Good Movies to Watch When You’re High

Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 12:00 pm

While it’s great to be baked, wasted, or just stoned off your ass, sometimes it’s tough to find those perfect good movies to watch when you’re high. But you just sit right back and eat your snacks, because I’ve went out and done all the work for you. The following are ten good movies to watch when you’re high, and I’m positive that they’ll either have you busting a gut or just flat-out tripping.

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – That freaky-looking Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp and his crazy, white teeth) has hidden five golden tickets inside his products. Find one and you’ll get a special tour of his magical candy factory, which happens to be filled with brightly-colored midgets, rivers of chocolate, and every other zany thing director Tim Burton could think to throw at us. Burton’s stuff is always bizarre, but this one seems especially well-suited for stoners with its colorful palette.

run-lola-run

Run Lola Run (1998) – Lola’s boyfriend owes the mob, and he’s got a very limited time to get the money before they come looking to collect. Unfortunately, he’s not the brightest bulb in the box, so it’s up to Lola to score big. Her first try don’t exactly end successfully, so this crazy German film rewinds and gives Lola a chance to do the whole thing over again, and again, and again. Think Groundhog Day, except that Bill Murray has been replaced by a hot German chick with flaming red hair.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – This film is crazy when you’re sober, so just imagine what happens when you fire up the bong. Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing stars Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, a drug-addled journalist on a trip to Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. He’s accompanied by Dr. Gonzo (Benecio del Toro), and the two ingest substances ranging from mescaline and acid to diethyl ether. Depp is hilariously over the top, and it’s hard not to root for him as he utters lines like “We can’t stop here. This is bat country.” Look for Tobey Maguire as a freaked-out hitchhiker and Christina Ricci as jailbait. If you really get a kick out of this film, do yourself a favor and read the works of Hunter S. Thompson.

Natural Born Killers (1994) – Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) are a pair of psychotic twenty-somethings on a killing spree across Route 666 in this orgy of violence from director Oliver Stone. When the director is a confirmed pothead, you know that bodes well for making the good movies to watch when you’re high list. Robert Downey Jr. co-stars as a sleazy reporter, and Rodney Dangerfield plays against type as Mallory’s sexually abusive father (set to a laugh track, of all things). Lots of good music, and plenty of attention-getting film techniques and colors. Another one that’s crazy even for sober people.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) – Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) are a pair of likable stoners who get the munchies and decide to head to White Castle for some burgers. But something keeps getting in the way, including an escaped cheetah, a racist cop, a crazed raccoon, and even Neil Patrick Harris. And don’t forget about the hideous Freakshow (Christopher Meloni from Law & Order: SVU) and his hot swinging wife, Liane (Malin Akerman).

20012001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Directed by Stanley Kubrick and dealing with such heavy issues as evolution and alien life, you just know this one’s gonna blow your mind. From apes leaning how to kill to a mad computer named Hal, this movie bounces all around human history and beyond. And just wait until the trippy “Star-Child” makes an appearance. By that point, I’m betting your mind will have already been reduced to jelly. Arthur C. Clarke must’ve been smoking something when he wrote the original novel.

Trainspotting (1996) – I in no way endorse the use of heroin, but I do recommend you see this movie. Trainspotting follows the lives of a number of Scottish smack fiends as they try to avoid responsibility and generally look for their next score. Highlights include Spud (Ewen Bremner) sabotaging a job interview so he can continue to draw government assistance, Renton’s (Ewan McGregor) hallucinations about a dead baby crawling across the ceiling to get him, and anything featuring the violent and indecipherable Begbie (Robert Carlyle). American viewers will have trouble understanding a lot of what’s being said due to the thick accents, but that makes the movie even better when you’re stoned.

Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) – The insane life of British rock star Pink is followed in this cinematic companion piece to Pink Floyd’s masterful album, The Wall. People have been getting high to this album (and movie) for years, so why not see what all the fuss is about? From goosestepping hammers and Nazi rallies to the horrors of the British school system, this film is filled to the top with depressing-yet-unique imagery. It won’t exactly lift your spirits, but it will make you think (something Half Baked certainly won’t do).

big-lebowskiThe Big Lebowski (1998) – Jeff Bridges is The Dude, a laid-back stoner who just wants to get high, mellow out, and maybe even do a little bowling. But people keep trying to bring him down, including the thugs of a porn mogul, Eagles-loving cab drivers, and a gang of nihilists. Luckily, he’s backed up by his buddies Donny (Steve Buscemi) and Walter (John Goodman), the latter an unstable vet with an unhealthy love of guns. Directed by the Cohen Brothers, the whole thing plays out like a baked version of a Raymond Chandler novel.

Up in Smoke (1978) – Cheech and Chong are the ultimate potheads, so it’s no surprise that this film makes my list of good movies to watch when you’re high. They drive a van made out of pot, meet Cheech’s crazed cousin Strawberry (Tom Skerritt), take huge amounts of acid, and even get chased around by Stacey Keech (playing a cop). The movie culminates with the duo performing their famous novelty song “Earache My Eye,” and watching Cheech Marin prance about in a tutu never gets old. Hard to believe that’s the same guy on Nash Bridges.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Good Movies, Thoughts on Film. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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