Patterns is one of those films that I've had on my list for some time now. I kept pushing it down because of other more supposedly ''entertaining'' movies.
Now that I've witnessed this film I feel like a fool.
Patterns is one of the best films I've seen in years. It's a hi-strong drama based on the executive branch of a major corporate entity.
It involves morality, greed and the prospects of improvement.
It's one man coming into a business that as only understands in a small way; Coming in as a new face thinking that he's amongst equals. When really he's nothing more than a replacement for a problematic executive (who's also vice president). In the very company that took over his former business. It's a stacked deck of intrigue and manipulation.
In other words it's a very well thought out drama with fantastic acting. a very solid script and a flowing narrative.
It's one of those rare films that could have been improved with an extended runtime. Essentially giving more effort and characterisation to everything that already happened. A good modern comparison to this might be the show 'Mad Men'
Fred Staples has been given the position of an executive in a very large industry based company. He's unaware that his position is specifically designed to replace that of one of the founders of the company who's some of the higher-ups feel is becoming problematic. Most of the film deals with the internal struggles between Fred Staples Mr. Briggs The Man He's supposed to replace and their president Mr. Ramsey who's orchestrating the entire affair.
(revealing conclusion) I highly recommend watching the movie and seeing the conclusion for yourself.
Towards the end of the movie Mr. Briggs has a heart attack after failing to cope with the stresses of being manipulated and forced out of his own company. (Mr. Briggs being one of the founding members)
Mr Ramsey's had purposely removed his name from a very important document that deprived him of any proper recognition. A big scene comes about from this. Before Mr. Briggs can resign; He falls down dead. Mr Staples doesn't take this very well and confronts his boss calling him a degenerate a monster and a generally nasty person.
His boss tries to bribe him by promising Mr Staples a double salary and bigger stock interest in the company. With ability to set his pay limit to whatever he wishes for personal company expenses.
Now in most movies Mr. Staples would refuse this offer and leave the business. With the idea of the ''moral High Ground'' behind him as he proves that greed is Unbecoming of him. But this movie takes a slightly different turn.
Mr Staples accept his offer and does take on the responsibilities that come about with being the vice president of the company and the higher pay raise. But he does it on a strange condition.
He's going to make his boss's life as difficult as humanly possible. Every bad decision his boss tries to push, every greedy manoeuvre; Mister Staples will be there to push back.
He makes it very clear that he doesn't care for Mr. Ramses and if given the opportunity he'll force Ramsey out of the company altogether.
I took away from the scene that Mr Staples with his Newfound promotion and status he's going to use his powerful position to try and better the company both from a financial point of view and from a humanitarian point of view. Assuring that people won't just be fired on the spot or let go in the name of simple profit gain.
This is one of those movies I could see somebody using as a political or social manipulative talking point to discuss the negatives of capitalism with an a modern society.
Now when it comes down to the ''Spectrum''. I'm pretty heavily on the left.
For the most part I agree with most of the liberal talking points. Equality for all people, acknowledging the systemic racist problems and just trying to better Society via social change in the name of social welfare and other such things.
However I do differ from some people in that I don't think capitalism is some sort of evil disease that must be destroyed and purged for the planet like an over the top Marxist Fundamentalist.
I think capitalism has its place in this world. Even the character Mr. Ramses at the very end of the film makes a good point.
He points out that a cut fruit company like his is the perfect environment to watch somebody like Mr Staples evolve. That because of the political manipulation and the general negativity of how the industry is run someone like Mr. Staples can be utilised to better himself and even improve his own crafts in a highly competitive and slightly toxic Market.
It'll force Mr Staples to become better at his craft and thus improve the lives of people around him.
I kind of agree with the sentiment. Capitalism is a great industry to help people apply their potential and grow. Simple ideas into large maintainable industries that can be accessible for all. But with all that said it's not the only venue.
Just because I like capitalism doesn't mean I wanted to be the soul system running our society.
Unfortunately a lot of businessman over the years have failed to utilise what capitalism is best at. Growth.
Instead they wish to stagnate our economy by utilising their companies to do one thing. Make money. Although that's a good system in principle; It's ultimately fruitless when you apply that the only reason you want to make money is so you can spend it into new industry. Stockpiling money does little to no good.
After all money is nothing more than a piece of paper that's entrusted to give us Goods. I give you $10 you give me a meal.
But at the end of the day it's nothing more than a tool. Money is meant to evolve the economy which itself is a tool that's made to produce physical goods. From stimulating improving industry, agriculture, clothing and medicine. It can even help us to improve ourselves in the theoretical. Such as philosophy or anthropology.
When done right a market system can be the most valuable thing to the human species. The Venetian Republic was able to run for over a thousand years and keep itself relatively free of external threats via its powerful trade Empire*.
We need to be able to have a social balance to the capitalist systems that are so predominant throughout many countries. Originally this idea came in the form of unions and proper education.
But unions have proven to both be corrupt and breakable over the years.
Slowly but surely most unions have been pushed out of major businesses and they become something of a memory as opposed to a reality to most people.
Those people who now run the businesses show little to no interesting wanting to maintain a healthy middle class which is the entire reason their business was able to thrive in the first place. So now external forces have to intervene and produce the laws that stop corporate entities from completely screwing up people lives or the environment. It's really a sad thing. I think a self-regulating Capitalist economy with smart people could produce some of the greatest environment in the world. But alas we're just not at that stage. And maybe we never will be.
*If we're being completely honest Venice also owns a lot of its stability and safety to being in a semi unstable region that was impossible for every one of the surrounding powers to take over without inadvertently being attacks by another big power to maintain the status quo. It was also able to maintain its position via trade agreements, military alliances, manipulations of the Crusades and controlling a vast amount of the spice trades up until the Portuguese and later colonial empires discovered their own independent routes to places like India and China.
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