Mickey 17: A small man with a big message

By Ryan Agosto, Staff Writer

Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17”, opened to audiences across the globe on March 7, with a budget of $118 million according to IMDb. Premiering at the top spot in the box office, “Mickey 17” would quickly be iced out, falling into third place behind “Novocaine” in first, and “Black Bag” in second (IMDb). 

“Mickey 17” is a dystopian dark comedy about a man who ventures off into space to help colonize a new planet for humanity. Due to technological advancements, he is quickly and easily replaceable in the face of death, allowing him to come back no matter how many times he dies.

 However, in this dark comedy, the silver screens of “ Mickey 17” contain a message that reflects upon our society, particularly our political climate. Though the movie itself has been adapted from the book “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, the message behind the medium still stands tall.

Junior film major Cameron Martin shared his opinion on the film’s message. 

“While the message in the movie isn’t anything new, it doesn’t make it any less important. The entire idea of ‘Mickey 17’ is a criticism of capitalism, its effects upon the world, and how it is self destructive of humanity,” Martin said.

Martin further elaborated on his thoughts. 

“The movie’s depiction of capitalism benefiting the high and mighty at the expense of everyone else is a problem we have now,” Martin explained. “Without finding a balance, the environment and everyone who isn’t part of the system becomes a victim of it.”

After watching “Mickey 17”, many viewers feel that they  or someone they know can relate to the film’s message. 

 The titular character, Mickey, is trapped in a cycle: he is forced to endure horrible things just to survive, all while those in power profit off of his suffering. This reflects the harsh reality of individuals in our society struggling to change their circumstances within an exploitative system.

Junior film major Christopher Mitchell shared his opinion on the film, echoing Martin’s thoughts.

 “While it initially covers how destructive capitalism can be, one of the underlying themes of the movie is how capitalism can force people into soul crushing realities,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell further discussed his analysis of the film.