David Brin, in his blog post here, talking about the twenty year anniversary of the film version of his outstanding novel., "The Postman " I love Brin's novel, and I loved Costner's film version of it, too. I think Brin understood exactly the pluses and minuses of the film, which shows Brin's rarified mind.
Corporate media critics of the time called it "Dirtworld," making further fun of the other neglected Costner classic, "Waterworld," which corporate media critics found incoherent, when they were too stupid to see "Waterworld's" warning about climate change, and humanity still being too dumb to do anything even after the catastrophe, other than huddle in ignorance while mean and murderous roving bands terrorized the remainder of people.
Anyway, I went to see "The Postman" shortly after it arrived at theaters (I remember seeing it Christmas Day...), after reading a negative review from Kenneth Turan, who still is stinking up the pages of the Los Angeles Times. Turan called the film, with derision, if we can believe this, "Mad Max meets Frank Capra." You bet, Kenneth! It sure frickin' is! I said to The Wife, "We gotta see this--today!" And man, it was great.
The opening fifth of "The Postman" film sets up the appeal of fascism which, viewed today, will be even more clear for viewers. This was a Costner invention more than Brin's, and it captures Costner's growing sophistication about American society that began with his involvement in "Field of Dreams." Before that film, Costner saw himself as a Reaganite, if one can believe that!
The overall arc of the film thereafter is that New Deal values of government providing a mass service, such as the Postal Office, are often a springboard to human connection and development (or re-development) of civilization. And it also shows us the power of Myth with a Capital M. And the importance of Truth even within an individual's lie about himself. For The Postman, as a character, not film title, is heroic, and he is playing his greatest role as a postal worker trying to connect people's lives and restore the United States of America. He lives up to the Myth he creates and is a better person for it, and so are we.
Oh, and yes, Tom Petty. When seeing the film for the first time, I laughed out loud when I saw Petty hit the screen. Tom Frickin' Petty! Yeah....Bridge City, where they don't allow guns...
