"Strange" Movies?

[bethany]

So my college ministry group (RUF) does a thing every month we call "Movie Mayhem," where we get together and watch a film of a different genre each month. One person acts as the organizer for the month and solicits suggestions for the film we should watch and then chooses five for the rest of the group to vote on. Then we choose one to watch together and discuss.

This month I'm in charge and my pre-assigned genre is "'strange' movies." I know that is a fairly nebulous term, because what is strange to one person may seem perfectly normal to another (for example, one girl suggested we watch "Garden State" and I was really thrown, because I do not think of it as being in any way 'strange' - it seems fairly commercial and conventional to me, although as I think about it, I suppose I can see how it might come across as strange if you haven't been exposed to many more independent type films before).  So anyway, I am wanting to have suggestions from this group, since you're all pretty well-versed in films, just to get a wider span of suggestions.

Keep in mind that while we are not anti-R-rated films in any way, we do try to be generally sensitive to the fact that some people in the group are uncomfortable with films that are full of "objectionable content," especially sexual content. That's not to say we won't watch something if there is sex in it, but I try to keep it to a minimum if possible.

So far I have had suggested or thought of myself:
(Edited to reflect further thoughts/suggestions)

Pi
Cannibal: The Musical
12 Monkeys
Donnie Darko
Vanilla Sky
Waking Life
21 Grams
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Adaptation
The City of Lost Children
Eraserhead
The Fifth Element
I Heart Huckabees
Memento
Punch-Drunk Love
Solaris
The Thirteenth Floor
Zelig



What else should I consider? Or are there any on that list that you have seen and think, "Eh... I can't imagine discussing that in any meaningful way for more than five minutes"? Or that you think, "Whoa, you're going to watch THAT in mixed company!?" Some of them I haven't seen (Eraserhead, City of Lost Children, Cannibal, The Thirteenth Floor, Zelig, The Fifth Element, Waking Life) so I'm clueless as to content.

[Josh]

Zelig might qualify, though it doesn't seem as out-there as it did back before Forrest Gump and This is Spinal Tap came out.

Eternal Sunshine might be considered strange by some, I guess.

[enemy anemone]

I thought The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Thirteenth Floor were pretty strange.
 

[bethany]

Yeah, I thought of ESotSM right after I posted this. I think it would be plenty strange for 85% of the people in the group... most of the people aren't big film buffs, so while the goal of Movie Mayhem is to stretch people and expose them to things they wouldn't probably watch on their own, I have to realize that it's best to do that in small steps. If most of the people watch only about two movies a month and they're mindless romantic comedies or action movies, then plunging into a heady discussion of Un Chien Andalou is probably not the way to go.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'll check them out.  

[enemy anemone]

in that case, maybe Before Sunrise or Before Sunset would be good small steps. or Lost in Translation.  

[Brenden]

Ghost World perhaps?

[Tom]

here are some i'd suggest:



Brazil - Terry Gilliam
Oleanna - David Mamet play based film starring William H. Macy
Being John Malkovich
The Station Agent
The Saddest Music In The World - Guy Maddin
THX 1138 - George Lucas (there is some sexuality in it though, but it is used to illustrate a point)

[Josh]

Oh! Another good one: American Splendor.

[PaulDA]

You just reminded me, Dr. Strange, the Marvel Comics mystical guru, would make a great movie.

[bethany]

Thanks for the help, guys. I narrowed it down to five choices: Pi, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Cannibal: The Musical, Brazil, and Edward Scissorhands.  Then everyone voted, and Eternal Sunshine won handily, so we'll be watching it tomorrow night. I'll be interested to see what everyone's reaction to it is.  

[Tom]

i watched Eternal Sunshine for the first time the night before last. i found it to be a very thought-provoking movie. a good conversation starter too. good choice.

{But you should make Brazil the next choice!  8-) }