Underrated Movies

Me three, and I'll go on to add such other Bill Forsyth goodies as "Comfort and Joy" and "That Sinking Feeling." Some of my fonder memories of my time in Atlanta, late 1980s-ish, are of going to the (now defunct, I think) Ellis Theater with friends and watching those Scottish charmers. Alas, I discovered just how fragile "Local Hero" is when, three or four years back, my wife was watching one of the National Lampoon comedies on the tube for the umpteenth time and I made the mistake of trying to switch us to something of *my* choice, specifically "Local Hero." (Normally she rules the remote; I don't watch much TV.) Amazing how quickly it deflated when the other member of the audience was sitting there looking bored out of her skull. About a third of the way through I gave up, gave her back the National Lampoon thing, and retreated to my stereo.

Well, that wasn't the first time I'd miscalculated in choosing a film. When I was in college, I persuaded a bunch of my friends to join me in seeing "The Adventures of Picasso." Not, perhaps, my most successful choice of an evening's entertainment...

 

Predator II
Like how the predator is a philosopher in this one..."**** happens".

 

Spring Breakers. Was advertised as a non stop party flick when in reality it was a dark observation of the dark side of Spring Break and like-minded festivals. Truly a horrifying character development that's going on with the lead characters, if you ask me.

 

James Franco : Natty hair style.

 

The Big Night. Possibly my favorite ending of any movie.

 

I like Local Hero very much, great soundtrack too , as mentioned.

Another one I liked , Rocket Gibraltar.

 

Rocket Gibraltar is a wonderful movie with, like Local Hero, a wonderful performance by Burt Lancaster.

 

Neighbors with John Belushi and Dan Ackroid

Ironweed with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep

 

Yeah ..just got the DVD ( couldn't find a blu ray copy

 

Death to Smoochy
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Over The Edge
Summer Camp Nightmare
Apocalypto
Foul Play
Free Enterprise
The Illusionist
Grease 2
Jumpin' Jack Flash
The Two Jakes

 

I watched the Anderson Tapes a few nights ago.
Christopher Walken's first role. Garrett Morris from SNL has a small role.
Dyan Cannon and Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch of the West!) and of course Sean Connery.

 

Stripes with Bill Murray

 

1. Meatballs
2. Once Bitten
3. Fright Night 2
4. Death To Smoochy
5. 10 To Midnight
6. The Witch
7. Jugface
8. The Monster
9. Manhunter
10. Born Innocent

 

"The Hunter". A great Australian movie from 2011 starring Willem Dafoe. It's the story of an American hunter who goes to Tasmania in search of the last Thyacine (Tasmanian Tiger). Excellent stuff.

 

"Night Shift"

 

Just finished Ang Lee's Director Cut of "Ride with The Devil". Now in maybe my top 25 films of all time. Profoundly underrated.

 

The Emerald Forest. The location, filming, acting and story were mind blowing.

 

1960s

Fahrenheit 451
A Place to Go
Poor Cow
The Sterile Cuckoo
What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?
My Geisha
Charlie Bubbles

1970s

Looking for Mr. Goodbar
FM
Shampoo
The Rose
Murmur of the Heart
Deep End (1970)
Silent Running
The China Syndrome
Family Life
The Landlord
Play It Again, Sam
Friends

1980s

Shy People
Distant Thunder
The 'Burbs
The Fog (1980)
D.A.R.Y.L.
The River Rat
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Starman
Into the Night
The Year of Living Dangerously
The Mosquito Coast
Road Games

1990s

The Ice Storm
Pecker
Go
Slums of Beverly Hills
Chicago Cab
Twenty Bucks
Happiness
Apt Pupil
Desert Blue
Breakdown
Arlington Road
The Opposite of Sex
Girl, Interrupted
The Faculty
Pump Up the Volume
Heavy

2000s

Laurel Canyon
Wonderboys
The Shipping News
Rocket Science
Somewhere
The Interpreter
Adventureland
The Boat That Rocked
Friends with Money
The Night Listener
Winter in Wartime
Taking Woodstock
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

2010s

Zodiac
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding
Never Let Me Go
Kill Your Friends
Dirty Girl
The American
The Fifth Estate
The Kings of Summer
Take This Waltz
The Colony
Men, Women & Children

 

I'm gonna suggest one that was actually nominated for an Oscar in its' category this years, but, none of you have probably seen it (maybe Chris... ), it's not based on a toy, and it's not CGI, so...
imagine a story about an interested party (in this case, journalist) researching one of the most significant artists of the 19th century, on the occasion of his death, and the scenery of the film is based - studiously-so, on the famous paintings he is known for.

Loving Vincent springs forth from over 56,000 still images all based on the style and settings of all the best-known of van Gogh's imagry, essentially an oil painting brought eeriley to life, brustroke-by-brushtroke, faithfully mimicing the artists' work, by two very unsung Polish artists in their own right. I can practically guarantee you have never seen an animated feature like this. The look, the tone, the heart - it's all there! Even the paintings I don't recognise that were used, you tend to "recognise" them on-sight anyway. What you probably will not recognise, is the way your jaw feels once you become aware it's been sititing in your lap for the duration of the film.

Although this can realistically be described as "the first totally hand-painted animated feature", Alexandr Petrov actually won the Oscar for animated short in 1997 for his "The Old Man And The Sea", created very much the same way: by doing it the long way, and not complaining about it while a work of art formulated in his hands. But you missed that one at the Mall Cinema 16 as well.

 

Plan 9 from Outer Space.

 

2 of my top 5 movies;

One-Eyed Jacks (Brandos directorial debut)

Performance (Mick Jagger acting debut)

 

Although billed as a comedy, I've never considered it one. Just a beautiful, touching story and a lovely way to spend the evening.

 

ivansxtc (2000) the best low budget Tolstoy adaptation you will ever see. Particularly recommended for fans of the 'Hollywood on Hollywood' sub-genre.

 

I wasn't sure if anyone but me and my gf had ever seen this. It's a wonderful and very unique film. If it matters to you, Roger Ebert also gave it his highest rating. As far as I can tell it's not available for streaming and never has been - you can get a DVD through netflix or a one time amazon rental. If you like Bill Forsyth, I think you would like this one a lot - but it's not a comedy. I suppose there are some comedic elements here and there, but the drama is the heart of the movie. The trailer tries to sell it as whimsical and offbeat, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a less accurate preview. Thanks @Khaki F for bringing it up - I now want to watch it again really soon - it's possibly been 20 years or more since I last saw it.

 

Grosse Point Blank