15 Of The Best Satirical Films In Cinema

History
01 MAY 2014 FEATURES, FILM LISTS BY VALENTINA STARCOVICH

Criticism has always had a good place in humanitys evolution; even when we havent
sought it out, its always been there. Social criticism is the basis of satire, and irony is the
main weapon it often uses to attack certain norms that have become instilled in our daily
realities.
Perhaps satire, as a film genre, has not been recognized nearly as much as straight
comedic or dramatic films have, but satire films have been around for a long time, and have
frequently mixed multiple cinematic genres to emphasize societal issues, and make
examples of them.
Humor is often a consequence of misfortune. After being questioned about laughing at a
tragedy, Roberto Benigni responded by saying he felt hurt by the insinuation that laughter
could not be an effective way of dealing with horror. The same types of complaints were
aimed at Charlie Chaplin, for mixing humor with social and political issues.
Satires, however, do not avoid humor they seek it out. They want spectators to laugh at
and ridicule the issue at hand, and they expect the criticized leadership to be insulted
because of that.
A satires relevance is often strongly connected with the era from which it came, but great
satires are capable of moving multiple generations of audiences, no matter the era or
circumstances of their lifetimes. Here is a list of the 15 satires that I feel touch upon deep
human circumstances, evolution of dogmas, and tragic issues of dehumanization. Note:
The films on this list is ranked in chronological order.

1. The Great Dictator (1940)
Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Screenplay by Charlie Chaplin

The always beloved Charlie Chaplin took a huge risk by deciding to make some Holocaust
humor. The Great Dictator is probably one of the first movies to use the satire genre to
mock a specific political situation.
The film satirizes Adolf Hitler, the principles behind Nazism, and also mocks fascist leaders
of the day. The characters names make allusions to Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Gring,
and Benito Mussolini. Although the critics praised the film and Chaplins courage for making
it during such a tragic moment of human history, Chaplin admitted in his autobiography that
in retrospect, had he really known how horrifying the Holocaust truly was, he would have
never made the movie.

2. Mon Oncle (1958)
Directed by Jaques Tati. Screenplay by Jaqcues Lagrange, Jean LHte, Jacques Tati

Tatis first color film ended up being his most honored work; it received the Academy Award
for Best Foreign Language Film and a Special Prize from the 1958 Cannes Film Festival,
among other several awards.
The film has its director playing the starring role, as the socially awkward and wacky
Monsieur Hulot. He struggles with the modern architecture and consumerism, which was
provoked by Frances post war system. Even though its set up to be a comedy, the
screenplay is full of criticism at the dogmas imposed by the modernists of the new era (and
how that influenced all types of art including the film industry). Comedy and fluent
communication are set together in this film, in order to produce a great satire of modern era
and its modern standards.

3. Divorce Italian Style (1961)
Directed by Pietro Germi. Screenplay by Ennio De Concini, Pietro Germi, Alfredo
Giannetti

Divorzio allitaliana is quite the demonstration that European can be masters in criticism,
and that any Italian movie of the time was better with Marcello Mastroianni in the lead. As
usual, he gives one hell of a wonderful performance, this time as a Sicilian nobleman who
is bored of living with his unattractive wife.
The whole proposition of the film is to criticize the model of marriage that was still
established at that time by both a heavily Catholic and chauvinist society. Divorce was not
allowed and even if couples wouldnt stand each other, they had to keep together for the
rest of their lives. Germis screenplay satirizes this life by making an unhappy man to
release from his marriage in a clever, imaginative and funny way. These qualities keep the
viewer entertained, not only at that time but also decades after.

4. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick, Peter George, Terry
Southern based on the novel Red Alert by Peter George

Simply and more commonly known as Dr. Strangelove, Kubricks absurd nuclear satire hit
theaters 50 years ago, and turned out to be not too far from the truth. The movie follows an
insane general, played by George C. Scott, as he orders a nuclear attack against the
USSR and triggers a disaster that concerns the US government as well as his advisers.
Given its plot and release date, it was entirely plausible that Dr. Strangelove would invoke
panic and fear in audiences, but instead, Kubrick successfully manages to turn a possibly
apocalyptic situation into a satire. By the end of the film, one has little choice but to laugh at
the different, individual misfortunes, rather than worry about the greater situation. Peter
Sellers plays a RAF Officer, the American President, and the title character, Dr.
Strangelove. Sellers is certainly one strongest foundations of the movie and did a wonderful
job; he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, but unfortunately lost to Rex
Harrison in My Fair Lady.

5. The Milky Way (1969)
Directed by Luis Buuel. Screenplay by Luis Buuel and Jean-Claude Carrire

The Milky Way revolves around theology and heresy committed under the doctrines of
religion at the time, and points serious criticism to Catholicism in and of itself, by not only
refuting their dogmas but also by satirizing their figures. The film tells the travel of two men
who go on pilgrimage, and during their trip encounter several different ethical and moral
dilemmas, including those related to Christian beliefs.
Buuel always had a particular way of criticizing issues by adding touches of surrealism,
and this film is a clear demonstration of that. Classical religious characters such as The
Devil, the Virgin Mary and Jesus are shown, in order to push the vagrants to question the
differences between good and evil, and remind them that every decision can have serious
repercussions.

6. M*A*S*H (1970)
Directed by Robert Altman. Screenplay by Ring Lardner Jr.

The popular 70s-80s TV show is based on this film, whose script inspiration came from a
1968 novel under the title of Mash: A novel about Three Army Doctors. Even through
several adaptations, the critical receptions (for both the film and the series) was positive.
The film follows a unit of medical personnel during the Korean War. The casts include
Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye, Elliott Gould as Trapper John and Sally Kellerman as
Major Margaret Houlihan (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress),
among others.
Morality codes are the main object of satire; but the director never allows the audience to
forget what really happens with war without being either too serious or too repetitive. It
mocks religion (featuring the Last Supper scene), sexuality and the traditional sense of
heroism.

7. Network (1976)
Directed by Sidney Lumet. Screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky

After being critically praised for his work in The Hospital (1971), as well as becoming the
recipient of an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Paddy Chayefsky tried out
with the television industry. His research turned into a nightmare for the small screen
executives, but a massive input to satires. Also, his sardonic story turned into a premonition
to reality shows, that are the result of the backwards of modern era.
The film features Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden and Beatrice Straight,
among others. Finch plays the iconic role of Howard Beale, the news anchorman that goes
mad as hell and has some unforgettable and insane scenes. Dunaways character is
Diana Christensen, described by Holdens Max Schumacher as the television incarnation.
Network received 10 Oscar nominations, including four awards for Chayefsky, Finch
(posthumously), Dunaway and Straight.

8. Brazil (1985)
Directed by Terry Gilliam. Screenplay by Terry Gilliam, Tom Stoppard and Charles
McKeown

Described as an antithesis to utopia, Brazil recreates a disgraceful reality that you can only
escape from by insanity. Gilliams film makes a comeback to the true essence of satire, the
literature concept that goes far away to the unpleasant.
The movie makes fun of the concepts of society but the main criticism goes to the system
and corrupted present we live in. Its shown as a dystopian world, where taking
responsibility is not even an option and imagination is the only hope the main character
has. Jonathan Pryce makes a huge step in his career by playing the main character Sam
Lowry, a government employee who fulfills his misery by having daydreams of saving a
damsel. The film also stars Robert Deniro,Jim Broadbent, Kim Greist and Michael Palin.

9. Heathers (1988)
Directed by Michael Lehmann. Screenplay by Daniel Waters

Unlikely the typical Brat Pack movies, Lehmanns Heathers is a killer comedy that satires
the now infamous teen genre. Starring Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty and Christian
Slater, the film follows the struggle of a regular girl in order to survive the school by joining
the Heather girls group.
The film mocks the stereotype of American highschool, as well as the 1980s model of teen
life; which is also fulfilled with popularity and self destruction (actually that also happens in
the 21st century). The result of Waters screenplay is a plot full of wreck and revenge.

10. Barton Fink (1991)
Directed by Joel Coen. Screenplay by Joel & Ethan Coen

When we hear that the Coen Brothers are behind a movie, we know (or at least expect) its
going to be huge. But in 1991 when they presented the film in the Cannes Film Festival,
they werent expecting the huge amount of positive reviews it received. Barton Fink was
that years recipient of the Palme dOr.
Taking place in Hollywood in 1941, the film follows a playwright that is enjoying the early
success of his first Broadway play; but the pressure can be dangerous as the demands get
higher. John Turturro as the ambitious author gives an incredible performance, probably
one of his best. The Coens screenplay is an intelligent and surrealistic way to satire the
human ambitions; it adds touches of dark comedy. The film criticizes the main character
and makes an allegory to Hollywood and the industry.

11. Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Directed by Woody Allen. Screenplay by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath

Woody Allen mixes satire with criminal comedy in this 1928 set film about a young
playwright that had just arrived at Broadway. John Cusack plays the leading role, in order
to gain finances for his play, he hires the girlfriend of a gangster. Following the concept of
Barton Fink; Allen tells a satire about the desire of power and the ambition of money, as
well as how that controls the idealistic life of the human being.
Even when the film seems to be a drama, it turns into a comedy, with the help of a
charismatic character played by Chazz Palminteri who seems like a criticism to the
common theatre spectator. Probably the subplot under Bullets is that some people would
do anything for their art, even team up with killers. It seems that the one that would fight for
their art would end up forgetting the true essence of it, because money and power come
first.

12. American Beauty (1999)
Directed by Sam Mendes. Screenplay by Alan Ball

This is probably the masterpiece of the director and the writer; Mendes and Ball hit it off to
do American Beauty. Its a certain relieve that Ball ended up conceiving his screenplay for a
movie instead for a play. The reception for this film was so widely acclaimed that it received
five Academy Awards out of eight nominations; it was also considered the Best Film of
1999.
American Beauty satires the concept of the American way of life, it probably destroys this
concept by showing that perfection is nothing but a dream. All the characters are a
profound demonstration of the ruin of that concept, because neither of them is really what
they want or aspire to be. This is more mentioned by Colonel Fitts (played by Chris Cooper)
who says during one scene that he has gave up his chance to be himself.
The film stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham, a man who goes under a midlife crisis
because of the depiction of his situation. Annette Bening is Lesters wife Carolyn, an
ambitious and manipulative real estate broker. Thora Birch is their daughter Jane; Mena
Suvari plays Angela, the friend of Jane that becomes the sexual main interest for Lester.
The cast is completed by Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper and Allison Janney, among others.

13. Fight Club (1999)
Directed by David Fincher. Screenplay by Jim Uhls, based on the novel of Chuck
Palahniuk

Considered as a cult film, David Finchers black comedy is the result of his visceral
technique applied to a trenchant satire. The movie was set to represent a conflict between
young generations by using the violence with a sense of metaphor. Its also a way of
showing the destruction that society suffers, by attempting to see how the consumers
world takes over the lives of people and creates a sense of fulfilling.
Brad Pitt plays Tyler Durden, the main antagonist who is referred as a free spirit almost to
be a mantra. He lives with a philosophy that rejects consumerism and basis of modern
civilization, such as salary and technology. Edward Norton is the narrator, a nameless
character that represents an everyman as well as an unreliable hero. The whole story is the
result of his desperate way to treat his insomnia, he ends up meeting with Tyler and his
fight club.

14. Chicago (2002)
Directed by Rob Marshall. Screenplay by Bill Condon, based on the musical by John
Kander and Fredd Ebb

Chicago follows the killer-art theme that was previously mentioned in Bullets Over
Broadway. A satire of how anyone can break into show business, especially those that are
capable of murder. Rob Marshalls revival of Bob Fosses 1975 stage musical, show us that
to be successful in the savage world of celebrities, you have to be a true criminal.
After its theatrical release, the stage play already fulfilled the expectations of other criticized
playwrights, only this time it was an American who wrote it and it was a musical. The film
adaptation perfectly illustrates how black comedy can be added to musicals in order to
make it even more cynical as it already is. Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones star
as the showgirl killers; both played their character in an exquisite way. Richard Gere
completes this trio by playing the tricky attorney who can do anything for $5,000.

15. Thank You For Smoking (2005)
Directed by Jason Reitman. Screenplay by Jason Reitman, based on the novel by
Christopher Buckley

Before Juno and Up in the Air, writer-director Jason Reitman tried out luck with this
contemporary irony of cigarettes industry and the political interests out of it. This is probably
one of the most up-to-date satires, a criticism to our era.
Based on the Buckleys novel of the same name, the film follows the charismatic vice-
president of a tobacco lobby. As this man establishes his company, theres no connection
between lung cancer and tobacco, he also manages to be a role model to his twelve-year-
old son. Aaron Eckhart in the main role of Nick Naylor gives a charismatic performance; it is
fascinating to watch him convince people about his industry.
The satire nature of the plot makes it almost impossible not to be enjoyable, breaking the
true nature of absurd and putting it into a level where the humor turns into something
politically incorrect. The film reaches to the level of keeping it funny and insane till the very
end.