Watch Wild 90

Wild 90 is a gritty, black-and-white, avant-garde film from 1968 that features a group of three men sitting around in a dingy, run-down apartment in New York City. The men are Norman Mailer, Buzz Farber, and Mickey Knox, all of whom wrote, directed, and starred in the film. The film follows the three men over the course of one night as they drink, smoke, curse, tell stories, and reminisce about their lives. They engage in long, rambling conversations filled with profanity, insults, and occasional bouts of violence. They also sing songs, recite poetry, play games, and engage in other forms of entertainment to pass the time.

Throughout the film, there is a sense of tension and impending danger. The men frequently talk about the police and the possibility of getting caught, and there are hints that they may be involved in illegal activities. As the night wears on, their behavior becomes increasingly erratic and unpredictable, and it becomes clear that anything could happen.

One of the key themes of the film is masculinity. The three men are all in their forties, and they talk about the challenges of getting older and losing their virility. They also engage in harsh, macho posturing, taunting each other and trying to prove their toughness. There is a sense of loneliness and desperation underlying their bravado, a feeling that they are trying to mask their insecurities and fears.

Wild 90 is a highly experimental film, and it eschews many of the conventions of traditional narrative cinema. There is no clear plot or character development, and the film consists mainly of long, uninterrupted stretches of dialogue. The cinematography is stark and unconventional, with extreme close-ups, unconventional camera angles, and a grainy, documentary-style look.

Despite its experimental nature, Wild 90 is also deeply rooted in its social and historical context. The film captures a moment in time when the counterculture was gaining momentum and traditional values were being upended. The characters in the film are outsiders, rebels, and misfits who are trying to find their place in a changing world.

One of the most striking aspects of Wild 90 is its use of language. The film is filled with profanity and obscenity, and the characters curse and insult each other with abandon. The dialogue is crude, raw, and unvarnished, reflecting the characters' raw emotions and heightened states of consciousness. The language is also a reflection of Mailer's distinctive writing style, which is marked by its toughness, directness, and disregard for convention.

Overall, Wild 90 is a challenging and fascinating film that defies easy categorization. It is a document of a specific moment in time, a character study of three deeply flawed individuals, and an exploration of language, masculinity, and power. It is a film that rewards close attention and a willingness to engage with its unconventional style and challenging themes.