"I Heart Huckabees"

And The "Existential Detectives"

Article by LiveReal Agent Luther

Talk about it: info@LiveReal.com

Rumors have been circulating that the film “I Heart Huckabees,” a frenetic, chaotic, existential-shotgun of a story about a team of "existential detectives" and a handful of their clients . . . was actually inspired by LiveReal.com.

It is true that, although there are many significant differences between LiveReal and “Huckabees,” there is a similarity in an essential aspect of the plotline: that of a small team of specialized individuals working to help individuals navigate the spiritual and existential complexities of the modern world.

And as the publication of LiveReal took place in the year 2000 after many previous years of planning, many possible reasons for this similarity have been discussed.

However, we at LiveReal have no reason whatsoever to believe that the film “I Heart Huckabees” was inspired by anything other than the creative genius of David O. Russell.

In Russell's creative probings of modern times and the insanity of the modern world, he must have intuited, in a flash of inspiration, that something like this – a team of specialists who work to help individuals confront the Big Questions of life – must exist.

And, well . . . it does.

By the way . . .

In my personal opinion - in case anyone is wondering whether the film is worth trotting out to the filmhouse for or not . . .

- the film has a very fresh and unique flavor that some will undoubtedly love, others undoubtedly won't. With moments of hilarity and even brief moments of clarity sprinkled thoughout a dramatic frenzy of wacka-wacka-wacka, I generally believe the film is well worth watching - if for no other reason than for educational purposes.

- and, not to mention, at least this movie was about something, and actually had something to say. In the age of Anacondas, Charlie's Angels sequels and Paris Hilton books - things that literally and objectively belong on the wet end of a piece of toilet paper - that alone is enough to get my vote.

But as usual, while I was sitting in the dark theater enjoying the movie, I couldn't help thinking about the requisite "underlying message" - and the necessary situation: if David O. Russell were to strip away the frenetic drama, and just answer the question - "What are you trying to say?" - what would be his answer?

Well, I don't know what Russell would say, and I don't want to put words in his mouth. But in my opinion, at least one major aspect of the message of the movie - the "solution" that many of the major characters found, and that the "existential detectives" actually orchestrated - had to do with "stopping your thoughts." In other words, the scenes with Wahlberg and Schwatzman bonging each other in the face . . . as well as the scenes of Schwatzman zipping himself up in the body-bag - they were all, essentially - however bizarre they might have looked - unique but evidently effective forms of meditation.

In other words, a big part of the "answer" that Russell puts in to the movie is simple: "meditate."