Progressive Social Commentary Movies That Are Bummers Are Counterproductive

[Barbarella]

I've thought about movies, be they shown as comedies, horror, satire or a blend of the two. It seems the ones of note come out so downbeat that it's frightening. Yes, the downbeat ending serves a valid purpose but there's never a light placed at the end of the dark tunnel. It's like these movies come off as less of a "This is the way it is but it doesn't have to be, we can & must work to change it" and more of "This is the way it is. It stinks but there's zilch we can do about it so suck it up!"

I'm more of the former category: "It stinks but we must never give up. We can change it!"

For example (to name a few):

BOB ROBERTS: Nasty Far-Right jerk runs for office using his charisma & co-opting of Progressive methods (in this case, Dylanesque folk protest music). His opponent, played by Gore Vidal, is a well-meaning Democrat who actually cares about the issues....

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However, using some dirty tricks, smearing his opponent & faking an assassination attempt, Bob Roberts becomes POTUS and takes over the nation, much like Dubya.

THE STEPFORD WIVES: A horror film concerning the struggle for women's rights. A strong, independent, educated woman & her husband move to Stepford, which is ruled by some sort of men's club that kidnaps & kills women & replaces them with submissive robots....at the behest of the husbands. She finds out the plan & tries to do something about it....

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But is captured and turned into a Stepford Wife Fembot, THE END.

1984: The most bone-crushing example of this trope. A guy named Winston Smith is stuck in a horrible, all-encompassing on every level, totalitarian regime. He breaks the rules, falls in love, rebels against Big Brother....

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But is, along with his love interest, utterly defeated on every level and brainwashed into "Loving Big Brother". Of course there may be a possible unwritten implied happy ending/possible later fall of Big Brother in the appendix (because it's written in past-tense) but even this is merely an interpretation.

There are numerous others. Yes, the grim ending in most cases may be necessary but even then, there's nothing to negate it, provide hope or encouragement or any real answers or anything. It may provide a message but there's no real remedy or anything to make you feel relieved in the end. It's the same way with a lot of documentaries about grim things. If there isn't a word of encouragement or message of "we must be strong & fight this" or any word of remedy, it's pretty useless. People need to be roused with confidence to DO SOMETHING!

Morale is very important! I would love to see a movie or documentary that shows a craptacular situation & how it happens yet provides a bit of light at the end of the tunnel or some answers....or maybe some sort of coda that implies something hopeful.

What do you think, guys?

[Distind]

While I understand what you're saying, I can at least argue against this result from 1984. I hated the leads. For the entirety of the book I found myself again and again questioning why someone would do x or y. By the end of it I'd have enjoyed gutting him with my bare hands. All of which made me quite aware of where the book was trying to go, and more than happy to rail on anything that even remotely resembled the book. Or the main character.

At least for that particular instance it's just so remarkably hatable it can become it's own motivation. But most social commentary is so painfully preachy, and they'll write it off by claiming it's about making people ask questions rather than giving answers. Which is a pretty significant failing in modern liberalism, question everything, accept no answers.

[mellenORL]

Spuki! Have you seen "Brazil"?, Brian Gilliam's masterpiece? A lot of film buffs and critics think it's one of the best movies, ever. I've always recommended it.

The way I interpret it, these films and dystopian stories are meant as warnings...guard your and your fellow persons' freedom, don't let current trends fall towards authoritarianism, or else this....

[Barbarella]

While I understand what you're saying, I can at least argue against this result from 1984. I hated the leads. For the entirety of the book I found myself again and again questioning why someone would do x or y. By the end of it I'd have enjoyed gutting him with my bare hands. All of which made me quite aware of where the book was trying to go, and more than happy to rail on anything that even remotely resembled the book. Or the main character.

At least for that particular instance it's just so remarkably hatable it can become it's own motivation. But most social commentary is so painfully preachy, and they'll write it off by claiming it's about making people ask questions rather than giving answers. Which is a pretty significant failing in modern liberalism, question everything, accept no answers.

Liberalism needs to have a good jolt of energy. There seems to be this weird aura that has somehow rendered Liberals ineffective. If answers & words of hope or whatever were illustrated more or more good news & Progressive triumphs reported...if we focused on our successes rather than failures, morale will rise & the Left will regain it's fighting spirit.

It's a psychological thing. People want to see results. If you're doing something with nothing to show for it you will feel frustrated & give up. I think this is what also undermined the Liberal cause in the 60's & early 70's. Change wasn't coming fast enough, the war wasn't ending fast enough, the authorities found ways to undermine everything & the young Liberals themselves were too naive & thought things would fall into place instantly. Plus, it's harder to change the world when you're alienating of mainstream society.

My answer, focus on the positive without ignoring the negative that must changed. Be idealistic & optimistic but within reason. Prepare for the dirty tricks & mind games from the opposition. Don't alienate much of society. Heal the generation gap. Get folks sympathetic to you even if they think you're weird. Don't get too goofy with the colorful protests & antics. My motto, "Radical change through moderate means"...Most folks respect Martin Luther King Jr. but less respect Stokley Charmichael, see what I'm saying?

When I speak of "The Man", I speak of a corrupt system rather than the system, itself. I don't hate government, I believe in a more middle-of-the-road/not painting with a broad brush. I look at reality.

I seem contradictory but I'm able to reconcile things. I am very Liberal & against the grain with things. I see myself as a bit of a Flowerchild. However, I understand reality & I realize that the best way to make the world into an wonderland of peace, love, Liberalism, sexual openness or whatever, it's best to do stuff in baby steps. It may take centuries & the world will never be perfect. There will always be tyrants, maniacs & bad people but as long as things improve, that's all that matters.

In a nutshell, we need to be positive and full of hope & morale.

[Osama bin Bambi]

Maybe if we imported some leftist politicians from South America, American progressivism might actually have some balls. /seriouslynotserious

[chitoryu12]

Maybe if we imported some leftist politicians from South America, American progressivism might actually have some balls. /seriouslynotserious

At least they'd be happy that they no longer need to worry about being shot in the back of the head by the government.

[rageaholic]

Yeah, I don't get the message of some of these movies.  I had a film class where the professor loved these downbeat "life sucks" movies that always end on a downer.  She thought they were more realistic, but I thought they were just depressing.  Even if we can argue that downer movies are more realistic, why they fuck would we want that in a movie anyway?  I want to be put in a good mood, not preached to and depressed.

Ironically, I do like some movies that could be considered depressing and preachy (The Dark Knight being one of them), but it wasn't all depressing (there were shades of grey).  This slap you in the face downer ending crap is just cruel.   

[Barbarella]

Yeah, I don't get the message of some of these movies.  I had a film class where the professor loved these downbeat "life sucks" movies that always end on a downer.  She thought they were more realistic, but I thought they were just depressing.  Even if we can argue that downer movies are more realistic, why they fuck would we want that in a movie anyway?  I want to be put in a good mood, not preached to and depressed.

Ironically, I do like some movies that could be considered depressing and preachy (The Dark Knight being one of them), but it wasn't all depressing (there were shades of grey).  This slap you in the face downer ending crap is just cruel.   

I hate total downer endings with a passion! IMHO, if it doesn't have a happy or bittersweet ending and/or the bad guys don't get some sort of comeuppance, it's not worth watching!
Darkness & ambiguity is fine, within reason but there needs to be a good, meaningful ending where something's accomplished. Even in "shades of grey"-type movies, there's usually a vague hero/villain dichotomy.

If I were to watch something like "Brazil", I would probably prefer the version with the "real ending" cut out. Same with that movie with the female spelunkers vs. those monster things. I would have re-written certain famous movies with grim endings if I could, if I was a writer:

CARRIE - Carrie's death at the end would be clearly a self-sacrifice in atonement for the killing she did, she may state this as she lays in the prayer closet while the house falls around her....then there's a vague, eerie but beautiful scene of going down a tunnel to a bright, beautiful light....implying that Carrie's in Heaven and she's okay. Her living would have been unrealistic but an esoteric afterlife happy ending would be what I'd do.

SEVEN - Despite his unimaginable rage & hurt at the murder of his wife & her head in a box, Pitt's character would succeed at resisting the urge to kill John Doe, the cops, arrive, Doe's arrested, Pitt's character collapses & sobs into Freeman's character's arms. The camera does a bird's eye view shot & pans out as Freeman's voiceover says that line about "The Earth is a beautiful place & worth fighting for" and no "I agree with the first part". Cue credits.

1984 - End it with a coda that references the appendix & the optimistic interpretation of it. It turns out the tale is told by the plebeian descendents who then state that Big Brother fell soon after due to their own hubris. Civilization has fallen, however, humanity is starting over. Winston stated that hope was with the plebs. The plebs, though a bit simple & doofy on the surface, turn out to be the pure souls full of joy & love that bring humanity back.

STEPFORD WIVES - Two ideas I have...ONE: There's a central computer, the protagonist destroys the computer & the whole men's club fembot scheme. TWO: It ends as the original but there's an extra ending scene where the Stepford Wives turn on the guys & destroy the later.

CHINATOWN - Ends with a car chase through Chinatown. The evil, incestuous tycoon Dad chases his daughter & his grand-daughter/daughter around. Jake Geddes gets into the action. The villain crashes, his car blows up, he dies, Jake & the gals are okay, cue credits!

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Would have the events of the last chapter included.

ROSEMARY'S BABY - Would include the stuff in the book's ending where Rosemary grows a backbone, say's she'll name the kid what SHE wants to name him & vows to raise her Jr. Antichrist to be a subverted Anti-Antichrist.

Some may call me a weenie but I don't care!

[JohnE]

There's a theory that movies with satsfying endings are harmful to social change, specifically because the audience leaves satsfied. Their emotional needs have been met, so there's no motivation to seek fulfilment in the real world. Who needs the satisfaction of helping the real goodguys win or getting justice on he real badguys when you've already experienced the satisfaction of it? Unsatisfying downer endings, according to this theory, are a tool for social change.

I'm not sure if I agree with this theory or not, but it's worth considering.

[chitoryu12]

There's a theory that movies with satsfying endings are harmful to social change, specifically because the audience leaves satsfied. Their emotional needs have been met, so there's no motivation to seek fulfilment in the real world. Who needs the satisfaction of helping the real goodguys win or getting justice on he real badguys when you've already experienced the satisfaction of it? Unsatisfying downer endings, according to this theory, are a tool for social change.

I'm not sure if I agree with this theory or not, but it's worth considering.

The problem with this theory is that it assumes that the majority of the population can replace their real world needs with entertainment.

[R. U. Sirius]

There's a theory that movies with satsfying endings are harmful to social change, specifically because the audience leaves satsfied. Their emotional needs have been met, so there's no motivation to seek fulfilment in the real world. Who needs the satisfaction of helping the real goodguys win or getting justice on he real badguys when you've already experienced the satisfaction of it? Unsatisfying downer endings, according to this theory, are a tool for social change.

I'm not sure if I agree with this theory or not, but it's worth considering.

The problem with this theory is that it assumes that the majority of the population can replace their real world needs with entertainment.

It's America. A lot of us know more about people we'll never meet than about our neighbors. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if what you just described were the case.

[chitoryu12]

There's a theory that movies with satsfying endings are harmful to social change, specifically because the audience leaves satsfied. Their emotional needs have been met, so there's no motivation to seek fulfilment in the real world. Who needs the satisfaction of helping the real goodguys win or getting justice on he real badguys when you've already experienced the satisfaction of it? Unsatisfying downer endings, according to this theory, are a tool for social change.

I'm not sure if I agree with this theory or not, but it's worth considering.

The problem with this theory is that it assumes that the majority of the population can replace their real world needs with entertainment.

It's America. A lot of us know more about people we'll never meet than about our neighbors. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if what you just described were the case.

I don't LIKE my neighbors. On my left we have drug dealers, one of whom is a male prostitute and sex offender who looks at young boys through their windows. On my right we have a mentally ill woman who once called social workers to my house because she thought that I was being abused (read: I was skinny) and has harassed her husband (from an arranged marriage) into near insanity and bitterness. Across the street we have a constantly changing family that always seems to get into violent fights and shouting matches, one of which ended with me holding a gun on a man when he tried to attack his girlfriend and their infant daughter.

I'll stick with my movies.

[Lt. Fred]

What about The Grapes of Wrath? Depressing ending. The Jungle? Depressing ending.

[Osama bin Bambi]

What about The Grapes of Wrath? Depressing ending. The Jungle? Depressing ending.

Of Mice and Men also has a depressing ending.

While The Jungle is very depressing and brutal, the end of the book is supposed to end it on a "better" note, with the main character joining a socialist political movement. (Upton Sinclair was a devout socialist and basically used the end of the book to plug his political views.)

[chitoryu12]

What about The Grapes of Wrath? Depressing ending. The Jungle? Depressing ending.

Of Mice and Men also has a depressing ending.

While The Jungle is very depressing and brutal, the end of the book is supposed to end it on a "better" note, with the main character joining a socialist political movement. (Upton Sinclair was a devout socialist and basically used the end of the book to plug his political views.)

The ENTIRE book was plugging his political views. He was quite upset that people focused more on the stories about factory conditions than his political message.