【英语时差8,16】颠覆好莱坞「疯云」的讽刺电影

 The title is a good question to ask during this dark comedy/drama of a whirlwind two weeks in the life of Hollywood producer "Ben" (Robert DeNiro) whose career is rapidly going downhill. The film begins with a preview of Ben's latest movie which outrages¹ the audience with its shocking ending, the gory² shooting of the main character, and even worse. . .of his pet dog.

Things only get crazier for Ben as he struggles to make his film presentable in time for the Cannes Film Festival in two weeks while trying to work through a divorce from his second wife and handle meetings with agents. One of the constant jokes throughout the film is Ben and the agents' attempts to convince actor Bruce Willis (played by himself) to shave off his beard and lose some weight.

Willis's humor is about the lightest part of this dark comedy with the recent suicide of a well-known Hollywood agent in the background. From the callous³ remarks about the suicide to the fight that breaks out at the funeral right over the coffin⁴, the film satirizes⁵ the cruel world of Hollywood filmmakers.

The satire⁶ may be a bit difficult to relate to for those not familiar with the inner workings of Hollywood, but the film is worth seeing for a few particularly good sections if not for the entire plot.

1 outrages   

引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• People are seeking retribution for the latest terrorist outrages. 人们在设法对恐怖分子最近的暴行进行严惩。
• He [She] is not allowed to commit any outrages. 不能任其胡作非为。

2 gory   

adj.流血的；残酷的

参考例句：

• I shuddered when I heard the gory details.我听到血淋淋的详情，战栗不已。
• The newspaper account of the accident gave all the gory details.报纸上报道了这次事故中所有骇人听闻的细节。

3 callous   

adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的

参考例句：

• He is callous about the safety of his workers.他对他工人的安全毫不关心。
• She was selfish,arrogant and often callous.她自私傲慢，而且往往冷酷无情。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 satirizes   

v.讽刺，讥讽( satirize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This detestable custom satirizes humanity. 这个可厌的风俗违反人性。 来自辞典例句
• This idiom satirizes those who instead of taking changed circumstances account. “刻舟求剑”这个成语讽刺那些办事迂腐，不知道变通情况的人。 来自互联网

6 satire   

n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品

参考例句：

• The movie is a clever satire on the advertising industry.那部影片是关于广告业的一部巧妙的讽刺作品。
• Satire is often a form of protest against injustice.讽刺往往是一种对不公正的抗议形式。