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When I first received my proverbial pink slip (it wasn't pink, and it was an e-mail, not a slip), I felt powerless. On the news, I would watch workers in my same situation vent their frustration. “You work and work and work your whole life,” one of them said, “but no matter how hard you work, someone can always come in and snap his fingers and suddenly you're out of a job.” Needless to say, many people are frustrated.
Luckily, now that you're home and you've got some extra time between job interviews, you can vent a little of that frustration in a way that doesn't actually harm anyone: Movies. To be specific, movies that stick it to the man, movies that satisfy your desire to rebel against the system, movies that tap into your frustration, movies that give your pain a voice. When I lost my job, I took a couple of blank days from my calender, and arranged a movie marathon. I didn't get to watch all the films I wanted, but it was a good way to purify my system, to wash the bitterness away, before starting with a brand new job hunt.
My perfect sticking it to the man movie day would consist of the following films:
Office Space – Of course this movie would be on the list. This subversive comedy highlights everything wrong with the white collar, corporate world: Incompetent bosses, excessive paperwork, and tedious assignments. How do under appreciated employees get back at the company? They steal a lot of money and arrange a beat down of an out of date printer. Awesome movie.
Fight Club – This movie seethes with anger and frustration. It is the ultimate anti-establishment flick. What starts off as a secret club for men to beat the crap out of each other (see? Anger and frustration) evolves into a downright revolution, aiming not at the government, but at the big business that controls our lives. Come on, tell me you wouldn't want to see a credit card company skyscraper tumble to the ground? (Again, seriously, don't try this at home)
Clerks (and Clerks II) – Most of us can't get away with being rude to customers. But, Dante and Randal (mostly Randal) are downright assholes. And they get away with it. Aren't you service industry veterans just a little bit jealous?
Falling Down – Michael Douglas goes on a rampage. His target? Establishment. Ever get to McDonald's too late for breakfast? Well, Michael Douglas sticks a gun in the face of the guy who tells him that. Granted, he's mentally unstable and hasn't been taking his pills, but it's an excellent portrait of the rage of the American worker.
Dawn of the Dead – Is there a more apt metaphor for the American worker trapped in a tedious job than a zombie? Especially a zombie in a mall? This movie attempts to use zombies to show all that is noble and horrible about the human race. And then, you know, blow their brains out and stuff. Trust me, it's very cathartic.
Star Trek: First Contact – Like zombies, the Borg are automatons, linked to a hive mind. Again, an excellent metaphor for the masses, don't you think? At one point, Captain Picard of the Starship Enterprise also states that in the future, humans no longer work for money, but simply to better themselves and the rest of humanity. Sign me up for that!
The Incredible Hulk – More action-oriented than the Ang Lee original, the new Hulk just kicks the crap out of anything. Hulk is rage personified. There's something to be said about the appeal of unleashing the monster within. Wouldn't you have loved to say to your boss, “Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.”
V for Vendetta – In the tradition of Fahrenheit 451 and 1984, V for Vendetta looks at resisting a tyrannical government. It looks at the line between freedom fighter and terrorist. In this film, the Man won, and he's taken over everything. But that won't stop us from sticking it to him, now will it?
Roger and Me – Say what you will about Michael Moore's more recent documentaries, Roger and Me is less about him, and more about the people of Flint, Michigan, who are put out of work because of corporate greed. This film was a warning long before the current Recession. Greed, it turns out, is not so good.
I'm sure there are more, but you'll have to find the ones that resonate most strongly with you. Each person's frustrations are going to be unique, and so a unique set of movies might work to offset that frustration. But let's be clear, losing a job is traumatic. There's nothing wrong with taking an afternoon off to indulge in your own destructive fantasies (as long as you don't live out those fantasies). In this way, it is perfectly acceptable to stick it to the man. Let yourself relax. Make yourself feel powerful. Give yourself one day to sit, veg, and recoop. Tomorrow, you can get started on finding a new job.
Now that you have read about Movies for the Unemployed, may we suggest that you take the next step and check out Playlist of Success. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the ILostMyJob.com Book Store!
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