Can I get some suggestions for a high school film club?
August 23, 2011 7:39 PM Subscribe
Can I get some suggestions for a high school film club? Something novel and new for them, something with creative/gimmicky cinematography and storytelling, something they would not go out and watch on their own, yet something they would still appreciate...
Some things I'm considering:
1. Anything pre-2004 is "old" and they have not seen it. If you asked them their favorite movie, it's probably from the last year. I showed Back to the Future last year and only about 10% had seen it, because the 80s are ancient.
2. They are primarily south and southeast Asian so films with Asian characters I think would go over better, but I don't have any good ideas.
3. Primarily guys, ages 16-17.
4. I can probably get by with some "light R", but anything too gory/sexy/violent might not pass muster. No Se7en, for example, or Requiem for a Dream or Irreversible.
5. Some preliminary ideas: The Usual Suspects, Memento, Akira, Donnie Darko.
Some things I'm considering:
1. Anything pre-2004 is "old" and they have not seen it. If you asked them their favorite movie, it's probably from the last year. I showed Back to the Future last year and only about 10% had seen it, because the 80s are ancient.
2. They are primarily south and southeast Asian so films with Asian characters I think would go over better, but I don't have any good ideas.
3. Primarily guys, ages 16-17.
4. I can probably get by with some "light R", but anything too gory/sexy/violent might not pass muster. No Se7en, for example, or Requiem for a Dream or Irreversible.
5. Some preliminary ideas: The Usual Suspects, Memento, Akira, Donnie Darko.
Hrm, no Crying Game.
How about Being John Malkovich or Pi?
Or The Princess Bride, which doesn't follow most of your preferences but everyone should see it. :D
posted by Glinn at 7:48 PM on August 23, 2011
How about Being John Malkovich or Pi?
Or The Princess Bride, which doesn't follow most of your preferences but everyone should see it. :D
posted by Glinn at 7:48 PM on August 23, 2011
Chungking Express.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:49 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:49 PM on August 23, 2011
Amelie? Chunking Express?
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:49 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:49 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Harold and Maude
posted by schyler523 at 7:50 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by schyler523 at 7:50 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Dr. Strangelove?
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:50 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:50 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
ooooohhhh and Brick, fuck yeah box.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:51 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:51 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Memento can get pretty gory in parts.
Have you considered movies with kids as the protagonists? Right off hand, I would suggest Stand by Me. Bend it like Beckham is about a girl, but she's Indian, and it deals with old-school tradition, so maybe they could relate? Whale Rider is also about a girl, but again, there's an ethnic component that gives it an exotic feel.
No crazy cinematography there, though.
posted by Gilbert at 7:53 PM on August 23, 2011
Have you considered movies with kids as the protagonists? Right off hand, I would suggest Stand by Me. Bend it like Beckham is about a girl, but she's Indian, and it deals with old-school tradition, so maybe they could relate? Whale Rider is also about a girl, but again, there's an ethnic component that gives it an exotic feel.
No crazy cinematography there, though.
posted by Gilbert at 7:53 PM on August 23, 2011
My favorites from my college intro to film elective:
Rope - Hitchcock, filmed in a series of continuous takes so it's more like a play than a movie, gay subtext, Farley Granger is dreamy.
Do the Right Thing - Spike Lee, racial tension, Public Enemy.
Rashomon - Kurosawa, obviously there are Asian characters, same story told from three different perspectives, is used in a lot of pop culture references that they probably don't get yet.
The Thin Blue Line - Errol Morris, documentary, about a guy on death row in Texas for a crime he didn't commit, will turn them all off the death penalty.
Mildred Pierce - Noir-y melodrama with a female protagonist, murder and intrigue, chicken and waffles.
posted by phunniemee at 7:53 PM on August 23, 2011 [3 favorites]
Rope - Hitchcock, filmed in a series of continuous takes so it's more like a play than a movie, gay subtext, Farley Granger is dreamy.
Do the Right Thing - Spike Lee, racial tension, Public Enemy.
Rashomon - Kurosawa, obviously there are Asian characters, same story told from three different perspectives, is used in a lot of pop culture references that they probably don't get yet.
The Thin Blue Line - Errol Morris, documentary, about a guy on death row in Texas for a crime he didn't commit, will turn them all off the death penalty.
Mildred Pierce - Noir-y melodrama with a female protagonist, murder and intrigue, chicken and waffles.
posted by phunniemee at 7:53 PM on August 23, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Breakfast Club? It's rated R, but mostly for language. I feel like it's definitely a "must see"!
posted by hasna at 7:54 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hasna at 7:54 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Primer Made for about zero dollars. The best time-travel film ever made.
Brazil Beautiful. Hilarious. The best film ever made.
posted by pompomtom at 7:58 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Brazil Beautiful. Hilarious. The best film ever made.
posted by pompomtom at 7:58 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Koyaanisqatsi - I watched it again recently, and if anything it is more relevant today than ever. Also, it's a bit off the beaten path.
posted by just_ducky at 8:00 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by just_ducky at 8:00 PM on August 23, 2011
Response by poster: Being John Malkovich is a good idea - 16-year-old me would have really liked that. And it doesn't have to meet ALL of those standards, just 1-2 of them. I'll get on IMDB and look at some of these as I haven't seen them. Breakfast Club, hells yeah.
Primer! I thought about that. Would the infinite amount of confusion that it creates entice a high schooler, or would they give up in the middle?
posted by Elagabalus at 8:00 PM on August 23, 2011
Primer! I thought about that. Would the infinite amount of confusion that it creates entice a high schooler, or would they give up in the middle?
posted by Elagabalus at 8:00 PM on August 23, 2011
Walkabout
posted by joannemullen at 8:01 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by joannemullen at 8:01 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
North by Northwest
posted by thewestinggame at 8:06 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by thewestinggame at 8:06 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
classic John Woo movies?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:11 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:11 PM on August 23, 2011
Strictly Ballroom, for all of the fun of Baz Luhrmann without explicit sex or violence.
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:12 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by BlahLaLa at 8:12 PM on August 23, 2011
An oddball mix:
Pulp Fiction
The Game
Goodfellas
Groundhog Day
The Untouchables
The Silence of the Lambs
Infernal Affairs
A Few Good Men
posted by sharkfu at 8:18 PM on August 23, 2011
Pulp Fiction
The Game
Goodfellas
Groundhog Day
The Untouchables
The Silence of the Lambs
Infernal Affairs
A Few Good Men
posted by sharkfu at 8:18 PM on August 23, 2011
The Station Agent!
posted by shortyJBot at 8:23 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by shortyJBot at 8:23 PM on August 23, 2011
Galaxy Quest - You can talk to them about how the aspect ratio of the film gradually widens from 1.33:1 to 1.85:1 to 2.35:1 during the movie as they move from them being actors on the TV show to heroes in real life (you should probably double check that the DVD/ Blu Ray replicates this from the theatrical release).
posted by sharkfu at 8:32 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by sharkfu at 8:32 PM on August 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'd recommend Miyazaki films, such as Nausicaa, Laputa, and Porco Rosso in particular. They are anime, but these are not for kids, so hopefully your club would enjoy them. (And, being Japanese, they have a few more asian characters than a lot of films.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:33 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:33 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Run Lola Run?
posted by clerestory at 8:37 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by clerestory at 8:37 PM on August 23, 2011
I love doing movie version comparisons - different versions of Romeo and Juliet (there are lots) or a classic with an updated interpretation (Scarlett Letter and Easy A, or Emma and Clueless).
I also love the idea of watching war movies that were made in different wars to examine the society's influence on attitudes towards war.
And I can't believe no one's said Star Wars! Not Asian, but awesome.
posted by guster4lovers at 8:38 PM on August 23, 2011
I also love the idea of watching war movies that were made in different wars to examine the society's influence on attitudes towards war.
And I can't believe no one's said Star Wars! Not Asian, but awesome.
posted by guster4lovers at 8:38 PM on August 23, 2011
Best answer: Seconding Barton Fink. Watching that and Clockwork Orange in high school film/screenwriting class started me on the path to 'Serious Film'.
But of course, anything by Kubrick or the Coens should fit the bill.
Also, Waking Life and Slacker.
posted by mannequito at 8:45 PM on August 23, 2011
But of course, anything by Kubrick or the Coens should fit the bill.
Also, Waking Life and Slacker.
posted by mannequito at 8:45 PM on August 23, 2011
oooh, seeing guster4lovers' suggestion above makes me more excited about the waking life/slacker combo. Infinite ways to compare! (WL is kind of an unofficial sequel to Slacker).
posted by mannequito at 8:47 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by mannequito at 8:47 PM on August 23, 2011
classic Kurosawa?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:48 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:48 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Tears of the Black Tiger. It's like a Thai Spaghetti Western from 2000.
posted by hooray at 8:56 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hooray at 8:56 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hmm, not sure many of you seem to be completely ignoring the OP's criteria, especially number 1. Or am I/are you misinterpreting what s/he's saying?
In any case, thirding Brick (I came in here to recommend that), and adding Brick Lane (in view of ethnic/cultural demographic, but also beautifully shot), Push (a seemingly run-of-the-mill sci-fi that's actually pretty well developed and engaging) and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, a laugh-out-loud comedy that takes some mental gymnastics but is nonetheless irresistible, complete with dick jokes and hilarious Al Pacino impersonations (but based on a classic 18th-century novel).
posted by war wrath of wraith at 9:11 PM on August 23, 2011
In any case, thirding Brick (I came in here to recommend that), and adding Brick Lane (in view of ethnic/cultural demographic, but also beautifully shot), Push (a seemingly run-of-the-mill sci-fi that's actually pretty well developed and engaging) and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, a laugh-out-loud comedy that takes some mental gymnastics but is nonetheless irresistible, complete with dick jokes and hilarious Al Pacino impersonations (but based on a classic 18th-century novel).
posted by war wrath of wraith at 9:11 PM on August 23, 2011
Kill Bill/s, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Dances With Wolves, The Last of The Mohicans... all big epic blockbusters, not obscure indie films so hmmm dunno...
posted by Jubey at 9:13 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by Jubey at 9:13 PM on August 23, 2011
Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the apotheosis of teen-angst slapstick and eminently-digestible Americana.
A Hidden Fortress and Star Wars double-feature.
posted by rhizome at 9:21 PM on August 23, 2011
A Hidden Fortress and Star Wars double-feature.
posted by rhizome at 9:21 PM on August 23, 2011
Best answer: Better Luck Tomorrow. Main characters are Asian male high school students, so it might especially appeal to your students.
posted by pluot at 9:59 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by pluot at 9:59 PM on August 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
The red violin
posted by ubermasterson at 10:10 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by ubermasterson at 10:10 PM on August 23, 2011
Cool Hand Luke!
posted by pazazygeek at 10:14 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by pazazygeek at 10:14 PM on August 23, 2011
Nthing Brick, Run Lola Run, and a Thin Blue Line.
Anyone recommend Glengarry Glen Ross or the Spanish Prisoner yet?
posted by salvia at 10:33 PM on August 23, 2011
Anyone recommend Glengarry Glen Ross or the Spanish Prisoner yet?
posted by salvia at 10:33 PM on August 23, 2011
Best answer: I was introduced to Hitchcock at that age. Any Hitchcock but especially The Birds ...15 years later, have never watched it again, and I'm still fucking terrified of birds. And it's not at all graphic and the special effects suck but modern standards, but it is so terrifying that I still have nightmares about those fucking birds. When they all perch on the phone lines and look at me .... *shudder*
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:39 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:39 PM on August 23, 2011
They are, no doubt, familiar with Spielberg, but most have probably never seen, or even hear of Duel. It's available on Netflix and is a great example of what a director can do with a modest budget and simple concept.
posted by kbar1 at 11:11 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by kbar1 at 11:11 PM on August 23, 2011
One more suggestions, adding to Eyebrows McGee's recommendation for Hitchcock: Psycho. I recently watched it with my 13 year old and she was riveted. It's rated R, but it's tamer than most PG-13 movies. I've linked to the shower scene, of course, but it's the last minute of that scene that I love: the drain, her eye, the camera slowly pulling back - it's genius filmmaking.
posted by kbar1 at 11:28 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by kbar1 at 11:28 PM on August 23, 2011
The City of Lost Children
posted by elizardbits at 3:40 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 3:40 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: City of God
Before Sunrise / Before Sunset
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
What Dreams May Come
V for Vendetta
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A Beautiful Mind
Adaptation
Casino Royale [cinematography]
Children of Men [2006, incredible cinematography]
Das Boot [German WWII sub warfare]
Enemy of the State
Hero [Chinese]
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Letters from Iwo Jima
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels [a few violent scenes and f-words]
Michael Clayton
O Brother, Where Art Thou [many people born in 1980-1990 love this movie.]
Pleasantville
Schindler's List
Stand By Me [a great coming of age story]
Terminator 2
The Bourne Series
The Mask of Zorro
The Matrix
The Prestige
The Shawkshank Redemption
Three Kings [action movie set in Desert Storm]
Traffic [adult themes, but an excellent film]
Waking Life
Shine
Amadeus
Gattaca
Apollo 13
Dead Poet's Society
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
The Count of Monte Cristo [2002]
Seconding Infernal Affairs (the story used for The Departed)
Run Lola Run [my high school German teacher in 2005 showed us this movie and I will never forget it.]
Minority Report [Spielberg's best film in my opinion. Incredible cinematography and story telling. From 2001, so poll the class to see if they know of it.]
Blade Runner
posted by mtphoto at 4:01 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Before Sunrise / Before Sunset
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
What Dreams May Come
V for Vendetta
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A Beautiful Mind
Adaptation
Casino Royale [cinematography]
Children of Men [2006, incredible cinematography]
Das Boot [German WWII sub warfare]
Enemy of the State
Hero [Chinese]
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Letters from Iwo Jima
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels [a few violent scenes and f-words]
Michael Clayton
O Brother, Where Art Thou [many people born in 1980-1990 love this movie.]
Pleasantville
Schindler's List
Stand By Me [a great coming of age story]
Terminator 2
The Bourne Series
The Mask of Zorro
The Matrix
The Prestige
The Shawkshank Redemption
Three Kings [action movie set in Desert Storm]
Traffic [adult themes, but an excellent film]
Waking Life
Shine
Amadeus
Gattaca
Apollo 13
Dead Poet's Society
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
The Count of Monte Cristo [2002]
Seconding Infernal Affairs (the story used for The Departed)
Run Lola Run [my high school German teacher in 2005 showed us this movie and I will never forget it.]
Minority Report [Spielberg's best film in my opinion. Incredible cinematography and story telling. From 2001, so poll the class to see if they know of it.]
Blade Runner
posted by mtphoto at 4:01 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Brother From Another Planet
The Gods Must Be Crazy
posted by coffeefilter at 4:49 AM on August 24, 2011
The Gods Must Be Crazy
posted by coffeefilter at 4:49 AM on August 24, 2011
Response by poster: I wonder if my students have seen A New Hope....The Phantom Menace came out when they were about 5, so I'm sure they grew up with Jar Jar Binks instead. So that's an idea.
A lot of these are stupendous ideas that I'm sure my students would think were awesome.
posted by Elagabalus at 5:47 AM on August 24, 2011
A lot of these are stupendous ideas that I'm sure my students would think were awesome.
posted by Elagabalus at 5:47 AM on August 24, 2011
Yes, Better Luck Tomorrow, it was on the tip of my tongue. Thank you, pluot, you delicious hybrid stonefruit!
I tried to search for its title, but I only half-remember it, and I just kept being led inadvertantly to A Better Tomorrow (which, while it's not a bad movie, probably isn't very good for your purposes).
posted by box at 7:14 AM on August 24, 2011
I tried to search for its title, but I only half-remember it, and I just kept being led inadvertantly to A Better Tomorrow (which, while it's not a bad movie, probably isn't very good for your purposes).
posted by box at 7:14 AM on August 24, 2011
Are your students Asian and mostly guys? It was a little unclear to me. If so, is English their second language? Do they have a familiarity with American culture?
posted by dgeiser13 at 8:05 AM on August 24, 2011
posted by dgeiser13 at 8:05 AM on August 24, 2011
Nthing Run Lola Run. It was shown to me and about 30 other 16-year-olds and we all loved it, It has few words, and the words it does have are German (you'll easily find it with subtitles)
posted by jander03 at 10:27 AM on August 24, 2011
posted by jander03 at 10:27 AM on August 24, 2011
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