#10 Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) (8/10)
"I'm just here for the gasoline."
There is a fantastic dystopia on display in this cult classic. The world has become ravaged by the lack of oil, which is now the defining commodity, and as a result bands of pirates go around blowing a lot of things up. That might not sound like the basis for a cracking dystopia, and the narrative is hidden away behind one of the most action orientated films of all time, but the film portrays the idea of a deserted wasteland to perfection. It's almost a shame that the setting is hidden away, as although the action sequences are very good, the fantastically simple setting never really got the credit it deserved in the movie world.
The cinematography is one area where the film does try and get every bit of detail out of that sparse wasteland, before once again delving into a violent action sequence to hammer home how tough life is in this universe. In actual fact the acting and camera work are surprisingly good, and each scene is orchestrated to a much higher standard than your usual action film I doubt anyone does care about these technical issues though, as every action sequence hits exactly the right spot, especially the climax, which is fucking brilliant. What an exclamation mark that scene is on an already thrilling action film and a surprisingly clever dystopia.
#9 Fahrenheit 451 (1966) (7/10)
"Behind each of these books, there's a man. That's what interests me."
The film based on the iconic Ray Bradbury novel that sees firemen burning any illegal book that has been banned by the state. Another simple yet very effective premise that allows director Francois Truffaut to explore some very deep themes. Interestingly this was the man's one and only film produced in colour throughout his long career, and to be honest he needn't of bothered considering the styling is about as bland as you can get. Not that the bland styling is a downside to the film, as it's just what you would imagine from a world without culture. This world is as grey and dull as it should be, and as are the cast. Even the opening credits are spoken instead of trying to be visually pleasing to the viewer, but that's the whole point. This is a world without culture or art, and the emptiness is a sincere warning to the viewers in its most raw and mundane form. By no means is this film a perfect dystopian classic, but skilled directing and being faithful to the original novel allow this film to serve as a perfect counterpart to an already revolutionary novel.
#8 The Matrix (1999) (8/10)
"To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human."
Robots taking over the human world isn't exactly a revolutionary concept in sci-fi films, but the way 'The Matrix' approached this scenario certainly was. Here humans are conditioned to think they are not being enslaved by a master race of machines, and the narrative plays on this premise really nicely, with an inadvertent 'man vs machine' conflict disguised as just another generic action flick. Maybe the dystopian angle could have been played differently to much greater effect, as the dystopia itself is actually rather poorly explained, but still has a great influence on the narrative. 'The Matrix' may play out like an ordinary action movie, but there's so much more going on beneath the surface.
'The Matrix' as a film doesn't feel dystopian at all, and that's why despite the premise being so bold the film doesn't rank that highly compared to the more contemporary films in the genre. What 'The Matrix' does do incredibly well is build on slick action sequences with a ton of meaning, still being easy on the mind for even the most casual of viewers. It's hardly surprising why this has become one of the most talked about plots in recent memory, and over the years 'The Matrix' has become a pop culture phenomenon. Of course nobody really remembers the dystopian aspects of the film, rather those neat and mindblowing special effects that emphasise the exuberant style of Wachowkski Brothers.
#7 1984 (1984) (7/10)
"Power is tearing human minds apart and putting them back together in new shapes of your own choosing."
The film counterpart to the George Orwell novel that epitomises the whole genre. The only worry with a film as big as '1984' is that it has such a huge task to not disappoint, and thankfully the finished product was a good accompaniment to one of the most famous novels of all time. You don't need me to tell you how great the story is. Orwell's masterful dystopia is rightfully championed both in this film and the genre as a whole. The book may well be the better version, but that's hardly a criticism, and this is still an unmissable title for any Orwell fans.
The gloomy atmosphere created by the book is still abundant in this film. Oceania looks exactly as drab and miserable as the novels would have you believe. In fact the setting presented in this film is incredibly well done, but there's always that sense of fantasy that almost becomes a comfort in this fucked up world. John Hurt is great as Winston Smith. He's just the sort of man the reader would associate with Winston in the novels. Hurt's performance also allows us to picture this sense of man versus government in the face of oppression, which for this film was probably the hardest task it faced.
#6 Battle Royale (2000) (9/10)
"You just have to fight for yourself; no one's going to save you. That's just life, right?"
'Battle Royale' is an extremely unique take on the common theme of teenage delinquency. I'm not usually a fan of something that can be described as both Japanese and unique, but this film is a great spin on the dytopisa genre. This narrative plays out in a very similar fashion to the far inferior 'Hunger Games', where randomly selected school classes must fight to the death. I'm not sure how that's going to help teenage delinquency, but to be fair many authoritative figures in the dystopia genre are retrospectively dim witted. 'Battle Royale' however is a million miles better than 'The Hunger Games', and actually conveys a lot of emotion as well as some interesting themes; namely some dark humour, which I absolutely fucking adore.
Admittedly the actual dystopia here is very thin in places, with very little depth or explanation as to the context of the situation. Often that doesn't matter with the incredible power of each individual scene, and I don't imagine many viewers are thinking too deeply about the context watching some of the graphic scenes on display here. 'Battle Royale' is brutal, excessively violent, and absolutely brilliant at carrying a strong message; even if that message is totally fucked up. So fucked up was the message that the film was condemned by the Japanese Government, even ironically being linked o teenage delinquency. Turns out this dystopia was more accurate than anyone ever imagined.
#5 Children of Men (2006) (8/10)
"As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices."
'Children of Men' is a film all about the chaos caused by infertility, although really that's an incredible simple message in a film that leaves us with a far more tenuous and controversial thought process. The worst part of this dystopia is just how realistic the setting feels. The overall premise of a world without children is one that's both incredibly plausible and incredibly shocking, and to the viewer there seems no logical reason why this scenario couldn't possibly play out in the near future. Immigration laws are a hot topic in global politics at the moment, which is a theme that 'Children of Men' thrives on.
The directing however is the highlight of this film; it's a cut above nearly everything else on this list. There's so much symbolism and subtle nods going on that you get the sense this is artistically superior to the majority of dystopian futures. This thought provoking approach gives us the viewer some tremendous and atmospheric scenes. None of the scenes are ever filled with over the top action and sci-fi cliches, rather relying on a disturbing and vivid setting to tell the story. The overall cinematography is also top notch, as is the acting, which gives us a far more emotional dystopia than usual. It's such a shame this film failed at the box office, because this is one of the few films that manages to tick all the boxes in what makes a quality film by the standards of modern cinema.
#4 Soylent Green (1973) (8/10)
"There was a world, once, you punk."
Man is this a depressing future. A really dismal view of a future society that scarily emulates the real world issues of hunger and resource exploitation. In this world there is only one food source for the starving and overpopulated planet, known as 'Soylent Green'. Sure that might not sound like the most shocking depiction of a future gone wrong, but the setting is well branched out and eerily normalised. The most worrying thing about this depiction of the future is that it's set in just six years, and as far as I'm concerned the only difference between this film and the world today is a radically different society.
What this film is really known for however is Charlton Heston's now iconic lead performance. It's a spectacular chapter in his illustrious career that will leave you glued to his character in every scene. That's not to knock the technical aspects of this film. The narrative is masterfully written, especially for a forward thinking dystopia, and although it's sometimes hard to follow the solid script and acting make this an informative vision of the future rather than an over-complicated one. The plot twist at the end will leave you speechless. Seriously, if you haven't already been made aware of this legendary moment then you're in for a huge surprise, and a great way to cap off a great film.
#3 Logan's Run (1976) (8/10)
"I've never killed anyone in my life. Sandman terminate runners."
The interesting thing about 'Logan's Run' is that you could be forgiven for thinking this idealistic world is actually more of a utopia, and one filled with immense pleasure. There's one small side note that everyone dies at the age of 30, but you can't have everything in life. This world doesn't feel like a dystopia either. The world looks lovely, the set designs looks gorgeous, and there's a unique feeling that perfectly encapsulates the idea of a utopia gone bad. For the 1970's this was a film design way ahead of its time, and 'Logan's Run' arguably looks better than it plays out. However what I love most about 'Logan's Run' is how bizarre whole film is. Everything feels weird and quirky, and this gives the film a unique character, and a character that never seems to take itself seriously enough for such an incredibly serious plot. This is a film that although not always exhilarating, is certainly one that stands out in a often samey dytopian genre.
#2 Blade Runner (1982) (9/10)
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off
the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the
Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in
rain... Time to die."
'Blade Runner' is not your typical dystopia considering the viewer has to piece together why this futuristic world is afoul. Dig deeper however and you find a narrative filled with strong themes about what it means to be human, and the dangers of capitalism that perfectly illustrate a ruined world. The worst thing about this world is that it's set in 2019, just three years in the future. This fictional landscape may feel like a sprawling cyber-city unlikely to exist in our lifetime, but this one sounds and feels totally real and vibrant, which is all the more disturbing.
I'm personally a huge fan of the world this film creates. It's a pleasant world to experience even if everything lacks order. The unusual yet beautiful setting is another example of Ridley Scott proving why he's one of the world's greatest directors. This is a sci-fi masterpiece in artistic integrity, and one that thanks to a cult following has withstood the test of time. 'Blade Runner' is a perfect example of how good a noir film can be at creating atmosphere, and there is something so hauntingly beautiful about everything this film does. Maybe it's the unique noir setting that's set itself apart from other films in the genre, or maybe just the excellent cinematography. Either way this is an insanely good film that's way better to experience than I could ever describe.
#1 A Clockwork Orange (1971) (10/10)
"Goodness is something to be chosen. When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man."
The number one dystopia for me just had to be this unbelievably deranged epic. Dystopias don't get any better than the brutal teenage delinquent world from the Anthony Burgess novel, and when you get Stanley Kubrick to lead the project the result is a shocking film that wasn't comparable to anything else out there. In fact in the UK it wasn't actually released until after Kubrick's death in 1999 due to Kubrick's family actually receiving death threats in response to this film's impact on pop culture. Even today the themes explored in this epic are certainly relevant, creating a lasting impact on the viewer with vivid imagery and suggestive themes littered all over the place. As with any Kubrick film the technical elements are perfect. The score is so brilliantly intertwined as usual, and the cinematography is so precise and calculated that it's just unbelievable to watch in person.
The real reason why this film became so infamous is due to the themes of torture, violence, rape, and murder all being brushed over in almost a comedic fashion. 'A Clockwork Orange' is nowhere near as appalling as it was to viewers back in the day, but it's still a difficult watch at times. Not surprisingly this is a polarising film, but for those who appreciate artistry in cinema and the deep exploration of graphic themes then this is a film in a class of one. For me the black humour in this is so astounding and profound that it instantly became a perfect film in my mind. Never have I seen a film so willingly glorify such heinous actions, yet at the same time question the very nature of the themes presented. Kubrick creates an antihero out of a protagonist so deplorable, yet so charismatic at the same time. 'A Clockwork Orange' is such a savage yet beautiful dystopia filled with the very worst of society, crafted in such a fashion that there was no way this couldn't take the top spot.
No comments:
Post a Comment