With Zack Snyder calling Sucker Punch his most misunderstood movie and Rian Johnson still having to defend his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi earlier this year, it’s clear that failing to get their true intentions across to audiences is a concern of filmmakers everywhere.
Whilst some movies are rejected by a public unwilling to see the purpose behind the choices made, like with The Last Jedi, others purposefully obscure their true meaning behind heaps of style and risk, misleading the audience that way, as with Fight Club and The Wolf of Wall Street. Reddit likes to know the true purpose behind great movies so that’s why users think these movies deserve to be re-evaluated.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Even compared to Quentin Tarantino’s other movies, Inglourious Basterds is a triumph of filmmaking, producing some incredible performances from its cast. Though some noted its overly-stylized action and how violence solves everything in the plot, this was mostly seen as a critique of an otherwise superb movie.
Redditor awills thinks there’s more to it than that and goes as far as to consider it a “deconstruction of American World War 2 movies” rather than a simple “revenge fantasy.” Though the audience is led to celebrate brutal acts when committed against the movie’s villains without questioning the moral implications, that’s arguably a part of the movie’s commentary on the genre.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Though many have noted that The Last Jedi is an ironic movie title, few bothered to give the movie itself the same analysis before dismissing it, as its attempt to subvert expectations earned it a 42% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes when it was released. Some Star Wars fans felt that the movie was directly addressing them with a message to “let go of the past.”
Redditor CaughttheDarkness argues that this interpretation of the movie is “dead wrong,” pointing out that “the character who says that is the villain.” Whilst Kylo Ren gets caught up in his futile mission to destroy the past, Rey and Luke are simply smart enough to not let it define them, which is a far more nuanced message than the movie’s detractors give it credit for.
Scarface (1983)
Sometimes seen as a celebration of violence and excess, it’s understandable that Scarface‘s Tony Montana is seen by most as the movie’s hero despite his notable flaws. It’s true that Montana’s charisma, reflected in the character’s iconic quotes, makes him an interesting main character, but Redditor omegaterra thinks he’s far from a badass hero.
They say that anyone who thinks so is forgetting “the 2nd half of the movie,” as it makes it clear that “Tony is a tragedy, not a hero.” Ultimately struggling with addiction and damaging his relationships with the few people who didn’t betray him, it’s easy to see why some prefer to overlook this side of the character.
500 Days of Summer (2009)
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a man revisiting his memories of a failed relationship, 500 Days of Summer made smart use of a non-linear narrative to present a genuinely interesting rom-com. Whilst its focus on the male lead was one of the criticisms that some leveled at the movie, Redditor realyak believes that’s missing the point.
They say the movie is “not about a girl who broke a guy’s heart” but instead about a “guy that ignored everything the girl said and couldn’t understand why it didn’t work out.” This idea has been more or less confirmed by Gordon-Levitt himself, with CinemaBlend reporting that the actor personally approved the interpretation that Tom is the movie’s villain.
Taxi Driver (1976)
One of the best Robert De Niro performances to come out of his collaborations with Scorsese, Travis Bickle makes for a compelling anti-hero in Taxi Driver. As a Vietnam veteran feverishly chasing some kind of redemption, the movie portrays him as a deeply flawed character, and it’s something that Redditor whiteyak41 thinks too many people overlook.
They think that “most people seem to view Travis Bickle as some sort of bad-ass vigilante,” ignoring his violent issues and the fact he’s a “wacko who came this close to assassinating a Senator.” The image of Bickle as a cool figure that has permeated pop culture means that anyone watching the movie critically for the first time would likely be in for a pretty big shock.
The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street gained acclaim for its stylish presentation of the true story of stockbrokers attempting to take advantage of the rampant corruption in Wall Street. But, it did draw some anger for its seemingly morally ambiguous portrayal of events that even glamorized the excesses of Jordan Belfort’s lifestyle and his “smart” attempt to play the system.
Redditor Trumbo_ believes that this is a massive misunderstanding, arguing that “Scorsese didn’t glorify his rise, he actually depicts him as despicable and pathetic.” Though the final scene does seem to hold a mirror up to the viewers who had come to admire Belfort, it’s debatable if this undermines the overall portrayal of the character as simply a clever hustler.
Starship Troopers (1997)
Though Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi war movie has gained a cult fanbase, it’s fair to say that it was completely misunderstood when it was released by both disapproving critics and indifferent audiences. However, Redditor ObtuseOblong thinks there’s still a big misunderstanding surrounding the movie which was intended as a satire of blind military patriotism.
According to them, its special effects, stilted acting, and bizarre presentation inspired by military propaganda have left “people loving it as a lazy/cheesy action fest” instead. There’s plenty of mindless violence and over-the-top gore to make the movie an enjoyable watch from that perspective, but it also takes the edge off what is still a very relevant message.
Into The Wild (2007)
An adaptation of the biography of a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan wilderness, Into The Wild drew critical acclaim for its fascinating character study and the performance of Emile Hirsch in the lead role. Many identified with the central character’s search for an increasingly isolated and nomadic existence.
Redditor ImADude13 believes that anyone coming away from the movie envious of the main character has missed the point, as even its hero “realizes that all of the great things that happened in his journey happened with other people, not with nature.” Arguably, Into The Wild actually makes one of the strongest cases that humans need each other.
127 Hours (2010)
One of the best travel movies based on a true story, 127 Hours tells the now famous story of a climber who gets trapped by a boulder and is forced to go to extreme lengths to survive. Whilst some would read Danny Boyle’s autobiographical survival movie as a story of great daring and perseverance, one Redditor thinks that’s not the main focus.
They describe the movie as a “cautionary tale about being that one arrogant young guy who doesn’t tell anyone where he’s going.” Indeed, the movie even gives time to the character to reflect on his mistake of not taking the proper precautions before setting out. It may be an amazing tale of survival against the odds, but it’s one that the movie wants others to avoid.
Fight Club (1999)
As a movie with legions of fans who love its violently nihilistic take on the world, Fight Club is often brought up in discussions of misunderstood films. David Fincher’s movie about disillusioned men finding a brutal outlet for their frustrations also split critics who couldn’t agree if it was praising or criticizing the morals of its central figure.
Redditor Nixon74 is one fan who became frustrated seeing young men idolize the movie for the wrong reasons, as “Tyler isn’t some heroic character” and the movie clearly portrays his philosophy as “self-defeating.” Whilst the movie is well-made enough that this misunderstanding doesn’t completely ruin it, it’s particularly notable for just how big of a fanbase has developed around the misunderstanding.
