Disturbing "reality" movies about teenagers

[Nighthawk 0]

I had a question, but I thought I'd make the topic more general. I love these movies, and you can talk about any you like. If I haven't seen them, I'll watch them. Some of my favorites:

 

River's Edge: My man Crispin Glover makes this one. It might be my favorite performance of his. Another example of Keanu Reeves being an actor I don't really like but still being in a lot of movies I do. His performance is good, because it's basically Ted Logan again (although this was a few years before that), except nihilistic and sad. Also has Dennis Hopper crazying it up.

 

Bully: I like this one because it's set in Florida. Easy for me to relate to because I saw assholes like these every day. It's also really funny and somewhat erotic. Best thing Larry Clark ever did. I actually like all of his movies, but this is the only one I like as more than a train wreck and/or porn.

 

Thirteen: Speaking of train wreck porn... Nah, this movie is ok, but I'll admit I like it kind of voyeuristically and not really as much for the Message. A lot of this one is pretty funny as well, but I think unintentionally unlike Bully.

 

Anyway, my question is about the movie Elephant. I didn't see it, but why the hell is it called Elephant? I think I'll watch it pretty soon.

[cabbageboy 0]

Reeves was the complete anti Ted in River's Edge. Sure both are seemingly slacker stoner types but in River's Edge he was doing a dead serious performance. Hell, he'd be likely to beat the shit out of someone like Ted.

[Insane Bump Machine 0]

Why it's called Elephant is answered here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363589/trivia

 

Great cinematography and music, but there isn't really much of a plot and the acting leaves a bit to be desired. Interesting film to watch once, but I don't think it holds up for repeated viewings.

[godthedog 0]

i think 'los olvidados' and 'city of god' would fall into this category as well.

[Ravenbomb 0]

Thirteen was one of the most draining movies I've ever seen. I felt like I needed to eat sugar packets after watching it.

 

Anyone here ever seen Homeroom?

[Guest TheDon]

What about kids?

[haws bah gawd 0]

I remember watching Kids when I was about 12 or 13. THat was a really messed up movie. I'm pretty much desensitized to it now though. I haven't seen City of God, but have heard both good and bad things about it.

[Gary Floyd 0]

"City of God" is one of the best movies I've ever seen. However, I normally don't like Larry Clarks movies (i.e. "Kids") because of the teen sex on display. I did however, like "Bully", mostly because 1.) It's based on a true story,2.) Unlike "Kids", it's more interesting, as well as more disturbing, and 3.) Leo Fitzpatrick is hilarious as the Hitman, IMO. "The Hitman needs a ride." "Kids" though, didn't really disturb me, mostly because I thought it felt too forced, and that it tried too hard to get it's message across.

[Nighthawk 0]

Why it's called Elephant is answered here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363589/trivia

Hm, my guess would have been the proverb about blind men describing an elephant based on the different parts of the elephant they felt, as relates to the motivations of school shootings.

 

City of God has been on my to watch list for a while.

 

This is the first I've heard of Los Olvidados, which sounds interesting. No dvd apparently, but it sounds like the kind of thing which will get one, so hopefully I can find it to rent and not waste money on VHS. That's why VHS isn't dead, though.

 

Kids I do enjoy watching, but it's a little too "after school special" to be that effective. Interestingly, the first time I heard of it was when I was some juvenile correctional programs, and some of the kids there held it up as a kind of blueprint for their lives, idolizing the characters and wanting to be like them. That's more disturbing than the movie itself.

[ArkhamGlobe 0]

Los Olvidados is apparently out on dvd in Mexico and France, or so this site tells me, anyway.

[Guest Evolution]

Bully was a lot better than Kids, but I felt Kids was one of the worst movies I've ever watched, simply because the dialogue didn't seem natural at all. Maybe at the time.

 

Thirteen was good at making me hate little teen whores, but the movie on a whole was average at best, and I remember not enjoying the ending.

 

City of God is an excellent movie, and I'll probably get that on DVD sometime soon.