Well there’s a few I haven’t seen and don’t really intend to, but there are two I pretty much hated:
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control: Am I alone in my hatred of Errol Morris? The guy tries to hide it, but he does not respect his subjects, and it really annoys me the subtle ways in which he basically makes fun of them or criticizes them for who they are. This is actually Morris at his worst. I found many of the subjects in this movie to be very interesting individuals, but Morris subtly exaggerates them as losers and geeks, while the title itself is pretty much the opposite of what they do—and I don’t think that title was intentionally ironic.
Morvern Callar: Many movies I like are entirely devoid of plot. They replace plot with something else instead. This movie got rid of plot and left nothing but Samantha Morton with nothing to act with and a bunch of travel cinematography. I’ve actually found over time that Samantha Morton is a great actress but most of the movies she’s been in are utter crap that wears “independent cinema” labels on its cuff as an excuse for shoddy filmmaking. Maybe Synecdoche, NY will turn that trend around.
—PolarisDiB
great list that reminded me of some films i really like but havent thought about much, critically or otherwise:
-king of new york
-heavenly creatures
-showgirls
-kiss kiss bang bang
-miami blues
No world exists where I can ever consider most of the movies on that list “cult” films.
For the large part, it seems as though they’ve just picked random movies that they enjoy… movies that are very much beloved and praised by many critics and audience members alike (both now and at the time of their release).
There are a few films that survive because of the small but loyal cult that holds them up, such as The Room, but other than that I’m going to have to say it’s a lazy effort on the AV Club’s part.
Perhaps if they retitled it New Canon of Movies We Think Are Cool.
I enjoy their insights, but I guess the definition of “cult” has certainly changed a great deal. Something like The Room would definitely fit the traditional meaning, and maybe even the Troma movies, but Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? C’mon! (And yes, I love that movie)
I believe their list overall is very good. These are films that since their release have developed a bit of a cult following, and it will most likely increase with time. The only one I have a problem with is Reservoir Dogs (which I believe is on there, I didn’t look, but I read it from time to time) because it seems too popular to be a cult movie. Fight Club is probably as or more popular but because of its underground themes I feel it fits a little better. All the others are good. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the type of movie whose popularity gets spread through word of mouth (which is how I heard about it) and through that has developed a following.
JP, I agree with your comment about the definition of “cult.” Taking that into consideration, though, I’d say it’s a surprisingly astute compilation with a bounty of inspired choices. Quite a few of the films I positively loathed, but none of them seem incongruous with the tone of the list.
Sure beats the shit outta most of the mainstream outlet’s “cult” lists.
I’ve never thought much of The Way of the Gun, Velvet Goldmine, The Devil’s Rejects. The Rules of Attraction, or the Devil’s Advocate—bad films . . . and not bad in a good sorta way.
Rules of Attraction is still the best movie made about college, period.
Sexy Beast is great.
OH. I missed or didn’t see that The Rules of Attraction was on that list.
Wow, did that movie make me want to kill every person involved in the making of it by cutting off a cubic centimeter of their flesh at a time and forcing them to eat it. In a way I can consider it an “effective” film in the way in which it made me so hideously hateful that it truly brought out more reaction from me than some major classics of cinema. But exaggerations aside, I really hated that movie.
(I don’t like saying things like “hate” in context to movies much anymore, even though I find myself doing it. Sigh I guess I still need to work on that).
—PolarisDiB
I think that “cult” is a buzz word that critics use. Some movies that are declared “cult” movies I think do not deserve a “cult” status while some that aren’t declared so, do deserve a “cult” status. I think that SCHIZOPOLIS, ALTERED STATES, WALKER and the films of Aki Kaurismaki do deserve that label. I guess this opinion differs from person to person.
>>Wow, did that movie make me want to kill every person involved in the making of it by cutting off a cubic centimeter of their flesh at a time and forcing them to eat it. In a way I can consider it an “effective” film in the way in which it made me so hideously hateful that it truly brought out more reaction from me than some major classics of cinema. But exaggerations aside, I really hated that movie.<<
We are diametrically opposed regarding THE RULES OF ATTRACTION. A brilliant movie.
Don’t sweat it Polaris,
at least ONE of the, ahem, major participants is in jail for his total disregard for human life.
GREMLINS 2. Check.
DARKMAN. Check!
Of interest, Hollywood Verhoeven retrospective begins with ROBOCOP today at IFC Center Midnights for those in NYC.
I’ve seen a majority of these films not really pegging them as ‘cult’ movies, though.
I think a good cult film happens on its own, without some blog or critics pushing the cause.
agree jeff cults just kind of happen
nice to see Bad Santa on any list tho
Lol, that’s really a random list. And a cult list without Eraserhead, hmmm??
It’s the ‘new’ cult list, Keyser. That’s why you don’t see the perennial and predictable favorites like Eraserhead mentioned.
oh
Not much of a list.
Where’s “Performance”?
@ David.
Again, the list is supposed to be about potentially new cult films, not ones which already have a cult audience like Performance. I’m not really defending the AV Club choices but I can see what they’re trying to do here.
I think The Happening in time will be a cult film
It is very funny in the vein of Planet Nine.
I’ve been a follower of Scott Tobias’ “New Cult Canon” for quite some time now and approve of most of the films he covers. There’s been a few like “The Devil’s Advocate” and “Death Wish 3” that I’ve questioned, but no one is gonna agree on all of them. Scott, like myself, is a big fan of Danny Peary’s cult movie books and wanted to focus on films that came out from 1985 to the present. Anything released prior to that time would not be eligible unless it hadn’t been distributed in the U.S. until more recently. I sent Scott a pretty extensive list of films to cover some time ago, and he’s done ten so far with two more waiting in queue:
Delicatessen
American History X
Heathers
Buffalo ’66
American Psycho
The Last Seduction
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Slither
May
Shaun of the Dead
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
Dazed and Confused
Some pretty basic titles, most of which I’m sure he would have considered eventually, but I’m glad I’ve had some input into what he’s been writing about.
jbushnell
I don’t know how many of you read “The Onion,” but their series on the “New Cult Canon” is pretty interesting.
http://www.avclub.com/features/the-new-cult-canon/
Thought I’d solicit some opinion over here. Anyone see any favorites represented in this list? (I’m fond of both Primer and Oldboy, myself.) Any on the list that are definite ones to avoid? Any films you’d like to see included in future installments?