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The Riot Club (2014) (Spoilers)
The only thing I knew about this movie before going in was the “rich kids being assholes”-plot and that was what I got and nothing else. That’s basically all there is to the movie. It’s so shallow and bland, there’s nothing going on besides people being assholes. Forgettable characters that I feel zero sympathy with when things turn sour, I guess you are supposed to feel sorry for the main character at some point but somehow I didn’t feel the slightest? Let’s not talk about how we are supposed to remember 10 different guys that look the same when we have zero introduction to any of them. Also one of them being gay as a subplot is introduced 10 minutes into the movie and never gets any attention whatsoever.
I can see how some people like this film just because it’s provocative but for me it’s just a lazy, lackluster movie with a few interesting things going for it but is ultimately ignored and falls flat. Maybe I’m missing something, maybe I’m not. Would love to hear your thoughts on it! What do you think about The Riot Club?
I don't suppose you're British are you? The Riot club is a portrayal of the real "Bullingdon Club". Its members were filthy rich, rebellious, protected from consequence, the film's relevance was because ex-members of the real life Bullingdon Club were leading the British Government at the time of the film's release.
I'm British and saw this film about five years ago when David Cameron (Prime minister) was running the country with his Upper Class Eton College mates (2009 story, before he became prime minister the next year). In British Politics the Government was being run almost entirely by rich, upper class, career politicians who had all been friends/in the same social circles for years: groomed for Political leadership. Many criticised them for never having real jobs, real life experiences or ever having to live with the consequences of their actions. Especially as in 2014 Britain was going through a very tough period of austerity: where people's quality of life were diminishing rapidly (Frankly, I don't think we've ever recovered, but I digress). This film's intention is to portray the development and university aged experiences of some of the most powerful people in Britain at the time of the film's release.
Six years on from that movies release and there is strong political conversation about the complications caused by having such people run a country for a long period of time, where Britain is now living with the consequences of the decisions made during 2010-2016 (only a minute long, worth watching). Most notably: Brexit and all the cluster fuck mess that's caused for everyone.
So yes, in short the Riot Club is a portrayal of the college/university experiences of Britain's most powerful leaders.
You’re correct, I’m not British. I actually read about the Bullingdon Club after watching and found out about David Cameron and Boris Johnson. I didn’t mean to come off as arrogant in my original post and I, of course, have no clue what it’s like living under these assholes ruling. I also understand that at the time (and till this day) this movie had huge importance in highlighting the problems with British politicians. My point was more or less about the movie not really using it’s full potential, if it’s going to criticize these things why not go all out? Show them sitting at powerful positions at the end or maybe give a bit more insight for the rest of us. I see the movie’s importance and i despise the people we both mentioned but for me the movie fell short. This story would probably work even better in short series format. Do four or five episodes, 1 hour each. Gives time to really explore and expose the problems instead of being just a shell of a story.
Oh my friend, you didn't come off as arrogant at all: I hope I didn't come across critical :)
I agree with you about the movie being subpar: I've only ever watched it once because it's not the greatest movie ever. I think the flaws about the movie not going far enough are valid. I think the filmmakers didn't wish to overtly criticise specific individuals, but there is no reason the characters couldn't have become judges, financial business leaders etc. etc. I think the Riot Club would've suffered as a miniseries because there isn't much substance to watching these boys, all from the same cloth, be spoiled rotten. Perhaps there could've been some consequential story arc written but in 2014 I don't believe anyone knew where these assholes were going to lead us. Perhaps now or five years time the opportunity to tell that story.