Good and controversial movies.

[Svengoolie 3]

Making a controversial movie is dead easy. Just say something guaranteed to offend and  provoke outrage.

Want to see how simple it is to make a controversial movie?  Just make one featuring Jesus Christ as a gay guy. Instant controversy no matter how bad or worthless the movie happened to be.

But making a good controversial movie is a lot harder. Making a movie that  makes a valid point, that says something real,  that isn't just about poking a hornet's nest with a stick to provoke a reaction, that's  harder.

I was thinking of early examples of good controversial movies. "Payton Place" was a good example. It walked up  to thast smiling,  inane,  plastic made of image  of middle america Hollywood had created and ripped its mindlessly grinning face right  off, exposing the ugly realty most peolle knew existed and wanted to ignore. Yeah, even in ward and june's neighborhood you'd find rape, incest, abortion and other stuff no one mentioned publicly back then so the victims just got swept under the rug,  told they  just have done something  to deserve it because it just didn't happen to "good people" and you didn't want to embarrass your family.

Peyton place took real balls to make and release and boy was it controversial as I recall from my social studies class. (Way before my time but I caught it on tv.)

Yeah it was controversial and maybe it let some people  talk about some things and some victims were  able to stop feeling like they "deserved it". So it was good in some context.

What do you consider a controversial movie thst was good and why?

[Gabriel Knight]

The first one that comes to mind is CHINATOWN, which explored a situation of incest in a high profile above-the-law family. Considering the times in which this movie came out, I believe it was a pretty heavy subject.

[Rev. Powell]

MIDNIGHT COWBOY - controversial at the time, not today. Masterpiece.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Still somewhat controversial. A very serious philosophical exploration of free will.

ANTICHRIST - Maybe the most divisive movie of recent times. Went too far, for sure, but has a real nightmare quality that's hard to shake.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST - Only controversial with a small group of dimwitted protesters. It's actually a very Christian and moving movie.

THE DEVILS - Nuns gone wild! Wouldn't be as controversial if it came out today. Suffered a lot from the initial controversy and never completely recovered.

FREAKS - Still makes me uneasy, but I don't think the freaks were exploited

Honestly I don't remember anyone ever considering CHINATOWN controversial, but I was too young when it came out to pay attention. I'm sure someone did, but it was nominated for 11 Oscars.

[Gabriel Knight]

MIDNIGHT COWBOY - controversial at the time, not today. Masterpiece.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Still somewhat controversial. A very serious philosophical exploration of free will.

ANTICHRIST - Maybe the most divisive movie of recent times. Went too far, for sure, but has a real nightmare quality that's hard to shake.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST - Only controversial with a small group of dimwitted protesters. It's actually a very Christian and moving movie.

THE DEVILS - Nuns gone wild! Wouldn't be as controversial if it came out today. Suffered a lot from the initial controversy and never completely recovered.

FREAKS - Still makes me uneasy, but I don't think the freaks were exploited

Honestly I don't remember anyone ever considering CHINATOWN controversial, but I was too young when it came out to pay attention. I'm sure someone did, but it was nominated for 11 Oscars.

Not gonna lie, I'm mostly saying that because of what my dad told me about it. I watched the movie and loved it, nowadays that plot twist isn't that shocking but I can see it somewhat relevant back then. Maybe the times we were living in Argentina in those years could've added to the shock factor (a military dictatorship ended in 1973 while another started in 1976, and movies like this were banned).

[Rev. Powell]

MIDNIGHT COWBOY - controversial at the time, not today. Masterpiece.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Still somewhat controversial. A very serious philosophical exploration of free will.

ANTICHRIST - Maybe the most divisive movie of recent times. Went too far, for sure, but has a real nightmare quality that's hard to shake.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST - Only controversial with a small group of dimwitted protesters. It's actually a very Christian and moving movie.

THE DEVILS - Nuns gone wild! Wouldn't be as controversial if it came out today. Suffered a lot from the initial controversy and never completely recovered.

FREAKS - Still makes me uneasy, but I don't think the freaks were exploited

Honestly I don't remember anyone ever considering CHINATOWN controversial, but I was too young when it came out to pay attention. I'm sure someone did, but it was nominated for 11 Oscars.

Not gonna lie, I'm mostly saying that because of what my dad told me about it. I watched the movie and loved it, nowadays that plot twist isn't that shocking but I can see it somewhat relevant back then. Maybe the times we were living in Argentina in those years could've added to the shock factor (a military dictatorship ended in 1973 while another started in 1976, and movies like this were banned).

I bet Trevor will tell us it was banned in South Africa too!

[RCMerchant]

I reckon BIRTH OF A NATION qualifies...I don't care for it myself.
TRIUMPH OF THE WILL as well.

[The Burgomaster]

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (1955) - A movie about heroin addiction in 1955? You bet! It didn't receive a Production Code Administration seal of approval until several years after it was released.

[bob]

I consider all of the following both good and controversial:

Eyes Wide Shut

Bonnie and Clyde

Straw Dogs (1971)

Scarface

Life of Brian

The Rules of the Game

Citizen Kane

The Last House on the Left

The Wild Bunch

[ralfy]

The Loved One

[Allhallowsday]

...Honestly I don't remember anyone ever considering CHINATOWN controversial, but I was too young when it came out to pay attention. I'm sure someone did, but it was nominated for 11 Oscars.

CHINATOWN owes part of its greatness to the sleazy cultural slam; incest was still taboo in 1974... particularly since FAYE DUNAWAY's character makes it clear she wasn't raped...  

Remember!  Lots of movies were doing that in the 1970s like THE EXORCIST or DELIVERANCE... turning the culture on its ear.  

Oh...!  DEATH WISH (1974)

[RCMerchant]

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE became controversial just because it gained attention from Siskel and Ebert's show.

[RCMerchant]

Garbage like SNUFF and BLOODSUCKING FREAKS also gained attention just because they were so vile. But they seem just really stupid once you watch them.

[RCMerchant]

The EXORCIST was good. So was ROSEMARY'S BABY.

[Allhallowsday]

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE became controversial just because it gained attention from Siskel and Ebert's show.

I hate that movie.  

Garbage like SNUFF and BLOODSUCKING FREAKS also gained attention just because they were so vile. But they seem just really stupid once you watch them.

BLOODSUCKING FREAKS   silly, gross, "sexy"    Definitely "vile".   

The EXORCIST was good. So was ROSEMARY'S BABY.

Great movies.   

[bob]

here's a few more:

Eyes Without a Face

Heaven's Gate

Do the Right Thing

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Brokeback Mountain

Lolita (1962)

Psycho

Requiem for a Dream

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Dressed to Kill