The problem with reading Paul Kingsnorth’s Against the Machine is that once you see the machine, you can’t unsee it. Of course you are aware of progress (more roads), the advances (pizza drone delivery) and the sheer glory of it all (300k abortions in the UK at the last count). But post–book, you understand the thinking and you start to apply to all sorts of situations. I rewatched two films recently where, on reflection, two men take on The Machine.
At first glance Falling Down (1993) and Office Space (1999) could not be more different. Falling Down is the classic 1993 film starring Michael Douglas with plenty of violence. Office Space is a comedy with lots of bad language. But in each movie a man takes on the Machine. One loses and one wins.
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