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Live An economic crisis brings unemployed
Nada (Roddy Piper) to L.A. in search of work.
What he finds instead is that the ruling elite of
the world are aliens in disguise, their aim being
to keep humans in a state of mindless
consumerism. His discovery comes when he dons a
pair of special sunglasses made by a resistance
group and sees for the first time reality
unadorned. Billboards, store signs, magazine
covers--all bear subliminal messages to OBEY, to
CONSUME, to have NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. Money
itself says THIS IS YOUR GOD. But worst of all,
with these glasses you see which of us are really
hideous, bug-eyed aliens. And in case you haven't
guessed yet, I'll let you in on a little secret: they're
all Republicans! The conceptual breakthrough
is hilarious while keeping its roots in darker
matters. Although some fault the film for
settling into its action plot, the ending has a
great payoff. And the direction by John Carpenter
is handled with superb workmanlike aplomb. One
unforgettable set piece has Piper in a back-alley
fistfight with a friend who won't put on the
glasses that goes on and on, and just when you
think it's over it goes another round. One of the
most subversive films ever made in Hollywood, They
Live was released on the eve of the 1988
elections. The first TV ads had two hideous alien
politicians debating, then one accusing the other
of being "No John Kennedy!" --Jim
Gay --Amazon.com
Starring: Roddy
Piper
Rating: PG
Approximate
Running Time: 90 minutes
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