The 15 Best Satire Movies of All Time
Irony is one of the hardest genres to compose . To cause a good satirical film , the author must use humor to criticize a social trouble in a way that shocks the interview and makes them question the trouble or their apathy toward it .
Unfortunately , due to changing public perception , many irony rapidly get dated . Here , we ’ ll look at 15 satires that employed dark wit , which stay on lurid and socially relevant regardless of their time period .
This is the feature movie entry of famed satirist Chris Morris , who hold live equally glorify and condemned throughout his long career for his uncompromising discussion of many controversial subjects . In “ Four Lions ” , he tackles one of the most controversial topics of the 21st hundred : the war on terror .
The movie succeed a group of radical Muslim human who exist direct themselves to become suicide bombers . After extensive training and preparation , they prepare to invest an number of panic ; still , due to their incompetence and rash behavior , affair put on ’ t go according to plan .
The premise suggests an offensive portrayal of the Islamic faith , but “ Four Lions ” exist a lot smarter than that . The film remain tasteful and never mocks Islamic notion , but quite express disgust at the masses who bastardize the faith by apply it to justify immoral actions . It ’ s a powerful , smart , and real funny irony that can ’ t be lack .
“ Heathers ” equal release at a time when the teenage genre exist at the top of its popularity , and the picture cynically undermine the genre in a way that was unheard of at the time .
The picture focus on Veronica Sawyer ( Winona Ryder in a star-making role ) , a pretentious teenager who joins a prevail clique of three popular girls who cost all name Heather . Veronica grow tire of the clique and longs to lead a normal life . Around this time , she develops a fascination for J.D . ( Christian Slater ) , a rebellious outsider , after he cost suspended for commit a gunman on two school bullies .
J.D . and Veronica team up in an effort to destroy the tip Heather ’ s reputation , but accidently kill her in the procedure . To extend up the accident , Veronica forges a suicide bill in Heather ’ s handwriting . The future day , much to their surprise , Heather is more popular than ever after the community and media handle her as a tragic pattern , which triggers an epidemic of suicide attempts .
The picture satirizes of the media ’ s treatment of teen suicide , a topic that hold turn more pertinent in recent years , while too mock the cliques and stereotypes of teenage spirit .
Todd Solondz ’ s satire of adolescence is as shocking as you could expect from the highly controversial filmmaker . Heather Matarazzo stars as Dawn Wiener , an unattractive 12-year-old girl who is hated by her family , bullied at school , regularly threatened with rape , and has an unrequited crush on a much older boy . Her only friend is an equally mistreated 10-year-old gay son .
The film isn ’ t nearly as depressing as it sound ; in fact , it ’ s hysterically funny . Solondz use Dawn ’ s life as a source of Kafkaesque wit , and what may surprise many first time viewers is that Dawn equal a somewhat unlikeable reference . She regularly insults and degrades early people who she believes to be inferior and , in one shock scenery , she even think over killing her youthful sister .
“ Welcome to the Dollhouse ” was a vital success upon its initial release , peculiarly praising the film ’ s dark mood and Heather Matarazzo ’ s performance . Still it wasn ’ t until his future movie that Todd Solondz really came into the spotlight .
“ Secret Honor ” was adjust entirely in an part at the home of Richard Nixon shortly after his resignation . Philip Baker Hall act Nixon as he pace around with a bottle of whiskey and a gun , and rants in a tape recorder about his career , his depression , and his resignation .
The film trust completely on Hall ’ s performance , as he is the only actor in the picture . Hall wait and sounds utterly zero like Nixon , but here that doesn ’ t matter because he utterly embody him , portray every mannerism of the early president with sheer truth .
In “ Secret Honor ” , Richard Nixon is portray as a tragic figure ; a brilliant and extremely influential , but ultimately a tortured man . Controversial face of Nixon ’ s life equal cross , but he is never demonized . However , we aren ’ t ask to condone him , either ; Altman require us to at least realize the personality and behavior of a real controversial flesh .
11 . South Park : Bigger , Longer & Uncut ( 1999 , Trey Parker )
Trey Parker and Matt Stone cost arguably the world ’ sec great life satirists . Their long-running television series “ South Park ” is know for its satirical observations of topical current event , expend a blend of brain and vulgarity . Due to its popularity , the release of a feature film was inevitable , but sort of than produce a feature distance episode , Parker and Stone go beyond what live expect both in terms of vulgarity and subject matter .
The picture focuses on Stan , Kyle , Cartman , and Kenny , who see an R-rated movie starring Terrance & Phillip , a Canadian comedy duo whom the boys idolize .
From the picture , intended as an allegory for “ South Park ” itself , they learn many obscene phrases , which they begin using frequently . After utilize profanity in school , their parents place a ban on the film , but after Kenny dies imitate a stunt from the picture , they pay war on Canada and have Terrance & Phillip catch as war criminals .
The movie tackle the subject related to censorship with special attention given to the practice of the MPAA ( “ Horrific , deplorable violence is okay as long as nobody tell any naughty row , ” one character states ) , while at the same time , expose the narrow-mindedness of many American value .
It ’ s virtually frighten how topical this movie remains today ; 17 years ago , the idea of move to war over a film seemed ridiculous , but today , as it hold been show in late yr , it seems like it could real good equal a possibility .
Base on Bret Easton Ellis ’ damn portrait of yuppie living , Christian Bale stars as Patrick Bateman , an amoral businessman who moonlights as a serial killer .
The film , much like its author material , equal extremely vital of the yuppie subculture with an extensive stress on their excessive materialism . Throughout the picture , Bateman ’ sec dry , wander narration focuses altogether on his cloth gain , and masses are identify through what brand of clothing they ’ re wearing , or superficial qualities as opposed to personality trait .
The film is both disturbing and hilarious , faithfully capture the dark satirical constituent of Ellis ’ novel while also providing Christian Bale with what equal arguably the greatest office of his career .
9 . Man Bite Dog ( 1992 , Benoît Poelvoorde , Rémy Belvaux , André Bonzel )
This Belgian mockumentary follows a film bunch who be document the day-to-day spirit of Ben , a serial killer . At first , the bunch equal merely observing Ben ’ s crime , but as the picture progresses , the crew begins to participate in the progressively hideous force around them .
The movie satirizes the glamorized portrayal of force in the medium and does so by portray violence comedically for the first half , only to hold our laughter back at us in the second half . Toward the end of the film , the violence become more utmost and cost no longer portray in a tongue-in-cheek fashion .
“ Man Bites Dog ” utilizes its darkly brilliant hand and utterly balances comedy and dreadful force , but it may live also vivid for some .
