Movies that have changed socio-political stances of movies to come
 

An opinion poll.

Taxi Driver- utter brilliance. I believe it to be the first of its kind to feature a blue-collar loner genius who gets pushed over the edge by the eff-ed up-ed-ness (new word?) of the NYC underbelly.

Pump Up the Volume- I enjoyed this movie as a teenager and will still watch it from time-to-time. Sewn together by influences by Rebel Without a Cause as well as a dable of Holden Caulfield, I believe it to be the first of its kind to feature a lonely teenage malcontent, leading a double life and reaching out to other teenager who are sick of it all.
Besides, it has the first kick-ass soundtrack I had ever heard.

When I saw the thread title, I thought "Taxi Driver".

My, Dave. I do sense a future!

ALSO- Schindler's List. I think it paved the way for movies like the Pianist (which I also enjoyed uber-immensely).

And in the complete opposite vein, nobody will be able to address mid-life alienation in suburbia without echoing American Beauty.

Ooooooh, good one. I got that for Christmas two years ago. Care to discuss?
What did the red symbolize for you? We had a discussion on another msg board re: this.
To me I saw it as hope. Like the Birnham house has the red door and red roses and Mena Suvari's character always spew-ed rose petals while the Fitz house had no red symbolizing a sense of hopelessness.
What did you think?

You pups.

Movies do not change society, but society changes movies as well as any form of storytelling, whether the fire lights the speakers face in haunting ways, or shines through the celluloid to put the image on the screen.

Midnight Cowboy

To Sir, with Love

Blackboard Jungle

The Defiant Ones

I Want to Live

(and to get briefly more recent ... one of my favorites: Falling Down)

These are just a couple meager examples of older movies that really speak to societal change. In fact nearly every movie carries with it some aspect of this (yes, even those lame-ass costume dramas that get shown frequently on the Turner Classic Movies).

I'm not generally that visually oriented. But now that you mention it, the color scheme of the Fitz house was all dark and brooding... and the red repeats itself all over, right up until the end - can't miss that particular red.

Er, wolf, she said "of movies to come". You know. Like. Opened new doors for future movies. :P

Oh. I see.

Well the list I posted STILL covers that aspect. Those are some groundbreaking movies there, that DID change moviemaking (and made films like Taxi Driver possible).

I agree. Midnight Cowboy is on my list too. That, and "Dude, Where's My Car?"

We are not dudes. We are hot chicks with large breasts.

haha, couldn't resist.

      How 'bout "Blade Runner"? First dark future movie I remember being, well, filthy. Till then the future was always a clean place. Also, how many movies have had those jets of flame shooting up into the sky since?

      Hate to list two Harrison Ford movies but... Raiders of the Lost Ark. First hero without a clue. Indy never had a plan. Hell, a few years earlier even Luke Skywalker had a plan, all the time. Heros changed overnight. Now only leader types have plans, even then not always.

Red has so many meanings: blood, rage, vitality, passion, heat, sex, life itself, that richness is whats so great. add the rose imagery: love, beauty, softness, sharpness, danger, pain, duality, and its very evocative.

"Welcome to the Dollhouse". some movies are a little too real.

this may be a bit obvious, but citizen kane. I'd say it was the start of a number of trends in social comment.

and I'd throw Dr. Strangelove in there as well

what has come along as cool as Dr. Strangelove in the same vein since?

serial killer murder slasher stuff -
How about Dario Argento stuff - paved the way for the Scream - esque tripe that passes for horror these days.

Pump up the Volume rocked - it has one of the best kissing scenes I have ever seen - their first kiss at school with people walking by and the camera moving erratically - really brought across that nervous sorta first kiss feeling.