The 69th Golden Globes have happened; click here for the full list of winners, including which ones you can order on DVD, Blu-ray, or Amazon Instant Video; the others you can sign up to be notified whenever they become available to pre-order. Meanwhile, check out some opnions on last night's ceremony.
Everyone will talk about the heart warming success of the The Help, or on a bigger scale the strength of important and sometimes hilarious roles for women, Bridesmaids. Of course one has to mention the definition of acting class and brilliance with the incomparable Morgan Freeman. These are the deserved themes of the evening but here are a few other, smaller moments that supplied an overall flat night with some memories.
Classy Christopher
Christopher Plummer. Kudos to this gentleman being recoginzed for his role in The Beginners. Although there is a whole new generation of leading men from George Clooney to Leo and Pitt, there is just something about that classic generation of Hollywood that will never be matched again. There is definitely some old school Tinseltown glamour in thanking your bartender in an acceptance speech.
Good for Joey
Maybe it was just me but it just felt good to see Matt LeBlanc up there receiving an award for Episodes. Not because I was rooting one way or the other but because I thought it was the most geniune and humble moment of the night. LeBlanc was authentic, truly nervous and suprised and it was heart warming.
Pure Harmony
It was just the moment that put a big smile on your face. Husband and wife William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman harmonizing a little ditty while presenting. How can you not like these two?
These "Talkies" Are Going to Kill the Movie Biz
I guess we were all wrong about this whole "sound" thing. It appears that the real darlingn of last year and this year's awards circuit might be The Artist. It's time to face reality if you're a big movie and award show fan. You are going to have to watch a silent (mostly) film. It's already won best movie at the Critic's Choice and now Best Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes. It could shock at the Oscars.
Just Shut Up!
Madonna, you are just....obnoxious. We get it, you directed a movie. Good for you. You were sure to remind us of that in you boring and awkward speech as you uttered "My Movie" countless times. Guess what, nobody saw it and your movie career is still the source of punchlines not praise.
Best David Bowie Impersonation
And the winner is........Tilda Swinton. Brilliant actress and I'm sure when the movie is made about the life and times of David Bowie she will play the role and probably receive a Golden Globe.
Table We Most Want to Sit At
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman? Yes, please. While Tina Fey's photobomb was one of the most gif worthy moments of the night, we can only imagine the champagne buzz chatter emmenating from that table. As Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there."
Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are probably best known as the stars of Reno 911!, but they've also written hit movies like Night at the Museum. And they've written a book, Writing Movies for Fun and Profit, that's a hilarious and genuinely insightful read for anyone who wants to know more about how stories get to the big screen. They recently talked with Amazon Studios about screenwriting and why comedy is so tough, and in this interview they answer such burning questions as: Will they write a book about writing TV for fun and profit? Did they really make more on unemployment than while doing '90s cult comedy favorite The State? How is working in TV different from working in movies? What happens when you try to create great entertainment by committee?
On March 13, MVD will release a new edition of the 1986 documentary The Unheard Music, which profiled the seminal Los Angeles punk band X. The new "Silver Anniversary Edition" disc, which commemorates the quarter-century since the film's original release, offers a new transfer and 5.1 surround sound mix, as well as new interviews with founding members Exene Cervenka and John Doe along with outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage.
More than just a snapshot of the L.A. underground music scene in the 1980s, The Unheard Music is just one of a handful of documentary features that attempted to chronicle the development of punk - both music and lifestyle - during its seminal years in the 1970s and 1980s outside of the frequently uninformed coverage of the mainstream media. Following are 10 great punk docs that preserve the sound and passion of the period.
Sadly, such exceptional efforts as Lech Kowalski's D.O.A.: A Rite of Passage (1980) and Penelope Spheeris' The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) and The Decline of Western Civilization III (1998) are excluded from this list, as all are, as of this post, unavailable in legal DVD releases.
Urgh! A Music War (1982) The music does the talking in this who's who of punk and New Wave in concert. Performances by major players like the Police, Dead Kennedys, X, DEVO, Go-Gos, Cramps, XTC, Pere Ubu and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are paired with footnote figures like Magazine, Surf Punks and Skafish, which (intentionally or not) underscores the democratic intent of the scene. The film's showstopper/curio piece is performance artist Klaus Nomi, whose soaring falsetto and alien presence were later detailed in the 2004 doc The Nomi Song.
Another State of Mind (1984) This harrowing account of Social Distortion and Youth Brigade's tour through Canada and the U.S. in 1982, should be required viewing for all aspiring punk musicians. Not only does it detail the highs and lows of live performances, from dedicated fans to dilapidated vans and unscrupulous club owners (Youth Brigade drummer Mark Stern displays a fistful of penny rolls offered in payment for a San Francisco show), but also the hazards inherent to playing music outside the mainstream, from disdain to threats of arrest and outright violence. While aspects of punk has gained some respect in 21st century society, the hardships faced by the bands here, which are joined by Ian MacKaye and Minor Threat near the end of the film, are still a reality in corners of the world, making this cautionary tale still relevant after nearly three decades.
The Clash - Westway to the World (2000) / Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (2007) The UK's mighty Clash and its singer and chief lyricist, Joe Strummer, are paid proper respect in these two retrospective features. Director Don (The Punk Rock Movie, Punk: Attitude) Letts' Grammy-winning Westway to the World is a capable introduction to the band's history via footage from their heyday (1977-1982) and interviews with its members post-breakup, while Julien Temple's The Future is Unwritten digs deeper to present a warts-and-all bio on Strummer, with detailed focus on his life pre- and post-Clash.
The Filth and the Fury: A Sex Pistols Film (2000) Julien Temple attempts to place the Sex Pistols into a context far removed from the hysteria and shock that erupted during their emergence in late '70s Britain. The result, which combines period footage with new interviews with the surviving members and a dizzying array of visual non sequiters, is neither a canonization nor a dismissal of the Pistols, but rather an effort to preserve the righteous indignation of their music in the face of a country and culture in mid-collapse, which draws uncomfortable parallels to the present-day global economic situation.
Instrument: Ten Years with the Band Fugazi (2001) An exhaustive overview of Ian Mackaye's highly influential, post-Minor Threat outfit Fugazi, this two-hour-plus effort by Jem Cohen is a collection of live performances from the band's lengthy history along with interviews that detail the development of their fan-oriented ethics (low ticket prices, all-ages shows, label allegiance). Those looking for a historical document may be thwarted by the film's loose construction, but fans will be rapturous over the wealth of live material spanning Fugazi's 16-year history.
End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones (2003) The history of the Ramones, from their status as rock and roll's saviors in the early '70s to their fractious, messy end in 1996, has been detailed in countless books, magazine articles and films, but this long-gestating project, launched in 1994 and completed nearly a decade later, details both the joyful and ugly aspects of their myth in the words of the band members themselves. What results is a honest depiction of the Ramones as history makers who ignited the conflagration of punk rock for the generations that followed, but ultimately were themselves unable to keep warm by it.
New York Doll (2005) A bittersweet story of downfall and redemption, this award-winning feature details the life of Arthur "Killer" Kane, bassist for the glam-punk pioneers the New York Dolls, who endured decades of substance abuse and emotional turmoil before finding solace in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When a opportunity to play with his former bandmates arises in 2004, the fragile Kane must weigh his own self-preservation against a chance to reclaim his legacy. Alternately enthraling and heartbreaking, New York Doll is a moving testimony to the perils of rock and roll, as well as its power to reinvent and revive.
We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen (2006) San Pedro's beloved and fiercely independent Minutemen, who railed against political injustice in their tightly wound blend of punk, jazz and roots rock, receive a loving tribute in this recollection about their under-the-radar but potent influence on alternative music. The fraternal relationship between singer D. Boon and bassist Mike Watt - now an elder statesman of the indie scene - and their attempt to make intelligent, passionate music in the grisly pop/rock scene of the early '80s are detailed in interviews with Watt, drummer George Hurley, and an all-star list of punk admirers, from Henry Rollins and Flea to critic Richard Meltzer and future Watt cohorts Joe Baiza, Nels Cline and Ed Crawford (fIREHOSE).
American Hardcore - The History of Punk Rock 1980-1986 (2006) Summing up punk rock in a single film is a daunting prospect that invariably leaves one or more factions of fans feeling slighted, and both this documentary, inspired by Steven Blush's book of the same name, and the following pictures, have earned brickbats for their omissions (here, it's the Dead Kennedys and Husker Du, undoubtedly for legal reasons). But for its wealth of interviews and vintage clips, American Hardcore is a worthwhile addition to any punk aficionado's collection.
Punk's Not Dead (2008) and Punk: Attitude (2005) Both features have their merits, with Don Letts' Punk: Attitude offering a historical perspective via interviews with veteran performers, and Punk's Not Dead taking the genre's pulse in the 21st century. Again, neither presents the Compleat Punk Picture, but serve as competent and often invigorating elements of a vast, unruly and still-vibrant punk portrait.
Also worth seeing: Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies (1994), Todd Phillips' profile of the doomed, nihilist rocker, who took punk's transgressive qualities to self-destructive lengths; Afro-Punk (2005), which examines issues of race within the punk community, with performances by and interviews with black and interracial acts like Fishbone, TV on the Radio and 24-7 Spyz; The Gits (2008), a moving look at the life of the Seattle band and their frontwoman, Mia Zapata, whose 1993 murder cut short a promising career; and Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam (2009), which examines the rise of punk culture among Islamic youth in both the U.S. and abroad. -- Paul Gaita
If he had it to do over again, would the creator of CSI: Miami let David Caruso wear the sunglasses that have become such a defining element of the show? Anthony Zuiker, aka “Mr. CSI,” shares some behind-the-scenes stories about the immensely popular TV franchise he created in our exclusive interview.
From tense thrillers to tuneful documentaries, literary adaptations to windswept westerns, this year's art house DVDs covered every emotion. Characters with trouble expressing their feelings paid the highest price, while happier fates awaited the more forthright protagonists.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Andrea Arnold took her intimate technique to a whole new level with the riveting follow-up to Red Road, in which newcomer Katie Jarvis tangles with a dangerously seductive Michael Fassbender.
Every bit as gripping as Thief and American Gigolo, Denmark's Nicolas Winding Refn’s 1980s-style noir made an electrifying mark on Hollywood, distinguished by a super-cool antihero and an unsettling synthesizer score.
3. Poetry A sweet-natured grandmother with a fading memory (the luminous Yun Jung-hee) fulfills her artistic destiny in Lee Chang-dong's heartbreaking and lyrical tale, winner of the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival.
4. Meek's Cutoff Always attuned to the unique rhythms of nature, Kelly Reichardt's meditative take on the western feels more enigmatic than most, even if the period details always look right, resulting in a beautiful vision of harsh times.
5. Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë's Victorian romance is no stranger to the silver screen, but Cary Fukunaga's skillfully mounted adaptation represents one of the most affecting, on account of a steely Mia Wasikowska and a smoldering Michael Fassbender.
6. Beginners For this delicate drama, Thumbsucker director Mike Mills drew from his own experience in depicting an artist (Ewan McGregor) navigating a new relationship while mourning his father (Christopher Plummer), who came out late in life.
7. Win Win In Tom McCarthy's funny and touching film, an unexpected house guest (Alex Shaffer) shakes up the life of a suburban couple (Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan) doing their best to make ends meet in the face of an unsympathetic economy.
8. Cave of Forgotten Dreams Contemplative and reflective, Cave of Forgotten Dreams confirms Werner Herzog as one of the finest and most original chroniclers of the natural world, going below the ground to document the oldest paintings known to man.
9. Weekend Much as in Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, Andrew Haigh’s second feature captures the indelible experience of meeting someone new and feeling an instant connection. It’s all the more touching for feeling so true.
10. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest In his assured directorial debut, actor Michael Rapaport documents the ups and downs of influential hip-hop troupe A Tribe Called Quest, particularly the rocky relationship between rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dog.
In the United States, 2011 was the year of the animated sequel (Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Hoodwinked 2, etc.) And many of the year’s best anime releases were also sequels, continuations or reworkings of familiar properties. But the re- imagined stories were often improvements on the original. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) would be high on anyone’s list of the best series of the last decade. But the more recent Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, which follows the original manga more closley, boasts a more emotionally charged story and flashier special effects. The characters and storylines in many of this year’s best anime may be familiar, but the filmmakers have racheted everything up a notch—or in some cases, several notches.
1. Summer Wars (Blu-ray | DVD ) Director Mamoru Hosoda skillfully juxtaposes the brightly colored CG cyber-realm of Oz with drawn everyday reality in this sci-fi fantasy. But the two worlds are intimately linked. Über-nerd and teenage math wiz Kenji has to defeat a renegade AI program in one and cope with the large, fractious family of his pretty classmate Natsuki in the other. The skillful blend of romance, comedy, action, drama and disparate visual styles in Summer Wars marks Hosoda as one of the most interesting directors currently working in Japan. (Although it had a short theatrical release in America in 2010, Summer Wars made its video debut in 2011.)
2. & 3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part Four (Blu-ray | DVD ) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part Five ( Blu-ray | DVD
Fullmetal Alchemist was an excellent series, but it was completed before manga artist Hiromu Arakawa had envisioned her story’s outcome. Brotherhood, which follows the plot of the manga more closely, is even better. During the solar eclipse on the Promised Day, the "Father" of the Homunculi plans to activate a country-wide transmutation circle, killing untold thousands to create an enormous Philosopher's Stone--and activate the "Mannequin Army," a corps of deathless zombies. The Elric Brothers and their allies strive to thwart his machinations. The climactic battles are spectacular, but the emotional impact overshadows the visuals. Edward and Alphonse discover how just much they’re willing to sacrifice for each other in the appropriately dramatic and moving conclusion.
4. Neon Genesis Evangelion Movie 2.22 You Can [Not] Advance (Blu-ray | DVD) In the second installment in his four-feature retelling of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno diverges further from the original storyline--and pushes the visual boundaries of his epic. The cinematography is more imaginative, the animation more polished and special effects more striking. The prismatic colors, thunderous explosions and eerie lighting in the final battle show that like the original TV series, Anno's new vision will be influencing artists on both sides of the Pacific for years to come.
Eden of the East: Paradise Lost (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Although they were released a year apart, the Eden of the East theatrical features form a single story. In The King of Eden, Saki searches New York for Takizawa, who vanished at the end of the series. Takizawa and Saki return to Japan to end the game Mr. Outside created involving the 12 special agents known as Seleçaos in Paradise Lost. The theme of Eden of the East, the need for young people to revitalize the faltering spirit and economy of Japan, seems prescient in light of the reports of young Japanese volunteering in record numbers to assist in the cleanup of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Director Kenji Kamiyama brings the Eden of the East saga to a conclusion that feels appropriate yet remains ambiguous.
7. Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black (Blu-ray | DVD) The most exciting and engaging of the theatrical features based on Tite Kubo’s best-selling manga, Fade to Black packs a stronger emotional punch than Memories of Nobody and offers more spectacular battles than Diamond Dust Rebellion. The result is a high energy yet moving film that will delight fans of the long- running Bleach series
8. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Blu-ray | DVD) Disappearance reunites the characters (and crew and voice cast) of the popular series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in an extended and suitably offbeat adventure that has a darker tone than the often farcical TV series. Directors Tatsuya Ishihara and Yasuhiro Takemoto build the suspense skillfully, playing on Kyon’s (and the viewer’s) uncertainties. Disappearance is at least 15 minutes too long and suffers from multiple endings: It’s a good film, but if the artists had tightened the story and ended it more surely, it could have been a great one.
More than a decade after the Trigun broadcast series debuted (1998), Vash the Stampede is back. Although bullets fly, Vash keeps people from being killed, even when it means facing down his old friend Nicholas Wolfwood. Meryl, Millie and red-haired bounty Amelia add to the drama and the comedy. When the smoke finally clears and the credits roll, Vash learns that every throw of the dice can have greater consequences then he’d realized.
10. Transformers Japanese Collection: Headmasters (DVD) In 1987, the toy company Takara and the Toei studio began producing an alternate version of Transformers, featuring characters and storylines geared to the Japanese market—that has never been released in America. The familiar Autobots and Decepticons are replaced by a new corps of robots who turn into tanks, helicopters, etc. However, the basic elements of the storyline remain the same: friendships are forged, battles are fought, allegiances shift, threats appear, and good robots triumph over bad ones. The animation is extremely limited, the Japanese voice actors chew the scenery, and the direction repeats many of the clichés of ‘80s Saturday morning kidvid. But for viewers who grew up on Transformers, Headmasters offers an enticing blend of nostalgia and new adventures.
In addition, two reissues warrant special mention:
Mobile Suit Gundam: Complete Collection 1: Anime Legends Yoshiyuki Tomino’s landmark Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) launched a continuity that’s lasted more than three decades—and revolutionized the mecha genre with its anthropomorphic robots that are part space suit, part space ship, and part samurai armor. When his home satellite is attacked, teen-ager Amuro Ray stumbles into the cockpit of the top secret weapon, the Gundam Mobile Suit RX-78—and becomes a hero in spite of himself. Although it often feel old-fashioned, Gundam is still a landmark series, and this reissue includes the original Japanese dialogue for the first time.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Hayao Miyazaki gained widespread attention in Japan for his complex fantasy manga series, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982), which he adapted for the screen two years later. In it, he began to explore elements he would develop more fully in his later films: daring, compassionate heroines; exciting flying sequences; colorful side characters; strong interpersonal relationships; and a call for an ecological sanity. Although Nausicaä was only his second feature, Miyazaki was already an assured and strikingly original director. - -Charles Solomon
You could say that 2011 was the year of the book in the kids and family DVD genre. There were Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, and Winnie the Pooh--all movies based on childrens and young adults books. It was also the year of the unexpected--writers took a Shakespearean romantic tragedy and made it into high comedy and called it Gnomeo and Juliet, mashed the genres of animation and spaghetti Western together in Rango, completely reinvented a bunch of classic fairytale characters in Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, and added a whole new back story to the classic Rapunzel fairytale and renamed it Tangled. The end result for viewers is a comfortable familiarity juxtaposed with a sense of the impending unexpected that keeps the entire family guessing. Check out my top ten kid and family picks for the year below and then head over to the Best of 2011 in Movies & TV store to see the best of lists in other categories.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Though I hesitate to put a film rated PG-13 at the top of a best of list for children, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was far and away the best film released on DVD in 2011. And while the Harry Potter films are certainly not appropriate for the very young, families with older children have grown and bonded over the Harry Potter films for a full decade. This final chapter in the series is a masterful mix of romance, adventure, and magical effects that stays true to the author's intent, is visually stunning, and, most importantly, provides a satisfying ending to a truly epic journey.
Rango: A chameleon starring in an animated Western is one strange idea, but clever writing, skilled animation, and great voice talent combine to produce a film that's highly entertaining for both kids and adults--on two completely different levels, of course.
Kung Fu Panda 2: Sequels often fall short of their predecessors, but Kung Fu Panda 2 is funny, well animated, and full of action. Po has definitely grown up in this second film, but he hasn't lost his most lovable qualities, or his penchant for steamed buns, and when he and the Furious Five wage a fierce battle against a mysterious and deadly new weapon, it keeps everyone on the edge of their seat. Equally interesting is Po's quest for inner peace, which really just boils down to dealing with his own insecurities.
Tangled: Not your typical imprisoned princess, the impulsive and maybe even a bit schizophrenic Rapunzel leaves her tower to embark on a quest that will forever change the lives of herself, Flynn Ryder, and the entire kingdom--not to mention the way viewers think about this classic fairytale character.
Megamind: An interesting look at a villain whose destruction of the world's last hero also destroys his own sense of purpose and happiness.
Mars Needs Moms: An intriguing adventure with some interesting characters and a message that speaks to both kids and adults--even if the story is rather far-fetched and the characters act a bit predictable at times. The motion-capture technology is pretty cool too.
Rio: While this film doesn't really offer anything new plot-wise, it's a visual feast of color that pits cute, lovable characters with the best of intentions against some not-so-smart bad guys in a battle that spans from a dingy back room to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and even the middle of a Carnaval parade. Throw in a little romance, some fun Brazilian music, and a little self-discovery and you've got a recipe for family fun.
Mr. Popper's Penguins: While the script writers and filmmakers took some serious liberties with the original book, Jim Carrey did a great job of capitalizing on the comic possibilities of caring for a flock of penguins in the middle of New York City. This movie is funny, heartwarming, and has a great message about the value of family.
Gnomeo and Juliet: Garden gnomes acting out the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet is absolutely ridiculous, but somehow the film actually works. Romantic tragedy turns comedy thanks to a heavy dose of humor and a commitment to pushing everything way over the top. Tons of famous voice talent doesn't hurt either.
Winnie the Pooh: Because who doesn't love a Winnie the Pooh film? Especially one that's as well done as this one.
What are your favorite kids and family DVD picks for 2011?
Following is a list of notable horror-related DVD and Blu-ray releases from 2011. A "best" list for horror can be a tricky proposition, given the spectrum of styles and degrees of intensity in the genre. Classic chiller fans may not care a whit about the latest gut-spiller, while gore aficionados may roll their eyes at a Depression Era spookshow. But the following eleven titles showcased here stood out, and therefore, were the best in our opinion, because they met two important criteria: they were distinguished by the quality of their stories and/or direction, whether stylish, unrelenting or inventive, and (most importantly) they were scary.
Here's our alarming eleven, in no particular order:
-- Island of Lost SoulsDirector Erle C. Kenton's outrageous 1933 adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau makes its long-over DVD debut with this deluxe presentation from Criterion. Seventy years have not dampened the film's queasy blend of pre-Code perversity and sadism in the name of Science, as embodied by Charles Laughton as a supremely arch Moreau, as well as Kathleen Burke's hot-blooded Panther Girl and Bela Lugosi's tormented Sayer of the Law. Extras include interviews with director John Landis, makeup legend Rick Baker and Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale of Devo, whose "de-evolution" manifesto was influenced by the film. An absolute essential for horror fans of all ages and preferences.
Twitter star and bestselling author Andy Borowitz had what some would consider a charmed run in Hollywood: He started out working with TV legend Norman Lear, created Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (the sitcom that made Will Smith a megastar), and produced the movie Pleasantville, starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire. And then he walked away — not unlike late director John Hughes, whom Borowitz admires greatly, and included in his new bestselling book, The 50 Funniest American Writers: An Anthology of Humor from Mark Twain to The Onion. Hughes is best known for movies like The Breakfast Club, but he also wrote short stories, including "Vacation ’57," which as you may have guessed, served as the basis for the 1983 movie starring Chevy Chase.
I talked with Borowitz, and asked him about Hollywood, happiness and his advice for people who want a career in showbiz:
Director Andrew Niccol's In Time, which opened on October 28, envisions a future in which the world's population has been genetically engineered to stop aging when they reach their 25th year. There is, of course, a catch: they are also "programmed" to die at age 26, but can stave off the inevitable by working for minutes to add to their lifespan. This combination of technological heaven and biological hell is the latest in a long line of dystopias on film, depicting worlds where the promise of a future filled with wonder has been replaced by despair, disarray and the human race teetering on the brink of demise.
Following are ten more memorable visions, listed in chronological order, of the future gone wrong on film. It is by no means a comprehensive list, but merely a representative sampling of the subgenre.
Metropolis (1927) Director Fritz Lang's seminal science fiction film examines the schism between the working class and the managerial elite in this blend of Expressionism and Marxism that also includes one of the screen's first robots, a sleek, metallic automaton used to sow dissent among the rebelling workers.
Alphaville (1965) Jean-Luc Godard's surreal adventure sends secret agent Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) to the title city, an Orwellian technocratic dictatorship overseen by the super-computer Alpha 60, which has forbidden emotion in favor of mindless obedience.
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