Let’s Skip the Luigi Mangione Movie

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As someone who has watched far too many true crime documentaries and seen countless fictionalized accounts of real-life events, I can confidently say that Hollywood should steer clear from dramatizing the Luigi Mangione case.

Which actor might suit best for the role of the charismatic, youthful Ivy League graduate, recently implicated in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson? Some advocates propose Dave Franco from “Now You See Me” as a strong candidate. Others favor Penn Badgley, known for his work on “You”. And, of course, Ryan Murphy, renowned for his work on “American Crime Story”, should be the producer, some suggest.

Or how about not. How about Hollywood just leave this one alone.

Although there’s no indication (as of now) that production plans are underway, social media seems to believe that a sensationalized account of these recent events is bound to happen – this assumption is particularly strong after pictures on social media surfaced of the muscular murder suspect, Luigi Mangione; his physique appears to be worthy of at least a three-part crime drama on Netflix.

You can imagine a Hollywood version of this story: A smart Ivy League graduate who is in chronic pain due to an injury becomes increasingly frustrated with the American privatized healthcare system and decides to murder the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, striking a blow against a soulless insurance company monolith. Sure, he went too far — any depiction would dutifully make that clear. But haven’t claim-denying insurers also gone too far? It would all play like a dark character portrait; Taxi Driver for the social media age. “This is a complex story guys.” Etc.

It’s quite likely that we’ll see one or more documentaries on this topic, as they are well-suited to approach subjects objectively and impartially. However, what if we were to consider a scripted project instead? In such a scenario, the central character would undeniably become a mythologized figure, someone whose perspective is somewhat sympathetic. This could potentially lead to a more narrative-driven exploration of the subject matter.

As a gaming enthusiast diving into a narrative, this crime scenario feels like a repetitive level in a game that I’ve already conquered. The basic plot – a man shooting another on the streets of Manhattan, only to be apprehended later – lacks the intrigue and suspense you’d expect from a gripping crime story. Frankly, most crime dramas offer more engaging twists than this.

Initially, let’s consider the motive: Mangione remains presumed innocent as more facts emerge, but the potential suspect appears to have harbored longstanding grudges against the healthcare industry. Reportedly, he was found with a manifesto expressing sentiments such as, “In truth, these entities deserved their fate.” He also penned a review endorsing Theodore Kaczynski’s book, suggesting that when other means of communication fail, violence becomes essential for survival. The argument being, while one may disapprove of his methods, they should recognize this as not terrorism or chaos, but rather war and revolution in the eyes of the radicalized. In simpler terms, it can be said that he believes his actions, driven by what he perceives as a greater good, are justifiable.

2nd, there’s the response, which has been akin to scenes from the 2016 “Black Mirror” episode “Hated in the Nation,” where negative tweets towards disliked public figures led to their murder. The New York Times refers to the suspect as being revered like a folk hero, and according to Wired, many of the most active posts on X about this subject have shown explicit or implicit support for the killing or disparaged the victim. It’s worth noting that this murder seems to have brought together factions from both sides. Mangione himself was reportedly a mix of left-leaning and right-leaning views and interests (not necessarily relevant). It’s challenging not to imagine the suspect, if found guilty, would be pleased with all the Likes and upvotes.

It’s possible that the perception that “everyone is supporting him” might be exaggerated. Podcaster Ryan Broderick suggested that this could be the most unified America, apart from the wealthy, in response to a news story since the advent of the internet. However, he may be confusing America with social media, as social media isn’t truly two sides but rather one – a collection of vocal, reactive, and often angry individuals (along with numerous agitator bots to keep them engaged).

But here’s a thought: After Jan. 6., everybody on the Left warned about politicized violence. After President-elect Donald Trump’s first (of two) assignation attempts in July, everybody on the Right warned about politicized violence. Remember that? Now Webster’s word of the year: “Polarization.” These are fraught times. Nobody loves insurance companies, or heartless claim-rejection policies, but also: It would be very bad if killing people who ran institutions we don’t like becomes a thing.

From my perspective as an engaged observer, I could choose any organization that wields life-altering decisions, such as major city police departments, Boeing, various government bodies, social media platforms, pollution-emitting factories, food manufacturers with harmful additives, even idealized U.S. nationalized healthcare institutions like the NHS in the UK. Each of these entities has faced criticism and accusations that range from negligence to contributing to serious issues like avoidable deaths or mental health crises. In today’s world, it seems as though there’s an endless supply of individuals working within these modern institutions who, regrettably, might find themselves targeted with the accusation: “They had it coming.

Mangione argues in his Unibomber book review that killing public figures to promote a perceived social good isn’t terrorism. But its precisely terrorism. And terrorism — particularly for causes deemed “justified” by a public mob who have expressed a blood of online bloodlust — can easily begat more terrorism. Again, Mangione’s alleged crime of shooting a guy in the street isn’t exactly some Bonnie and Clyde epic (a romance across a years-long slew of bank robberies), so any scripted Hollywood take invariably becomes some nuanced character portrait with his motive front and center. The denial of mythologizing celebritydom is probably a saner choice. Maybe let’s not rush to put an actor-as-Mangione on a film or limited series poster, even with that six pack.

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2024-12-11 18:54