When Indie Repeats Itself

I'm a pretty big movie fan.  At last count I was at 1189 movies watched.  That is by no means a record, but it is also more than most I presume.  So I tend to also know a lot about different movies.  Even some I have never seen.

So when I heard about this interesting film starring the old Batman, Michael Keaton as a washed up actor who played a superhero called (and the movie is called) Birdman then it caught  my attention.  Since I am a Keaton fan and a fan of his portrayal of Batman.



However, after watching this trailer it occurred to me that this film has kinda already been done.  Or at least the concept has been done before.  Someone past their occupational prime and at a personal crisis.  Trying to put together a play.  Surreal and post-modern mix of fantasy, special effects, and reality.  This reminds me so much of Synecdochne, New York.

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Watch each trailer.  Doesn't it seem like basically the same film?  If you have seen both films, let me know if the actual films are pretty similar. 

What Happens When Laughter Isn't The Best Medicine?

There are and there will be millions of words written and said about Robin Williams.  Words of praise, sorrow and some of scorn or even indifference.  To start out, I was a fan of Williams for the most part. Enjoyed his films both comedy and drama.  Even if I didn't agree with everything he said or stood for, I appreciated his comedic and acting talent.  I also can't say I know much about his mental condition specifically.  I can't speak to his mindset.  Nobody can really.  At least not specifically up to the point where he took a very real step of suicide. This isn't a post to condemn him or analyze him specifically.

What I've noticed on the news coverage is the praise of his talent and his ability to deal with his depression with comedy.  This is what it appears many comics do and probably many people who are not by profession a comedian.  However, nobody seems to point out that the comedy may have dealt with or covered his depression, but it ultimately did not save him from himself.  

This is not some criticism of comedy like some curmudgeon monk like in The Name of the Rose who tries to destroy Aristotle's' Book on Comedy. I think one of God's attributes is that of humor and one attribute rarely examined. However, even if God and scripture uses humor, it is not God's primary way of either expressing himself or saving mankind.  Love, faithfulness, grace, mercy, patience, forgiveness and sacrifice are ways in which God seeks to save humanity. 

So then a few questions:  What good is comedy to humanity and the Christian?  Could faith and God save those who suffer from depression from taking their lives?

As Bob Deffinbaugh answers in the article/question titled, "Does God Have a Sense of Humor?", comedy is a tool used by God (and used as a literary and teaching device in scripture). Thus, since God created things to be funny, God must have a sense of humor.  Comedy is good for people generally and Christians specifically to be used as a tool in life and teaching.  Comedy is disarming and disarms skeptical people who would otherwise ignore anything anyone says no matter how logical or inspired. Comedy has physical benefits of the body and mind which are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Comedy is helpful in drawing close family and friends and building the community and Body of Christ.  These are just some of the many benefits of comedy.  However, it is only a tool toward a greater goal of the ongoing salvation of man which include things such as unity, community, and taking care of the body and life God has given us.  

Could faith in Christ have saved Robin Williams or anyone suffering from depression?  Well it all depends on how you define "saved."  Could faith in Christ save anyone suffering from depression?  Absolutely if that saving means salvation from ultimately spiritual death. However, there are Christians who suffer from depression and have killed themselves.  Without getting into the debate about suicide, sin and salvation, I will say that faith and salvation in Christ will not necessarily heal everyone of their physical and mental maladies.  While God can and does heal people physically and mentally, it is never a guarantee that God will restore us whole this side of heaven or His second coming.  As Paul can testify, physical maladies may even come after one comes to faith in Christ and salvation through Him.  We will still struggle with certain temptations, certain thoughts, certain pains, and certain mental conditions.  Many times these conditions will also be tools and teaching aids God uses to teach and guide us and/or others.  It is a tool towards salvation.  Many times it is difficult to see how a malady or condition will ultimately lead toward salvation, but God uses everything in His time and His way if we believe he uses all things for our good who are in Him (Romans 8:28).

It seems like Robin Williams even said it himself that comedy can be a front not only to deal with pain and depression, but as a wall keep people away or not reveal the true person who is in pain.  This would seem to show that comedy was at times counter-productive.  If you make someone laugh maybe that person will not ask what made you cry. 

An additional and very insightful article: Robin Williams's Laughter Masked A Deadly Disease