Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
DVD Review: Humboldt County
()
Oh shit! Did I actually screw this dork last night? | Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
New to DVD today is Humboldt County, an introspective character piece by novice writer/director duo, Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs(both also act in the film). The film follows disenchanted medical student, Peter (Jeremy Strong), as he spends a summer lost within the confines of a marijuana commune hidden deep in the backwoods of Northern California.
In the film's awkward, opening scene, we learn much about Peter even though he says very little--he's socially awkward, emotionally vacant and extremely hesitant with the direction his life is heading. Aside from being the life of the chess party, Peter is also a man with certain physical needs. It's the physical need that drives him to bed a mysterious woman named Bogart (Fairuza Balk), aptly named for her tendency to "bogart" joints.
Support for LAist comes from
()
Your American Pot Farmers | Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
The result of their disastrous love connection is an early morning, after-sex car ride, whereby Peter falls asleep and awakens to find that Bogart's led him to her family's distant hideaway in Humboldt County. From there, it's a quick descent into insanity as Peter narrowly escapes Bogart's trigger-happy, gun-toting adoptive father, Jack (Brad Dourif) only to discover the rest of the family is just as nuts. They are free-loving, peace-offering, marijuana growers and dealers who believe in ghosts, conspiracy theories and the eventual human colonization of the planet Mars. Peter realizes the lifestyle this family leads is far removed from the conservative, responsibility-laden reality that he knows back in his wholesome hometown of Los Angeles, and the difference piques his curiosity.
As Peter comes to understand and accept Jack and the rest of the family, he gradually comes to understand and accept himself. He finds salvation in doing things that under normal circumstances he never would have done: he smokes marijuana, dances in the moonlight, pees freely in the woods, initiates a bar fight, runs from the law, and forges a friendship with Jack's son, Max (Chris Messina), a would-be criminal. The friendship eventually falters, however, and Peter is suddenly put in grave danger. In one thrilling showdown involving a chase with helicopters and DEA agents, he learns the hard way that life can't always be lived too seriously, that tears and laughter go hand-in-hand together, like ebony and ivory.
By story's end, Peter is but a shadow of his former, reserved self. Able to make decisions, emotionally connect and stand up for that which he believes in, he boards a bus, begins a new journey, and never looks back. While we don't know exactly where the bus is headed, it's inspiring nonetheless that a choice is made; a new path is forged, and Peter is forever changed.
Overall, the character development is strong, the scenery is beautiful and the shared moments of tears and laughter are pure in their attempts to be poignant. While Humboldt County is not a laugh-out-loud comedy, it subtly warms the heart and serves as a friendly, but important reminder: when faced with a fork in the road, run for the woods sometimes instead. DVD extras include the usual deleted scenes; a behind-the-scenes featurette and a short doc, A Little Hazy: Humboldt County Revisited.
Humboldt County is available today on DVD!
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist