Top 10 Agenda Films That Provoke Discussion

Sometimes, the discussion that a film provokes can be more memorable than the film itself. For the purposes of this list, I’m avoiding the philosophical aspect of films, say, in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece is bound to elicit a discussion in the regard of What’s it all about?, but that’s different from what I’m driving at with this list. Similarly, most any film that spawns an ambiguous ending is going to provoke an inciting post-movie conversation, but, again, that’s separate from what I’m going for.

When I say “agenda film,” I’m talking about movies that pose an obvious moral dilemma, or examine social issues that often divide people. The possibilities here are endless, but below are a handful of films that have triggered memorable discussions with my friends and family after the fact.

Note: I’ve tried to be cautious with spoilers, but the endings to Do the Right Thing, Philadelphia and Gone Baby Gone will be spoiled in this post.

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Possible discussion: What motivates and perpetuates racism?

If you’ve seen Do the Right Thing with other people before, then I bet you slipped into the same exact conversation I did when the film was finished: Is it a.) Moral and legal for the police officer to strangle Radio Raheem to death and, b.) Did Mookie have the right to singlehandedly start a riot as a result of his friend’s death?

From there, your debate may organically transform into a widespread conversation about race in America. Then, and now. Which is, I believe, one of Spike Lee’s major intentions with his film.

Malcolm X (1992)

Possible discussion: Can people really change?

Malcolm X is my favorite historical figure. Has been for years. The main reason is because of his drastic transformation(s) from street thug, to radical Muslim leader, to ultimate peacekeeper, all of which are captured perfectly in Spike Lee’s film.

The first time I saw Malcolm X, I watched it with my father, and when it was done, he asked me what I thought. And I said something to the effect of, “I guess the movie was so long because it had to show that he really did change as a person. But did the real man actually change?”

His response, and again, I’m paraphrasing: “If you figure that out, then you may be able to teach a few people some things.”

Philadelphia (1993)

Possible discussion: Gay rights – to believe, or not to believe.

I’m not naïve enough to think that a movie can change people’s minds. Once people get past a certain age, I think they’re more or less set in their ways, and barring a drastic, life-changing event, they’ll probably stay that way for the duration. My point is, I don’t think Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia can turn a homophobic person into a supporter for equal rights (much like the transition it depicts in Denzel Washington’s character). But hell, who knows, maybe I’m wrong. You tell me.

Did Andrew Beckett’s firm have the right to fire him because he had AIDS? Did Andrew’s firm even know he had AIDS? Was the settlement paid to Andrew and his family fair? Was it too generous? Again, you tell me.

Breaking the Waves (1996)

Possible discussion: Is infidelity ever acceptable?

Early in Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, oilrig worker, Jan is paralyzed in a freak accident. While in the hospital, Jan instructs his faithful and not-all-there wife, Bess, to have sex with other men, then report the encounters back to Jan in graphic detail. Which, after a bit of hesitation, she does, to increasingly dangerous degrees.

I can hear the arguments from here…

A Time to Kill (1996)

Possible discussion: Is it okay to kill in the name of revenge?

Joel Schumacher’s drama isn’t the first or last movie to tackle the moral dilemma of taking a life for revenge’s sake, but it is an excellent conversation starter all the same. After two white racists brutally rape and beat a 10-year-old black girl, the girl’s father, Carl (played to perfection by Samuel L. Jackson) guns them down inside the county courthouse. It was Carl’s assumption that, because he lives in the Deep South, the criminals would be acquitted of their crimes.

Should Carl have let the justice system run its course? Did he have a right to kill two men who senselessly ruined his daughter’s life? Is murder ever justified?

Deliver Us From Evil (2006)

Possible discussion: Is true forgiveness possible?

Amy Berg’s devastating documentary chronicles Catholic priest Oliver O’Grady, who molested and raped hundreds of children (both male and female) for several years in several different areas of the United States. The Church knew about it, and instead of punishing O’Grady, they simply moved him to a new town, where he found new victims. Move, repeat. Move, repeat. Late in the film, O’Grady (who recalls his crimes with about as much guilt as you or I would in forgetting to take out the trash) says he plans on writing some of his victims, in an effort to meet up with him and ask for their forgiveness.

Does O’Grady have the right to do this? Are there instances when forgiveness (under the eyes of God, or under the laws of human decency) is simply not attainable?

Lake of Fire (2006)

Possible discussion: Abortion – the pros and cons of Life vs. Choice.

The most impressive feat in Tony Kaye’s sprawling documentary is that he’s able to keep it perfectly even keeled. He doesn’t beg you to see it from one side, or dare you to empathize with people you don’t agree with. He let’s his subjects talk, and let’s his cameras capture. He documents extremists, timid supporters, confused delegates – all from both sides of the argument.

Lake of Fire doesn’t tell you which side is right and which is wrong, but you’ll be damn sure to ask yourself that once it’s over.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Possible discussion: What is best for an innocent child trapped in a bad situation?

Every character in Gone Baby Gone is searching for a girl. They bribe, intimidate, lie, chase leads – anything to get little Amanda McCready back. Jump to the end, and we realize that Amanda’s been under the care of a police Captain the entire time. The Captain’s justification: Amanda will have a better life with him, than she would with her biological mother, a snorts-too-much, drinks-too-much Boston townie. Private detective Angie agrees with the Captain, but Angie’s boyfriend and business partner, Patrick, does not. Patrick says Amanda is meant to be with her mother, for better or worse.

Patrick’s decision to call the cops, thereby sending Amanda back to her mother and the Captain to jail, ends his relationship with Angie, and divided audiences about what is right and what is wrong for a little girl who can’t decide for herself.

Compliance (2012)

Possible discussion: Are people really that stupid?

Some of the most interesting and insightful film-related discussions I had in 2012 centered around director Craig Zobel’s terrifying thriller, Compliance. In the film, a man posing as a police officer calls a fast food restaurant, demands to speak to the manager, and convinces the manager that one of her female employees has stolen from a customer. Within minutes, the poor worker is stripping naked in front of her boss and another employee, doing jumping jacks to make sure “nothing is up there,” and, well… it gets bad.

Now, the whole time I watched Compliance, I kept saying to myself what I’m sure a lot of people said to themselves, which is something related to, “Oh, cut me a break.” Thing is, everything in Compliance happened. Everything. More than once.

Just today, I was having a conversation on Twitter with a few people concerning this film and my proposed discussion topic. Watch this movie with some people, and I’m sure you will too.

United 93 (2006)

Possible discussion: When is Too Soon, too soon?

I saved United 93 for last because the topic I’m broaching has nothing to do with what is featured in the film, but rather, the existence of the film itself.

When the first teasers for United 93 hit theaters in late 2005, it famously encouraged cries of “Too soon!” in a handful of New York City theaters. But was it? Was releasing a 9/11-related film (a very good 9/11-related film) less than five years after the actual event too soon? Ask me, and I’ll say no. But last week, I read that an indie filmmaker is scouting locations in Connecticut in preparation for the Sandy Hook massacre-related film he plans to soon make. Too soon for that? You’re goddamn right.

10 more bound to provoke discussion:

Network

Kramer vs. Kramer

Sophie’s Choice

Alive

Thelma & Louise

Capturing the Friedman’s

Million Dollar Baby

Super Size Me

Away From Her

Hunger

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