Kicks
Might contain spoilers.
I’m not sure what to make of this film. It’s an unusual story with a distinct voice and much on its mind. At the same time, it’s unclear what it says. I’ve seen discussions of how it explores toxic masculinity, but that doesn’t make sense to me in light of the constant conflict between condemning the violence and glamourizing it. The women are all props, too.
It does show how toxic masculinity perpetuates itself and how only rejecting it can break the cycle.
On the other hand, this is wrapped in a Hollywood tale where toxic masculinity earns the hero
everything he wants: he keeps his kicks
, he has sex, he earns the respect of his peers by
beating up Flacko, and his cousin being shot doesn’t appear to bother him. All that notwithstanding
the stern dressing down he receives from his uncle. It’s just very confusing.
That said, the performances are very good and I like the soft musical theme that plays over certain sequences.