GTGC - #161 - Zoolander

It's ZOOlander, not Zoolander. That's right dear listener, we are back with a vengeance. Well, maybe not so vengeful, as we take on our very first Patreon Pick which comes from Sam LeCates. Sam has chosen for us to sit down and watch the Ben Stiller-directed, Zoolander. The 2001 comedy classic that is infinitely quotable and makes Will Ferrell mostly tolerable.We thought it would be a nice chance to honor our Patreons as well as riding the Hollywood Hype Train as we get ready for Zoolander 2 or 2ooLander, whichever you prefer. 

To engage the follies of Derek Zoolander, Alex, Caleb, and Dustin gather around the table to get beneath the surface. Caleb springs at the chance and gets into a marxist reading of the economics being portrayed within the film. He takes a look at the salt-of-the-earth Zoolander and his everyman background and compares that to the capitalistic exploits of Mugatu. Alex uses this as a jumping in point before moving into some of the more troubling aspects of the films, specifically those brought about by peculiar uses of makeup both in diegetic and non-diegetic moments of the film. Dustin then takes us home with a discussion of Slavoj Zizek and fetishistic disavowal.He mentions how the movie tries to make us feel like we're seeing real causes being brought to light but then understanding that nothing's actually being done to be proactive in regards to those issues. 

Alright dear listener, there you have it, get your Blue Steel ready and hit that play button; it's on. 

Zoolander Time Stamps

00:45 - Welcome and Introductions

04:16 - Synopsis and Reviews

08:26 - The Game: Favorite Cameos

14:50 - Analysis

33:06 - Shelf or Trash: Else or Instead

39:02 - Social Media Plugs

40:21 - Wrap Up and Announce Next Week's Film