Controversial Films Discussion

  • Thread starter Thread starter VU&NICO
  • Start date Start date
There are a few films that were controversial because they showed violent criminals as sympathetic POV characters, which caused some critics to fear that they would encourage people who already had antisocial tendencies to act them out. Stanley Kubrick removed A Clockwork Orange from distribution in 1977, after a rapist and a guy who murdered a homeless man both claimed that they identified with the main character, Alex, a sadistic gang leader. The film was re-released after Kubrick's death, in 1999, but there are still a few countries on IMDB's list of ratings by nation where it's banned. Here is a link to a page of articles from around the world (esp. UK) about controversies related to this movie. The most recent are from 2003, when a high school teacher was disciplined for showing it to a class.

I saw it when it first came out, and thought it was too arty for me. I'd read the book, by Anthony Burgess, which made more sense.

Some of the same reactions have followed Natural Born Killers, including criminals bragging that they were just like the stars of the movie.

No one remembers Cruising anymore, but it got a lot of protest, including theater picket lines, from gay organizations when it was released in 1980. It's based on a book by gay author Felice Picano about a gay serial killer who preys on gay men he meets in S&M clubs. Gay critics were concerned that straight audiences would take away the message that most random violence against gay men was perpetrated by other gay men, and that most gay men were reckless S&M participants.

Editted to add Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee. This film about a Black delivery man working for a racist white pizzeria owner climaxes in a riot. After a scene where the main character's boss comes on to the character's sister, the camera pauses on the words "Tawanna told the truth" spray-painted on a brick wall, referring to Tawanna Brawley. I recall several conservative critics saying that Spike Lee would be responsible if there were riots in NYC that summer (there were none).
 
I remember that about the Program. I believe the scene aired for awhile in theaters but was definitely removed prior to video release. Pretty sad that they did that - in my opinion.

I agree about American Psycho being controversial - but the book was far more controversial. American Psycho is one instance where the film was, in my opinion, better than the book because it didn't get TOO hung up in the graphicness of everything (in comparison to the book).

To go a little further back, decades ago, Love with a Proper Stranger starring Natalie Wood was very controversial. I mean, it covered pre-marital sex with pretty much a stranger and abortion (illegal at the time, although they did not actually did not go through with it).
 
*hunts it down*

Mysterious Skin film may be banned
07:49 AEST Wed Jul 20 2005
AAP
The American director of controversial film Mysterious Skin says he is stunned the movie about sexually abused teenagers may be banned in Australia.

Speaking in Sydney ahead of the film's first Australian screening, Gregg Araki said Mysterious Skin had not created controversy in any other country.

"I am very surprised," Araki said.

"The fact (is) that the film has opened already in so many other countries with no incident, no problem with censorship or anything."

The film, classified R18+, was referred to the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification after a complaint by federal Attorney General Philip Ruddock.

Mr Ruddock made the complaint after receiving advice from South Australian counterpart Michael Atkinson after complaints by the Australian Family Association.



The Office of Film and Literature is yet to set a date for a hearing on the film.

"I have always thought of Australia as a very sort of progressive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan place. So to run into this roadblock is surprising," Araki said.

Mysterious Skin is based on a novel by Scott Heim and stars 3rd Rock from the Sun actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Neil and Brady Corbet as Brian.

The story revolves around the two boys remembering incidents of sexual abuse, but in totally different ways.

"It deals with the aftermath of this abuse in a very truthful and a very sort of unflinching kind of way," Araki said.

"It is a very emotional and powerful story and that is why I made it."

The film debuted at last year's Venice Film Festival and has screened at a string of movie festivals around the world.

"I haven't cut the film in any other territory," Araki said.

"Australia is one of the last territories to open so it is kind of strange that the controversy is this late in the release of the film.

"It is really unfortunate."

Reviews in the US and Britain have been largely positive.

"The care and delicate understanding that Araki shows towards the two young male victims is unmistakable," Queer Screen executive producer Panos Couros said.

"This is a very important film on these issues, and its social value should not be discounted by anyone, particularly if this push for censorship has been informed by reading a synopsis."

The movie will show at a Popcorn Taxi event in Sydney and Queer Screen will hold a screening on Wednesday night.

It will then be shown at the Melbourne International Film Festival later this week before opening nationally next month, depending on the outcome of the Office of Film and Literature review.

:look:
 
I watched the three Oscars contender, and I still liked BBM better than Crash, IMHO, I liked Munich better than Crash.

I will not comment further as I don't want to get all hyped up with the controversy that these three films had. :lol:

Anyway, as for the WTC. I kinda thought that it really wasn't near nice that they titled the movie that way. I mean, what would the victims think about? Some may think oh, it's like a commemoration though some will think (me included) that it's all about publicity. I mean, people are pretty much still scarred because of what happened. Though, the movie's about it, I couldn't help but feel pain for those people who would see any news or trailer about the movie and be reminded of the worst day of their lives.
I think the title use is more about publicity :nod:. People knew what happened on Sept. 11 and they would talk about the movie. It's a sad game to play.
 
:lol: Sasha! I always love when you post because I get to see your doggies.

Baby Britney - you're welcome! :)
You know, the controversy was enough that I didn't want to see the first film (AP), but did want to see the second film (RoA), because when I'd gotten the nerve to see the first it didn't turn out to be that bad.

Now that I've seen both I'd be interested in seeing the director's cuts of both - I think they'd be a lot closer to the books.
 
I'm bringing this back up because the WTC movie is coming up and the controversy was inevitable but I have to admit...I expected more.



All I know is that I'm not ready to go see this movie. I know I'm not.

****

This past Oscars had all sorts of controversial movies up against each other.

-Brokeback Mountain
-Munich
-Crash

And some people still argue the safe choice took home the prize. I guess too much controversy does not sit well with the industry, if that was the case.

I still liked "Crash" better than "BBM" but "Munich" was the better movie (and had the better acting).
 
I was on a Gael Garcia Bernal high this past week, and watched both The Bad Education and The Crime of Father Amaro. Both films were pretty controversial. I don't know if The Bad Education was as controversial in Mexico as it was in the US (everything is controversial in the US..), but I heard The Crime of Father Amaro stirred a lot of debates, and was even on the verge of being banned.
 
mukooh what you said about "hard finds" is so right. I want to watch SO MANY movies but there's no way I could afford to get each and everyone of them through amazon.com.

I'm in college and I could try finding a film student that knows where to find some of them but it's still a hard road to some of the most obscure titles. A shame, really.
 
Thanks mukooh...yeah I like the Dandy Warhols...I will look for that documentary.
As for the Velvets, I prefer their debut album because it had the great John Cale in it...if you are into good art rock, I'd suggest you his 1973 solo album PARIS 1919...great, great stuff!

I have SALO' on DVD. Believe me, you can only watch it ONCE...it's an unbearable, almost unwatchable masterpiece.

That French film seems really interesting, but it wasn't released in Italy.
 
Actually, no one here was saying Catwoman was controversial because of race. My point was that people who hadn't seen the movie said it was crap, and it caused a lot of controversy with people who had seen the film and didn't think it was all that bad.

The race thing was in regards to other films, just so we're clear.



Wow - I think that's rather nonsensical, actually. I happen to believe in the existence of God and Jesus, but I don't care to see The Passion of the Christ because of many reasons, not least of which is that I don't think anyone should profit off of religion. It totally goes against the teachings of Christianity, not to mention other religions (I'm referring to the profiteering Mel Gibson did off of Christ's suffering, by the way, just so we're clear).

It's incredibly presumptuous to speak for people as if you know why they don't care for something. Sure, there probably are people out there who behaved as you described, but I'm not comfortable with your generalization at all. I hope you can understand and respect my differing views.

S.a.s.h.a. - I wholeheartedly agree. Also, I really hope you do get to see The Last Temptation of Christ again specifically because of how it fits into your interests. :)
 
I saw that in 1994 and haven't been able to see butter the same ever since. :lol:


Me, too. I first caught JCS on VH1 in the 90s and just had to have it and the soundtrack. :D

I think I saw The Last Temptation of Christ as a kid, but all I remember is Willem Dafoe. I'll have to check it out some time this summer. I love movies with controversial religious plots, especially when there's some sort of sexual innuendo involved. I remember counting down to the theatrical release of Passion of the Christ from the moment I heard Mel and Jim were involved. I'm not religious at all, but I enjoyed the film. I don't get what all the fuss caused by critics was about. I don't have to be a believer to know that it was well done. To me, it was like watching the Spiderman movies. I don't believe in Spiderman, but they sure make awesome movies. :)

Sasha
1062.gif
 
I loved the movie Passion Of The Christ. Then again, I believe in God/Jesus. I don't think people who disagree with this movie have valuable arguments. Reason being, most people who don't like it say it's b/c the movie tries to push religion on people and religious stuff should stay away. Well, using that srgument, I could say that all the other movies out there that don't deal w/what I believe are trying to push against my beliefs. Also, if you don't believe in God/Jesus, don't watch the movie. Simple as that. ;)

- Lib
 
The only thing I really loved about this movie was that it was filmed at my university. :lol:

Sasha
1062.gif
 
hi....i did a quick search at imdb.com on that title...it sounds fascinating....did you see it in a theater or were you able to watch it on a dvd???....it sounds like it would extremely hard to find....even behind the "orange curtain" where i am......

one of my favorite controversial films is also from france it's called 'dans ma peau'...it was released here in the u.s. as 'in my skin'.....it's a films about self-mutilation and self-cannabilism....

in%20my%20skin




Cutting herself one night at a party, Esther begins her journey of painful/ pleasurable self-discovery. A journey, most would describe as self-destructive, disgusting, obscene and sick. Not Esther though. Like an alcoholic or junkie needing a fix, she slips out of business lunches into the cellar, groping around for the nearest sharp implement to plunge, scrape and tear at her epidermis. To her, this becomes an essential prerequisite, like food, drink and sex. It fills a spiritual void, and becomes part of a normal day’s work in the office.

Naturally, her boyfriend begs to differ and when she fakes a car crash to conceal her knife to flesh activities, things take a long trip on a downward spiral.

This is tough going at all times. Some of the most graphic scenes of self-mutilation bordering on cannibalism are virtually unwatchable. There’s hardly a moment where your face will not be squirming, stomach queasy and lungs gasping for more air.

It would be easy to label this with the unimaginative bog standard film censor adjective: gratuitous. But this is a serious piece of work that challenges and explores rather than shocks for shock’s sake. Worryingly realistic, it makes a Mike Leigh or a Ken Loach film look contrived and staged - and that’s saying something.

Marina De Van takes realism to new levels. Why she has chosen to explore such a morbid subject is anyone’s guess. She provides no definitive insight into why Esther does what she does, but with the sheer authenticity and empathy inherent in her portrayal, there is a suggestion of strong personal connections with the subject.

This will cause a rumble in theatres all over. If you're wearing a tie, wear it loose. It would also be advisable to keep all clothing loose and top buttons undone.
from http://www.iofilm.co.uk/fm/d/dans_ma_peau_2002.shtml

i agree with parts of that.....perhaps she started to mutilate herself because of anixety....(perhaps that anxiety was always there and the accident triggered it?) after her accident....subject to panic attacks while out in public or in a social setting the only way she could alleviate those feelings was by cutting herself......with knifes, xacto blades and forks......


oh.....VU&NICO....i like your avatar.....i recently borrowed that cd from my library and turned it into mp3's.....although to be honest with you i kind of prefer their 3rd cd...which is simply called "the velvet underground".....


now this is way off topic....do you like the dandy warhols????.......if you into music....and good music documentaries....i would suggest 'dig!'....it's the tale of two bands....the dandy warhols and the brian jonestown massacre.....
 
I wouldn't say that Catwoman created controversy over race, I think it just....sucked. And so did Alexander, but there was controversy over the homosexuality with I thought was ludicrous. It only shows how stupid people are and how they are more willing to be lied to than to ever open their minds and accpet others.

sigh...
 
Back
Top