Over the summer I took a composition class and my teacher really seemed to enjoy teaching the unit over allegory in literature. So, being the half-ass film buff that I am, I gave her a list of allegorical films (some aren't so allegorical, but I just enjoy them so deal with it) that I sorted by director. I've decided to regurgitate that list all over
E204. Enjoy~
David Cronenberg - As his career progresses his films become more cryptically allegorical, and less sci-fi, violent, and perverse.
Spider marked the biggest shift in his career from his physical manipulation of characters to his current psychological manipulation of characters.
- A History of Violence (2005)
- Oscar nomiated, and for good reason. Viggo is just as violent as when he was slashing orcs, and just as dichotic as Smeagol/Gollum.
- Spider (2002)
- This film isn't as impactful as A History of Violence, but there are definitely ideas developed from this turning-point in his career that led to it.
- Naked Lunch (1991)
- Naked Lunch is based off the book, The Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in literature and/or writing. I personally think this film is about an artist (writer, in this case) finding his reason for his work (story) and then getting lost in the creation of his art until he reaches the end. Then he'll find his purpose for the next work of art, and continue again.
- Videodrome (1983)
- One of my personal favorites. Not only does it have the delightfully, sexually ambiguosly -natured James Woods, but it's a film about how television (or any new medium?) turns its viewers into mindless violent machines.
David Lynch - A prolific director that understands how to manipulate the audience's feeling by controlling every aspect of sensory output that a film can offer; colors, sound, mood, lighting, camera effects (not special effects), and plots so heavy with allegory they would drop to the bottom of the sea in moments. His films are so disoreinting sometimes that finding the allegory behind each one is nearly impossible.
- Mulholland Drive (2001)
- A film about how Hollywood can corrupt a naive, aspiring actress with a pocket full of dreams.
- Lost Highway (1997)
- I'm still not for sure about this one. The plot is more convoluted than Mullholland Drive. I think it is about how mistrust of your spouse can lead you to places, and make you do things that you don't think you are capable of.
- Blue Velvet (1986)
- I thought of this film while discussing Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?". This film isn't by far as intricate as his later films, but it still has his flair.
- Dune (1984)
- Middle Eastern oil and universal power during the 80's.
- Eraserhead (1977)
- This is a film about how alien raising a child can be.
Terry Gilliam - His work isn't as thick with allegory, or as serious, as the others, but his sets and props are outlandish and conjur a fantastical sense of impish fantasy and his light-hearted comedic approach to his topics leave you thinking while laughing.
- Brazil (1985)
- I guess this film is more literal than allegorical, but it's a great tale about a man following his dreams from his self-made prison.
- The Fisher King (1991)
- A modern day tale based on "Fisher King" that is rich with metaphors.
- Twelve Monkeys (1995)
- Based on the French short film, La Jetée, Twleve Monkeys doesn't necessarilly contain a lot of allegory, but I think it is a good film. :-)
Next Generation has posted a list of the top 100 games of the 21st century. They provide extensive details about the titles, and then go on to chime in their reason for placing it where they did. Not much thought went into collaborating this list because all seems to be based on estimated sales and not innovation or influence on the industry. It was an interesting read. I suppose it comes as no surprise that GTA: Vice City got #1 with an estimated 7 million units sold, beating out Halo with 4.2 million units. It's just a shame to see a great game like God of War, placed at 50, be outsold by Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (22).
