Masculine March Poll ! (Patreon)

Boy, it's been an intense start to Masc. March and we are picking some specials that have room for a little more levity, or deepen our investigation into particular systems and modes of performing toxic masculinity through cinema. So for this set we can choose from...

Jarhead

Sam Mendes’ semi-forgotten prestige drama about Marine grunts (among them Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Lucas Black) who signed up right before Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, kicking off Desert Storm. More than anything, its about the boredom and uncertainty of being deployed, and having no outlet for the violence and rage that’s been instilled into you by training.  

Tango and Cash
Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell are LA’s two top cops, framed for murder by drug lord Jack Palance, and have to clear their name with righteous violence and monster trucks equipped with gatling guns. Astonishingly crazy and extremely homoerotic buddy cop action comedy released 9 days before the 80s ended. A mess, in part due to how the original director Andrei Konchalovskiy (Runaway Train) was fired towards the end of filming and replaced with Albert Magnoli (Purple Rain) for the final weeks.  

Cool Hand Luke
Paul Newman is a war vet in a 1950s Florida prison chain gang who refuses to conform. A hugely successful film that’s more nuanced than its reputation as a manly man’s movie would suggest. The egg eating contest scene has been referenced and parodied numerous times, notably by Cowboy Bebop and Jackass.