10 Movies That Blur the Line Between Satire and Glorifying Bad Behavior

Good satire requires great intelligence on the part of the performer and the audience, and there are many satirical films that have been accused of glorifying bad behavior. While this may seem like a shortcoming on the part of the filmmakers, it sometimes happens that their work has just been misinterpreted by some people. Satire is never as effective if it's too blatant or preachy, so the audience often has to do some of the work.

Many great crime film directors have been accused of glorifying their themes, such as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Guy Ritchie. This misunderstanding often comes from the fact that these directors find some redeemable qualities in their characters. Ultimately, the goal is to humanize and make crime seem like human behavior rather than abstract evil, but it's difficult to find the right balance between doing that and glorifying the criminal lifestyle.

10

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Scorsese's financial satire often feels like one big party

More than almost any other film, The Wolf of Wall Street has sparked a heated debate over whether it glorifies the bad behavior it claims to satirize. Martin Scorsese has had to endure similar accusations made against some of his other films. For example, Good companions it can make the crowd look glamorous, respectable, and even fun. The Wolf of Wall Street seems to take things to a new level.

The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of a con man who amassed a huge fortune by committing fraud and stock market manipulation, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Jordan Belfort. Scorsese injects plenty of comedy into the story and a fun soundtrack to make Belfort's criminal scheme feel like a never-ending party. The fact that Belfort had a cameo in the film added fuel to the firebut Scorsese has always said that people who see history as an aspiration are missing the point. As much as The Wolf of Wall Street satirizes the “finance brother” culture of Wall Street, but also examines the systems that allowed Belfort to succeed for so long.

9

American Psycho (2000)

Christian Bale's cunning serial killer is strangely charming

Luca Guadagnino is set to direct a new adaptation of American Psycho, and there are reports that Austin Butler will play Patrick Bateman. If these rumors turn out to be true, Butler will have a tough task ahead, as Christian Bale's performance in Mary Harron's original adaptation helped create one of the most interesting serial killers in film history. Bateman isn't like other big screen assassins. He can be strangely charming at times.

As opposed to the sociopathic look of Norman Bates or Hannibal Lecter, Patrick Bateman spends most of his time as a smart young professional who people seem to like. Even while cutting Paul Allen to pieces, he manages to carry on a conversation about pop music. From his sex appeal to his powerful work, Bateman often seems like an aspirational character, and Bale plays him with enough charisma that audiences can easily fall in love with him.

8

Scarface (1983)

Tony Montana might enjoy the high life for a while

Al Pacino gives one of his greatest performances in Scar, bringing Tony Montana to life with a mix of charm and intensity. Tony is a Cuban immigrant who wants to experience the American dream and discovers that the easiest way to do so is to climb the drug trafficking ladder. It all ends in a bloody final showdown, with Tony left alone in his sprawling mansion, but he finds great success and great joy in his climb to the top.

Scar subtly satirizes the falsehoods of the American dream and the racial inequality of the system, but Tony finds a way out of poverty through drugs. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, his downfall is largely self-imposedwhich creates the temptation for the audience to think that his personal failures are the only thing holding him back from a life of quiet luxury. A different character might not be as paranoid and jealous.

7

Joker (2019)

Joker questions society's rigid structures and traditions

There have been countless different depictions of the Joker in comics, TV shows, films, and more, each bringing a slightly new interpretation of the character. 2019 Clown presents him as a revolutionary who fights against an unjust world. His methods are extreme and his philosophy is a bit warped, but most people would agree with his complaints. Clown asks the audience to what extent they are willing to affect change and what the change process would realistically look like.

The world of Clown it feels a little more violent and chaotic than ours, as if society's ills have been exaggerated to help the Joker's worldview. You don't have to be a terrorist to sympathize with Arthur Fleck's situation under these circumstances. The end of Clown makes him even more likable. In a way, Clown is a satire on the erroneous thinking about extremism and terrorism, but it is also constructed to make the character's motivations understandable.

6

Fight Club (1999)

Tyler Durden is extremely charismatic

Fight Club spans a few different genres. It's a psychological thriller, a crime film and a social satire all at the same time. Fight Club looks at the absurdity that people accept as part of everyday lifesuch as office work culture, consumerism and certain views on masculinity. The Narrator finds an escape from these social pressures in his peculiar relationship with Tyler Durden, and their response makes a strange sense.

The philosophy behind Tyler Durden's Fight Club is that people need to escape the ridiculous structures of modern society and return to a more natural, animalistic way of life. At first this means engaging in bare-knuckle fights as a cathartic release, but by the end of Fight Club, the group evolves into a cult that seeks to dismantle society through violent actions. Tyler Durden is no hero, but his complaints are understandable and some audiences could be brought on board with his revolutionary spirit.

5

Borat (2006)

Borat has often been accused of racism

Sacha Baron Cohen sparked controversy with Borat, a film that follows an ignorant journalist from Kazakhstan as he travels across the United States. The aim is to satirize Borat's racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic views, as well as those of the Americans he comes into contact with. Essentially, by portraying a cartoonishly offensive bigot, Borat reveals that the thin veneer of respectability in 21st century America barely hides many regressive and harmful opinions.

The problem with Borat is that many of his offensive jokes are often misinterpreted, with some viewers applauding the racial stereotypes. Some of the BoratThe most ardent fans are the same people the film is supposed to poke fun at. It's also difficult to excuse some of the bizarre stereotypes the film propagates about Kazakhstan. The sequence, Subsequent Borat film, was met with another wave of criticism.

4

Zoolander

Zoolander's Dorky Main Characters Are Still Affable

Zoolander it pokes fun at the fashion industry, but more broadly, it's a satire of people who value appearance over substance. Derek Zoolander and Hansel are two incredibly stupid characters – the kind who get into gas fights at gas stations and open computers to access the files on them – and the script constantly finds new ways to insult their intelligence. However, they are also very easy to like.

While Zoolander spends a lot of time mocking Derek and Hansel, they still manage to save the day and get the happy endings they deserve. In this way, Zoolander seems to forgive them for their lack of intelligence or curiosity. Deep down, they are good people, even if they are very vain. Ultimately, the film seems to suggest that there are more important things than someone's intelligence.

3

The gentlemen

Guy Ritchie makes crime look classy

From your first film – Padlock, stock and two smoking barrels – Guy Ritchie has cultivated a reputation as a master of labyrinthine crime comediessome of which have been accused of glamorizing organized crime. The gentlemen could be Ritchie's most charming deep dive into the criminal underworld, with Matthew McConaughey playing a suave drug kingpin who associates with the British aristocracy.

Like many of Guy Ritchie's best films, The gentlemen features a large cast of criminal characters. Some of these characters are loathsome brutes and disgusting villains, but there are some who could frankly be described as aspirational. McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam and Colin Farrell play honest, hard-working people with hearts of gold, even if their business sometimes involves murder, extortion and blackmail.

2

The social network

David Fincher balances social satire with some other themes

The social network examines Mark Zuckerberg and the rapid rise of Facebook in the 2000s. In doing so, it satirizes the strange bubble of Silicon Valley and venture capitalists, as well as providing some broader social commentary on how power and money can change the people. Despite painting an unflattering portrait of Zuckerberg, The social network I can't change the fact that Zuckerberg becomes a huge success in the end.

The social network It changes the true story of Facebook's founding in some ways, but the broad strokes are accurate. This means that the perceived glorification of bad behavior in film is even more important as it directly affects real life. This side of the film is no coincidence. Aaron Sorkin's script and David Fincher's direction work to contrast the betrayal and intellectual theft that helped create Facebook with the ultimate success of its founders, showing that such acts are often rewarded in society.

1

Very bad

Superbad Revels in Teenage Rebellion

Very bad is a great teen comedy and often pokes fun at its immature and awkward characters. Even some of the adults in Very bad need a reality check, especially Seth Rogen and Bill Hader's two cop characters. Mostly, the story continues with the high school students trying to throw one last wild party before heading off to college, and there are a few moments where the film glorifies their immature behavior.

Very bad is filled with great quotes, some shocking antics, and great comedic performances. It deserves its reputation as one of the funniest films of its time, but there's no getting away from the fact that it makes petty crimes, reckless irresponsibility, and outright stupidity look fun. Very bad He manages to get away with all of this because he doesn't take anything too seriously.