing not a conference so you do as your told, no questions until a few months after this whole hearing is over and the evidence is released. Not only does this cover their ass but it leaves you thinking that this must be the truth, they have gone over all variables, all evidence and really thought it over, especially after what was it nine weeks in court. The zoom makes it feel like you’re getting informed and being brought into the truth and situation. It’s not till the end where we zoom out from the judges on another case. And they’re accusing the wrong person for all the wrong reasons. The zoom out represents us pulling away from the truth, that justice is not being served. Next thing you know after they make the same ending marks as previously and they disappear. Does this mean that the justice system knows an end? When all is said and done, it’s actually done? Was this literally an “open and shut case”? Is our justice system flawed, it can’t see a bigger picture and will give up when a fairly reasonable answer comes along. Maybe that’s why we were zooming in and out. We zoom in into the judges to get the bigger picture of what’s going on as they fill the screen, and as we pull away the picture is smaller and lost, and soon there is no one left to explain what really happened. Other than a brief explanation that this is what happened, this person did that, and no more questions till a few months later when this case is all settled.