To mark the end of this year’s spring break a few weeks ago, New School Free Press audio editor Katie Pruden revisits “Spring Breakers” to see where it stands, 10 years later.
The year is 2012. Imagine it, sit in it, reminisce on it. Bask in the nostalgia of the heart-shaped glasses you found on Tumblr.
President Barack Obama just got reelected, Denmark just approved same-sex marriage, “Starships” by Nicki Minaj dropped and you are bumping it on your turquoise iPod. Who knows, according to the Mayan calendar the world just might end this year.
Now that you’re fully immersed in 2012, imagine yourself on spring break in Florida. It’s hot and you got your tits out. And maybe your name is Candy, or Brit or Faith, and you find yourself all along the side of some real, yummy, low-life scum named Alien who has a neck tat and receding hairline.
Ah, yes. Maybe now you know what I’m getting at.
But if you were under a rock in 2012 — or, rather, too busy being a civilized human — you may not have heard of the movie “Spring Breakers.”
This film was made by Harmony Korine and similar to the plot of all his movies it is unhinged and genius. You may have heard his name passed around if you have spent any time around the gaslighters who frequent Washington Square Park (the former home of the skateboarder turned auteur).
To mark the end of my 2022 spring break a few weeks ago, I thought to revisit this movie, and see where it stands now that I’m a sophomore in college, 10 years later.
‘Tis no longer 2012, and let me tell you now, I’m glad it is not.
I think I forgot how utterly terrifying spring break can be. Please, don’t watch this movie if you are looking to be entertained. Watch it if you are looking to be disturbed.
Anytime I thought maybe this movie was funny, in a ridiculous, James-Franco-playing-a-Britney-Spears-ballad-on-a-white-grand-piano kind of way, Franco would breathily whisper the words “spring break” through his grill in the background and my stomach would subsequently churn. I felt like I could smell his breath every time he talked.
But it wasn’t just me who was horrified. While the Rotten Tomatoes rating is pretty high — 67% — the audience rating is 2.8 stars.
“Warning!!! I would never watch this movie again,” one reviewer wrote.
I can relate to that — it’s pretty hard to watch a bunch of almost-naked women riding around in convertibles when it feels like this movie always has the threat of violence in the background.
But, surprisingly, I didn’t dislike this movie at all. Like all of Korine’s other movies, it’s supposed to give you a kind of major ick. It’s supposed to show you an underbelly of this iconic American tradition (the holy spring break).
“An extremely profound movie about spiritual transcendence, time, immortality, and modern American culture,” another reviewer wrote. “Rich with deep meaning and ripe for interpretation. Also one of the most visually beautiful movies ever.”
I would say this review is doing a little too much, but has aspects of things I can grab onto. Immortality? modern American culture? Sure. But, what one reviewer goes on to say is where I draw the line.
“A truly artistic work that is also entertaining and hilarious,” they wrote.
Would you look at Francisco Goya’s painting, “Saturn Devouring His Son,” and think “Look at that crazy man eating his son. That’s kinda funny!” No, you wouldn’t! It’s supposed to be disturbing. Of course art is often misinterpreted, and maybe sometimes that’s a good thing. But in this case, I’m hesitant to refer to this movie as “art”.
Since we’re on the topic of classical art, I would say “Spring Breakers” reminds me more of Artemisia Gentileschi’s “Judith Slaying Holofernes” more than anything. I won’t spoil the movie, but it’s a pretty accurate depiction of what goes down.
A friend of mine said “Spring Breakers” is like a movie from a guy that really wanted to make a porno, but simultaneously wanted to make it art. And, as a consequence, we all had to sit through an hour-and-a-half of nightmarish reality scored by dubstep.
I hoped this version of spring break was left in 2012, but I am afraid it was not. I am reminded of this when I see videos, such as Channel 5’s “Miami Spring Break,” circulate the internet. As such, I will not be going to Florida any March or April soon though to find out.
Fun, Florida and the American Dream. What could go wrong? Make it a film by Harmony Korine and of course it’s gonna go wrong. Is this film good? No. Iconic? Absolutely.