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Hollywood vs. Suburbia

What's the traditional thought when one thinks of suburbia? Family? Quaint little houses? White Picket Fences? Really fucked up home lives? That's at least what Hollywood is constantly saying. Being a teenager who actually lives in a suburban neighborhood, ("No! A kid that lives the suburbs and blogs on social networking sites?! Next thing you're going to tell me is that he's white! I'm genuinely shocked!") I've never seen horrible incidents occur where I live, but I don't know what my neighbors do at night. Hollywood tends to present suburbia as a hellish existence the likes of which now one can escape. Let me present my evidence in the form of a list;

5. The 'Burbs

While a comedy, this film definitely shows how disturbed suburbia can be, although in a quirky way. This film has one of the many themes of the so called "Suburbia Sucks" genre; a bunch of neighbors are so bored with their own lives that they decide to speculate about the mysterious new neighbors. While the film isn't as good as I remember it, that element provides a subtle satirical edge to what is essentially a dark comedy.

4. Serial Mom

Been a while since I've seen this one, but I still remember this little film. With a funny performance by Kathleen Turner, this is another comedy that satirizes suburban living, in this case focusing on the stereotypical views of motherhood and how, despite a mother's homicidal tendencies, she still feels the need to fit into the frame that all suburban mothers. Not to mention it's pretty funny.

3. Stepford Wives (1975)

Yes I'm referring to the original version; don't bother with the Frank Oz remake. This film gave a thriller twist to the concept of suburbia, focusing mainly on how women are affected by the traditional example of "settling down". It uses the "robotic housewife" angle as a means of addressing the stereotypical stay at home mom who loses her identity once she moves to the suburbs. It's very satirical and is generally creepy all around, if a bit dated.

2. Little Children

Ok, now we're getting to the depressing stuff. Little Children is a far more realistic film than the above three, yet combines several elements common to this type of film; there's the housewife longing for individuality and purpose, the neighbors whom obsess over the strangers in the neighborhood (whether they be the hunky new neighbor Nite Owl or the pedophilic ex-convict Rorschach) and the general soul crushing nature of being stuck in a boring suburb. All the performances really capture that last element perfectly, especially Kate Winslet and Noah Emmerich.

1. Revolutionary Road

All right, now imagine Little Children... except with absolutely no hope at the end! That might have been a minor spoiler for that film, but it's the perfect description; every domestic squabble is real and uncomfortable, to the point where you want to turn off the TV and go outside (which doesn't usually happen to me). This makes scenes with the likes of Michael Shannon far more comforting, as his analysis of Leonardo DiCaprio and Winslet's relationship is like the thoughts of the audience coming out of a character in the film. So, don't go in expecting hope; there isn't any.

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Comment by Jessica on October 12, 2009 at 2:34am: Little Children was FAN.TAS.TIC. And showed off Patrick Wilson's ass the proper way unlike in Watchmen. But really, Kate Winslet deserved the Oscar nomination that year and so did Jackie Earle Haley blow me away too. I agree that it was very realistic and done really well. The remake of Stepford Wives was definitely meh.

Comment by Martin F. on October 12, 2009 at 12:30am: Wasn't it Ben Folds who said "You don't know what its like. Being middle-middle class and white" ?

Reprazent!

Comment by Bayley on October 11, 2009 at 4:56pm: Good article. I might have to check out The Burbs..it looks interesting.

Comment by Charlton Normalman on October 11, 2009 at 3:33pm: I love THE BURBS.

Nice opinion, Tommy.

Comment by CULT STATUS on October 11, 2009 at 8:14am: The Chumscrubber, American Beauty Bully would be good ones for this list, and lets not forget Suberban Comando baby haha

Comment by Itchinader on October 11, 2009 at 2:58am

Comment by Blaz on October 10, 2009 at 10:32pm: Arlington Road should be atleast mentioned, id problaby have that at nr.1

Comment by MetalVirgin™ on October 10, 2009 at 10:26pm: Great blog

Comment by Benjamin David on October 10, 2009 at 10:06pm: Hmm, I don't know if I'd say Hollywood think suburbia is a hellish existence, it's just who going to see a movie about real suburbia life? Hollywood producers do the same thing with City life and Country life, (look at Deliverance and Wrong Turn, and for city movies look at Taxi Driver or Dirty Harry) but that just how I feel, still great blog Tommy I enjoyed reading it.

Comment by Chillax on October 10, 2009 at 8:42pm: Good Blog.

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