6. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Why it's controversial: Last Tango in Paris features a very jaded, newly bereaved, middle aged ex-pat Marlon Brando (Paul) who ignites an anonymous affair with young, soon to be married French sex pot Maria Schneider (Jeanne) in a French appartment. Controversial due to the many hot and steamy sex scenes between Brando and Schneider - including the Great Butter Buggery sequence. Controversial for Brando screaming "Pigf**ker!" at his dead wife's body. Controversial for both Schneider and Brando going on record to say they felt raped and violated by director Bernardo Bertolucci during the making of the film. So controversial, Bertolucci was nearly jailed for it in Italy.
Why it's good: Last Tango in Paris has some genuinely erotic moments and achieves a torpid atmosphere which is conducive to reeling us into the relationship between the two stars. The film, in its time, pushed new barriers of sexual frankness and explicitness, and paved the way for the freedom of sexual expression that film makers enjoy today. It is a brave, bold story that knocks the socks off many so called erotic film dramas that have been made in recent years (for example - 9 Songs). Brando gives a bravura performance as only he can deliver - no other actor could have played the role of Paul with such clout. He is simply spellbinding.