Controversial Movies

From Tony Kaye, starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Lien
Rated R

American History X is a 1998 drama film directed by Tony Kaye and written by David McKenna. The film tells the story of Danny Vinyard (Edward Norton), a troubled young man from Venice, California who is caught up in the neo-Nazi movement. After serving three years in prison for the manslaughter of two black men, Danny is released and attempts to prevent his younger brother Derek (Edward Furlong) from following in his footsteps. Through his actions, Danny begins to realize the destructive power of racism and hatred in his own life, and he ultimately works to try and make a difference. The film is a powerful examination of racism, redemption, and the consequences of prejudice.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Rated R

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 dystopian crime film adapted, produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name. The film follows Alex (Malcolm McDowell), a charismatic delinquent who, along with his gang of "droogs," embark on a night of unrestrained violence and vandalism. After Alex is arrested and convicted for murder, he is subjected to an experimental medical treatment called the Ludovico Technique, which is intended to make him averse to violent behavior. As Alex struggles to adjust to the treatment, he grapples with the morality of his actions and the consequences of his new life. A Clockwork Orange is a darkly humorous satire of a corrupt society, and an exploration of free will and morality.

From Darren Aronofsky, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
Rated R

Requiem for a Dream (2000) is a psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky that follows the lives of four characters as they descend into drug addiction and despair. The film follows Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn), a widow living alone in Brooklyn, as her dream of appearing on a game show leads to an addiction to diet pills; her son Harry (Jared Leto), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and a friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans), as their attempt to score quick money by selling stolen drugs leads to an addiction to heroin; and Harry's best friend and fellow drug dealer, Saul (Christopher McDonald), as he becomes increasingly involved in the drug culture. As their addictions spiral out of control, the characters face the devastating consequences of their choices.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin
Rated R

Full Metal Jacket is a war drama written and directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel The Short-Timers by Gustav Hasford. The film follows a platoon of U.S. Marines during their basic training and deployment to Vietnam during the height of the war. The story is told through the eyes of two main characters: Private Joker (Matthew Modine) and Private Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio). The film follows the harsh and dehumanizing conditions of Marine Corps boot camp and the brutal realities of the Vietnam War. Through both training and combat, the soldiers must come to terms with their own mortality and grapple with their own ethics and morality. Full Metal Jacket paints a raw and unflinching picture of the horrors of war, and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers and civilians alike.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks
Rated R

Taxi Driver is a 1976 psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film follows Travis Bickle, a lonely and mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran employed as a taxi driver in New York City. Desperate to fit in, he isolates himself and begins to plot a campaign of vigilante justice against the criminals he believes are ruining the city. The film also follows his relationship with a teenage prostitute, his eventual confrontation with the criminals, and his ultimate breakdown. The film stars Robert De Niro as Travis, Jodie Foster as Iris, the teenage prostitute, and Harvey Keitel as Sport, her pimp. The film is a powerful examination of loneliness, despair, and the consequences of taking the law into one's own hands.

From Michael Cimino, starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage
Rated R

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic war drama film directed by Michael Cimino and starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, Meryl Streep and more. The film follows three friends from a small steelworking town in Pennsylvania who enlist in the Vietnam War and the dramatic effect it has on their lives. It portrays their struggle to survive during the war and their relationships with one another before, during, and after their service. The film also explores themes of friendship, survival, loyalty, and camaraderie, as well as the devastating effects of the war on soldiers and their families. It has become a classic in the history of American cinema and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

From John Boorman, starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox
Rated R

Deliverance (1972) is a classic adventure-drama directed by John Boorman. The film follows four friends, Lewis (Jon Voight), Ed (Burt Reynolds), Bobby (Ned Beatty) and Drew (Ronny Cox), as they embark on a canoeing trip deep in the backwoods of Georgia. Along the way, the group encounters a menacing gang of hillbilly locals and must fight for their survival and deliverance from the hostile environment. The film also deals with themes of masculinity, fear and the loss of innocence, as the men are forced to confront their own mortality and vulnerability.

From Kinji Fukasaku, starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Rated Not Rated

Battle Royale is a 2000 Japanese dystopian thriller film directed by Kinji Fukasaku and based on the 1999 novel of the same name by Koushun Takami. The film follows a class of junior high school students who are forced by the government to compete in a battle royale, wherein they must fight to the death until only one remains. The students are given weapons and supplies, and must fight each other until only one remains. The film explores themes of violence, social alienation, and moral responsibility, and has been widely cited as a commentary on modern society.

From Michael Haneke, starring Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering
Rated Not Rated

Funny Games is a 1997 Austrian psychological horror film written and directed by Michael Haneke. The story follows a family of three, consisting of a couple, Georg and Anna, and their young son, Georgie, as they vacation in their lakeside country home. As they relax and enjoy their time together, two strange young men arrive at their house and ask to borrow some eggs. The family soon realizes that these men have sinister intentions and are determined to torture them for their own twisted amusement. The film follows the family's desperate attempt to survive the brutal game these men have created and the psychological impact the experience has on them.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Paul Greco
Rated R

The Last Temptation of Christ, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a powerful retelling of the life of Jesus Christ (played by Willem Dafoe). The film follows Jesus from his birth and early years in Bethlehem, to his ministry, passion, and resurrection. It is a deeply personal exploration of faith, doubt, and the power of belief. The film explores Jesus’ inner struggle as he faces temptations, doubts, and the reality of his mortality. He is challenged and tempted by his own human desires, which conflict with his divine mission. In the end, Jesus makes the ultimate sacrifice, showing that faith can overcome any obstacle. The film is filled with powerful imagery and thoughtful dialogue which meditates on timeless questions of faith and belief. The Last Temptation of Christ serves as an inspiring and thought-provoking journey of self-discovery and redemption.

From Michael Haneke, starring Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel, Susanne Lothar
Rated R

In "The Piano Teacher," director Michael Haneke paints a portrait of the complex, emotionally charged relationship between a piano instructor and her student. Erika Kohut (Isabelle Huppert) is a middle-aged, unmarried piano teacher at a prestigious Vienna music conservatory. She is emotionally isolated, yet passionately devoted to her art. When one of her students, Walter Klemmer (Benoît Magimel), begins to express an intense interest in her, Erika is both captivated and repulsed by the circumstances. As the two become closer, they cross the line of teacher-student propriety, and both parties are forced to confront their inner demons. The film is a tense, emotionally gripping exploration of obsession, manipulation, and the power of art.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring James Mason, Shelley Winters, Sue Lyon, Gary Cockrell
Rated Not Rated

Lolita is a 1962 black comedy-drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov. The film follows a middle-aged professor, Humbert Humbert (James Mason), who becomes infatuated with a twelve-year-old girl, Dolores Haze (Sue Lyon), and attempts to pursue a relationship with her. The film follows the increasingly desperate attempts of Humbert to maintain the relationship in spite of the obstacles he faces, including the disapproval of Lolita's mother (Shelley Winters), and the interference of another man (Peter Sellers). The film also examines themes of obsession, control, and power, as well as the dark comedy of Humbert's attempts to manipulate and conceal his true intentions.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack
Rated R

Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 psychological drama directed by the late Stanley Kubrick. The film follows the story of Doctor Bill Harford, a successful New York City doctor, played by Tom Cruise. After his wife Alice, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, reveals her suppressed sexual fantasies to him, their marriage is put to the test. Bill embarks on a night-long journey of sexual and moral discovery, as he navigates the underground world of sexual deviance in New York City. Along the way, Bill is forced to confront his own feelings of inadequacy, while being presented with temptations of a forbidden nature. The film ultimately examines the complex nature of relationships, trust, and fidelity.

From Gaspar Noé, starring Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel, Philippe Nahon
Rated Not Rated

From Gaspar Noé, starring Philippe Nahon, Blandine Lenoir, Frankie Pain, Martine Audrain
Rated Not Rated

From Larry Charles, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Chester
Rated R

From Philip Kaufman, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Derek de Lint
Rated R

From Oliver Stone, starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Rodney Dangerfield
Rated R

From Mel Gibson, starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Maia Morgenstern, Christo Jivkov
Rated R

From Steve McQueen, starring Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Lucy Walters
Rated NC-17

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania
Rated R

From Takashi Miike, starring Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura
Rated R

From Takashi Miike, starring Tadanobu Asano, Nao Ômori, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Paulyn Sun
Rated R

From John McNaughton, starring Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles, Mary Demas
Rated Unrated

From Larry Clark, starring Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, Sarah Henderson
Rated Not Rated