Films That Critique Modern-Life?

Missed opportunity with "The Lonely Are The Brave" but it was still good. Doesn't matter what era, just a critique of the time. The only current movies I could think that do that aren't very good, but I think of "Idiocracy" "They Live" and "God Bless America" - but as long as it's good, it could be a critique of modern-day 1950.

Harry and Tonto is probably the best example I could think of. Think of when he's asked about a friend's social security number (and his reponse - don't wanna give anything up)

The one film I'm not talking about would be Fahrenheit 451 - because we don't have that society.

I suppose "Falling Down" (1993) could fit under this category actually.

IMDB (/title/tt0106856/): "A borderline personality disordered defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society, begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them."

Wikipedia: " [...] Along the way, a series of encounters, both trivial and provocative, cause him to react with violence and make sardonic observations on life, poverty, the economy, and commercialism. [...]"

I'd recommend that film BTW, seen it twice.

Matt I have a film that Critiques Modern-Life, I think you would like the statement it makes too.

All That Heaven Allows (1955) Director Douglas Sirk

American Beauty (1999) definitely critiques Western society amongst other things.

The Seed Of Man
Soylent Green
Pigsty
Zombie
The Stepford Wives
Fight Club
Wall-E
Modern Times
...

But it's a subject too broad...

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I have "The Stepford Wives" - just haven't got around to it. Thanks - I will watch it right after "Kings of the Road"

I'd love to see movies made during the USSR that criticizes it, from inside, a Russian director or even a defector.

I think we can't find a lot of films like that because of the censorship of the USSR. The criticism was more subtle. Andrei Roublev is in fact a portrait of Tarkovski himself who was in conflit with the power. Or Ivan The Terrible by Eisenstein which is a portrait of Staline.

I love The Stepford Wives. I'm assuming you're talking about the proper one and not the Nicole Kidman thing.

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5-time MoFo Award winner.

I'm not at home right now, but I'm sure the version I have is from 1974.