Reconsidering the Allure of Self-Centered Living: A Cinematic Journey

Noah Berlatsky (@nberlat) is a freelance writer based in Chicago, and the views expressed here are his own. For more opinions, visit CNN.

What unites Hollywood films of diverse genres is their focus on the most important person in the universe. Whether it's an amnesiac assassin battling a secretive government conspiracy, or an individual searching for true love, the central narrative revolves around this main character. Whether they are a child bitten by a radioactive insect or a different child sent from a distant planet, the film is centered on them. Everyone else is secondary to their story.

Noah Berlatsky

The Hollywood default promotes and reinforces the idea that life is a journey of individual struggle and personal triumph, with success and self-actualization as the ultimate goal. This narrative aligns with the messages of the lucrative self-help industry, featuring motivational speakers like Tony Robbins and Deepak Chopra, as well as popular trends like keto diets. Author and lifestyle guru Tim Ferriss emphasizes that a person's success can be measured by their willingness to have uncomfortable conversations. Similarly, self-help author and political candidate Marianne Williamson urges individuals to embrace their brilliance and potential. The prevailing mindset is that by being courageous and believing in ourselves, we can become stronger, faster, and achieve our goals as the main character of our own story.

Actor Jake Johnson makes his directorial debut with the quirky film "Self Reliance," which explores the concept of personal triumph and self-narrative. However, the movie takes a comical and absurd approach to the idea, portraying the main character as a flawed and deluded individual rather than a confident and self-reliant hero. The story follows Tommy Walcott, played by Johnson himself, a mundane office worker who experiences a series of bizarre events after his longtime girlfriend leaves him. These events lead him to an unconventional opportunity to appear on a dark web gameshow, orchestrated by actor Andy Samberg in the film.

The game is deadly. Over the next 30 days, he will be pursued by freelance assassins. If he manages to stay alive, he will be rewarded with $1 million. The twist is that the hunters will not strike if he is accompanied by another person, so he simply needs to ensure he is always with a friend or loved one to stay safe.

Nicolas Cage in Kristoffer Borgli's film "Dream Scenario."

Courtesy A24

Nicolas Cage's performance in this film serves as a powerful exploration of the human experience. Contrary to the typical lone wolf action thriller, Tommy seeks the support of his family rather than fighting alone. The movie challenges the notion of self-reliance, instead emphasizing the importance of strategic co-dependence.

The movie is more than just a funny action film. Johnson takes the audience through a mix of genres, adding elements of zany buddy comedy when Tommy befriends a homeless man, a rom-com twist when he meets contestant Maddy, and the dark web game itself is a reality show, with Tommy constantly on camera and interacting with camerapeople who are also fans and ninjas.

Tommy isn't just the central figure in a single story. He's the focal point of numerous well-known narratives, all squeezed into a 90-minute timeframe. As a result, the entire concept of the main character begins to stretch and tear.

The strain is evident when Tommy's family doubts that he is the target of a dark web assassination game. It's also noticeable as the movie breaks the fourth wall by delivering scripted emotional moments with unsettling regularity. Tommy and his ex have a significant conversation about their past, while Tommy and Maddy share multiple important discussions. Then, the movie unexpectedly brings resolution to Tommy's childhood trauma.

The resolution provided is not cathartic at all. It feels strange, disturbing, and demoralizing. Being the protagonist doesn't feel like a privilege, but rather like a bizarre, mocking joke. Tommy's constant squinting in all directions, searching for any potential danger, starts to give off the impression that he's constantly checking over his shoulder for the "kick me" sign.

Anna Kendrick as Maddy in "Self Reliance."

Courtesy of Hulu

The character Tommy undergoes a transformation throughout the film, exhibiting signs of paranoia, delusions, and a loss of control in his job and relationships. His experience is reminiscent of movies such as "The Matrix" and "The Truman Show," where the protagonist must awaken to their true self and break free from a false reality. These films offer a lesson in self-discovery, urging viewers to embrace their authentic selves despite external attempts to deceive them. However, Tommy's struggle differs in that it's not due to a lack of belief in his own truth, but rather an excessive confidence in it. His (possible) mental illness becomes a metaphor for the audience's cognitive disorientation. Instead of a typical empowerment story, the film presents a disorienting nightmare where being a hero leads to disempowerment due to a distorted perception of one's place in the world.

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Johnson interprets the quotation as self-satire rather than self-help or self-exhortation. Why assume that the world is interested in shaping you into something else? Do you truly believe that fate has exposed your name on the dark web or sent Andy Samberg to you in a limousine? Where does the self exist apart from others and the world, if at all?

Is it not absurd to think that you can talk yourself into empowerment and riches? Is everyone truly exceptional and should we even expect that from them? Our media, reading material and much of our moral code advocates for constant self-improvement, as if you need constant doses of inspiration to claim your place in your own journey to greatness.

Perhaps it would be more beneficial if we simply refrained. There is no need to strive for a $1 million prize in a frivolous game, nor to consider one's own thoughts as superior to those of others like an isolated eccentric. It could be more beneficial if you refrained from doing so. While Hollywood and the self-help industry tout your life as a remarkable story, Johnson argues that once you view your self as something to conquer, you have already deceived yourself.