# Recommend a film worthy of a serious discussion. Need answer fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240 "2009-10-26T23:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/1 "2009-10-26T23:32:41Z")
My college alumni chapter is looking for film on which to have a seminar, a two-hour conversation among 10-20 of us. Here’s what we’re looking for: [ul] [li]Themes or subject matter worthy of a serious conversation. (Note that this doesn’t necessarily exclude comedies, although I don’t think we’ll be watching _Dude, Where’s My Car?_)[/li] [li]Original to the screen, not adapted from a novel or another work.[/li] [li]Readily available on DVD, Netflix, etc.[/li] [li]Not extraordinarily long. No more than 2.5 hours.[/li][/ul] Titles we are considering include _Memento_ and _Il Postino_, but I’d like a few more to toss into the ring. We need some good candidates by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/2 "2009-10-26T23:45:26Z")
Star Wars. 30+ years of discussion and still counting. I mean, can you be more specific? What sort of film? What sort of discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/3 "2009-10-26T23:46:15Z")
[Network](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/4 "2009-10-26T23:49:20Z")
The “no adaptation” rule takes a lot of really good films off the table. _Round Midnight_ _The Conversation_ _American Beauty_ second for _Network_ ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/5 "2009-10-27T00:06:31Z")
From the film class I took at UT on gender and sexuality in film: Mad Max Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Queen Christina My favorite, Orlando, is nixed. But if you’re flexible on the original screenplay, that one is chock full of discussion topics. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/6 "2009-10-27T00:16:44Z")
Are movies based on human rights or political issues permissible? Movies such as: Blood Diamond (diamonds being sold by rebel groups in Western Africa to buy weapons for civil war) Lord of War (arms trafficking) Hotel Rwanda (genocide) The Killing Fields (genocide) Raise the Red Lantern (woman’s rights) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/7 "2009-10-27T00:38:32Z")
My Life Without Me ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/8 "2009-10-27T00:42:00Z")
[Primer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/) ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/9 "2009-10-27T00:57:01Z")
[The Last Supper](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113613/). It’s got a good cast, and has as its theme a running discussion on a moral quandry. Funny, too. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/10 "2009-10-27T02:18:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > [Network](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/) (shrug) I gotta go with that. Every year it becomes more prescient. ☹ Except the part where Faye Dunaway humps William Holden while crying out the ratings. I don’t even think she would do a corpse for money. ETA: Though “Dunston Checks In” comes close. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/11 "2009-10-27T03:06:25Z")
Gosford Park is an interesting study of class systems. My personal favourite is Mulholland Drive. Now there’s a conversation that will carry on for _days_. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/12 "2009-10-27T05:11:22Z")
Great suggestions, everyone. Keep 'em coming. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/13 "2009-10-27T05:27:13Z")
Recently I really loved _In Bruges_ and I think there’s plenty to talk about! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/14 "2009-10-27T05:29:34Z")
Want a debate you won’t soon forget? Palme D’Or winner [4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Months,_3_Weeks_and_2_Days). Maybe it would help if you could name some other films the group has enjoyed, or particular fields of interest or expertise? ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/15 "2009-10-27T05:32:07Z")
I feel like I’m being simpleminded here, but why not Lawrence of Arabia No, I don’t have links, but it’s not like that’s a hard movie to find. It has small intimate moments that could be done on a stage. It has giant moments that need the backdrop of a desert. It is loosely based on an autobiography that was only loosely based on the truth. There’s a lot of West vs East. War and the Why. Culture. “He likes your lemonade.” ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/16 "2009-10-27T06:20:19Z")
It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra) Harvey Vertigo ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/17 "2009-10-27T06:26:29Z")
I just saw Spike Lee’s _Bamboozled_. I think it’s a very fine film and other than that I don’t know what to think of it. It is a film that made me feel more uncomfortable than any film I’ve seen for quite a few years. \*Do the Right Thing \*would be another good choice. OTOH, a large group discussion about race can be a very tough thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/18 "2009-10-27T06:27:22Z")
\*\*Brazil \*\*is a great film which touches on a number of contemporary themes: terrorism, bureaucracy, technology. I second **Gosford Park**. If the English class system sounds like an interesting topic for your group it would be hard to pick a better film. For something different why not try some anime? **Princess Mononoke** and **Ghost in the Shell** would be great films to spark a discussion. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/19 "2009-10-27T06:35:13Z")
So many to choose from, but I agree that GOSFORD PARK would be an inspired choice - so many levels of discussion; class differences, the culture of that time, clothing, manners, morals, etc. etc. - not to mention a very interesting mystery that unfolds. The sets and scenery were beautiful as well. Although the film had decent popularity, I think it was underrated and deserved a wider audience. Is anyone has not seen it yet, it is most certainly worth a look! ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240/20 "2009-10-27T06:41:19Z")
**Cider House Rules**. That is if you don’t mind debating abortion. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-film-worthy-of-a-serious-discussion-need-answer-fast/515240.md?page=2)