There are many cult classics I’ve seen and loved, and many more that I’ll never see because they’re way too dark and twisted for my taste. These three films that have earned small but devoted fans are on my to-watch list.
If you’ve seen them, be sure and tell me what you think in comments!
Fight Club
This 1999 film starring Ed Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter (whom I love) is widely regarded as being better than the book it’s based on, but I’m leery of the violence and expect to spend a big chunk of this movie covering my eyes.
The Science of Sleep
I loved director Michael Gondry’s first film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and want to see this 2006 follow-up, which is similarly surreal, taking place largely in the head of the main character.
Grey Gardens
I’ve heard amazing things about this 2009 Drew Barrymore/Jessica Lange re-imagining of the original 1975 documentary about the eccentric, reclusive New York socialites “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale.
Have you seen these movies? Do you think I’d love them or hate them? Tell me about it in comments. Â
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This is the thirteenth post in a series, 31 Days of Cult Classics. You can click here to see a list of all the posts, updated everyday in the month of October.
23 comments
The only one I have seen is “Grey Gardens,” and it was amazing. Both Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore do such a great acting job, it seems they must be the real people.
I saw Grey Gardens and I nearly had a panic attack and had to leave the room halfway through. That’s around the same time I learned that I can’t watch Hoarders either ha!
4 cult classics?! Or 3? I’ve never seen any of them, and in fact I haven’t even heard of the last two. Grey Gardens sounds fascinating though…
Good catch! It was 4–I was going to include Harold and Maude–but the more I read about it the less confident I was I’d actually like it.
Changing the post title now. 🙂
If you had included Harold and Maude I would have been able to say I saw at least one of them. Oh well. No interest on Fight Club or the others. A man of limited taste, I know, more’s the pity.
Well, what did you think of Harold and Maude?
I saw it in my trend, so my memory is fuzzy. I remember it having some clever and funny bits. It might have some inappropriate parts too but I can’t recall any.
My husband loves Fight Club and we have seen it together. I hide my face for about 50% of the film but the overall message is really, really good. Basically, get up and do something. Own your life, let it be messy and gritty and real.
It’s definitely not for everyone because some of the scenes are a little brutal but I think it’s worth it.
I generally can’t stand gore, especially when it’s just violence for the sake of violence.
However, in Fight Club the violence is really a key part of the story, and it’s done tastefully and doesn’t glorify brutality in the same way a lot of the new action flicks do. There are only a couple brief scenes of fighting, no fountains of blood or ribbons of entrails, thank goodness.
If you’re still worried about it, the book (which has a completely different ending, mind you) is phenomenal. Both endings (book and movie) are excellent yet make completely different points.
I’m excited to see that this movie is based on a book. I plan to find it and read it. Completely different ending… bring it on!
I enjoyed the movie quite a bit after Hubby convinced me it was worth watching. I thought, “senseless fighting and violence? no thanks.” But its not… it has a place. Its not a movie I’d encourage just anyone to watch though, as there is a fair bit of blood (at least suggested, its been a lot of years since I’ve watched it). I don’t think my sister would get the story because of the violence.
I actually really enjoyed Fight Club. See it…. you won’t regret it.
I saw part of Fight Club, don’t remember much about it. I also tried to watch the original Grey Gardens and got really bored! I am not much help! 🙂 I also really liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but I didn’t post that the other day.
Fight Club blew my mind. I’m not keen on fist fights but I don’t remember those scenes as being more than I could handle. I was completely captivated by the story and the way it came together- or fell apart, as it may be.
I haven’t watched the other two but I want to! Maybe next time I visit?
Fight Club is amazing! I highly recommend it. Saying this movie is about fighting would be like saying Shawshank Redemption is about prison. Edward Norton is fantastic.
Yes… Edward Norton is amazing. Everything I’ve seen him in was great
I really hated Fight Club but my husband and many of my friends liked it. I have such an active imagination that graphic movies or books often cause nightmares. I saw the movie so long ago I don’t remember if I had actual nightmares from it but I do remember that it left me with a generally bad feeling. I don’t want to feel that way at the end of a movie or a book.
I saw Fight Club either when it was in the theatres or when it came out on dvd. I don’t remember being disturbed by violence or blood. What I was disturbed by was the concept of a “fight club” — I had a hard time getting past that.. Would I see it again to look for those valuable points the others mentioned in their comments?–no. The setting just doesn’t sit well with me.
I really enjoyed fight club and I hate gore, but it’s not disgusting the way a horror movie is (which, I hate).
I enjoyed Grey Gardens…but I also had a lot of anxiety watching it because the way they keep the house is well…disgusting, and a total shame. I am a bit of a neat freak, but I think it would disgust anybody. So keep that in mind, but I would say for sure try Grey Gardens!
I used to love Fight Club when I was younger and tougher and my values were different. Now I would never watch it and the thought of it repels me; I’m way too sensitive for it and I think the message gets lost.
I haven’t seen any of these, but this post made me wonder if you have seen 8 Mile, the 2002 film starring Eminem as a character loosely based on himself. It’s much, much better than I expected. It struck me so deep that when I came out of the theater, I spent an hour walking around the neighborhood having imaginary conversation in my head with the main character. I don’t know that it’s a cult CLASSIC, but it’s the sort of movie that tends to attract a specific audience (fans of Eminem–which I’m not, especially, but one of his raps from the soundtrack really got my attention when I heard it on the radio and inspired my whim to go see the movie) and is ignored by the wider society.
I saw Fight Club years ago. I don’t remember much about it, though. My husband loves it and owns it, and I’m sure would love to watch it with me.
You must watch Grey Gardens. It is fantastic. I watched it and then watched the original, and both were great. In the new one, the acting is phenomenal.
NOTED. 🙂