Underrated Movies

I'm going to track this one down. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

Broadway Danny Rose - one of Woody Allen's best films. Perfectly realized and gets better with every viewing.
The Straight Story - Probably David Lynch's most conventional movie but still pretty weird. I would have added 'Fire Walk with Me' also but that film finally seems to be getting it's due.
John Carter of Mars - Very old fashioned film with probably too much exposition for modern audiences but for those of us who grew up on stuff like 'Jason and the Argonauts', this movie hits a certain sweet spot.
The Man Who Wasn't There - Easily the Coen Brother's most overlooked film. I think it got lost in all the fuss over 'O Brother'. An absolutely gorgeous and very arch tribute to all things Hitchcock. The dialog in this film is amazing and really sinks in with repeated viewing. Tony Shaloub's soliloquy about 'Uncertainty Principles' is worth the price of admission alone.

 

On a different note, this one's fairly well regarded but doesn't receive nearly as much credit as I think it deserves. It's actually my second favorite film of all time.

 

Straight Time was good as was Charlie Varrick.

 

Das Boot - 1981, Jurgen Prochnow
Hard Times - 1975, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland, Strother Martin
The Swimmer - 1968, Burt Lancaster
I Love You Again - 1940, William Powell, Myrna Loy, Frank McHugh
McCabe & Mrs. Miller - 1971, Warren Beattie, Julie Christie
The Sweet Hereafter - 1997, Ian Holm, Sarah Polley
Drugstore Cowboy - 1989, Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch
Dinner at Eight - 1933, Marie Dressler, John Barrymore, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore
Bringing up Baby - 1938, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Barry Fitzgerald
The Pledge - 2001, Jack Nicholson, Benicio del Toro, Mickey Rourke, Robin Wright, Helen Mirren, Sam Shepard, Vanessa Redgrave
Rio Bravo - 1959, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Rickey Nelson
Lost in Translation - 2003, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson
Ghost World - 2001, Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi, Scarlett Johansson
Donnie Brasco - 1997, Al Pacino, Johnny Depp
Downfall - 2004, Bruno Ganz
The Last Picture Show - 1971, Ben Johnson, Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd
In Cold Blood - 1968, Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe
Mon Oncle Antoine - 1971, Jean Duceppe, Claude Jutras, Monique Mercure
Planes, Trains and Automobiles - 1987, John Candy, Steve Martin
Touch of Evil - 1958, Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Marlene Dietrich
Nosferatu - 1922, Max Schreck
Le Chat - 1971, Jean Gabin, Simone Signoret
The Third Man - 1949, Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, Wilfrid Hyde-White
The Guard - 2011, Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle
In Bruges - 2008, Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes
16 Blocks - 2006, Bruce Willis, Yasiin Bey, David Morse
The General - 1998, Brendan Gleeson
Sexy Beast - 2000, Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone
Tracker - 2010, Ray Winstone
The Proposition - 2005, Ray Winstone
Nil by Mouth - Ray Winstone, Charlie Creed-Miles
Intermission - Colin Farrell, Colm Meanie
Wild Bill - 2011, Charlie Creed-Miles
The Penalty - 1920, Lon Chaney
Hud - 1963, Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal, Brandon De Wilde

 

Sadly I missed it but my wife did see it.

 

TELL me she came home elated to finally see something different in an animated film...

 

David Mamet's Oleanna is one of those films that was perhaps passed over because House of Games and Glengarry Glen Ross seemed to draw more attention. For me, though, it succeeds on a number of levels. It's a two-person play carried off admirably by William H. Macy and Debra Eisenstadt, it features possibly the most extensive use of Mamet's trademark "clipped" dialog, which is absolutely delicious, and the subject matter has become more relevant with the passage of time. Mamet, unfortunately, has suffered a dramatic shift in his philosophy beginning in 2008, but that should not be considered as having an effect on his previous accomplishments. I love this film, and have not only watched it countless times, but studied it as well. It's time well spent for me.



Also worthy of a mention, I think, is his early film Homicide. It's a tragedy of sorts, but also a rich dramatic experience. Another one in my collection that has gotten many repeat viewings.

 

The Hot Chick
Elf

 

I was looking up some of these. There are several films titled Interiors. Which is the one you refer to here?

 

We saw a stage presentation of this quite a few years ago and it was incredibly intense. I will look for the film. Thanks!

 

Almost Famous

 

Woody Allen's, 1978.

 

Many of these films were not underrated. Maybe they didn't orginally reach the audience they deserve, but at least the original reviews were affirmative.

 

The British version of "Spinal Tap?" Some great performances in this one.

 

Highly underrated and certainly one of my favorites from David Lynch.

 

I don't know if this is underrated - but "Heaven Knows, Mr.Allison" is a film I like a lot. Despite being directed by John Huston and starring Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum, it's not one that seems much remembered. I guess we could say that about most films that are 60 odd years old though.

 

This gets a 7.9 on Imdb. I think some people might be a it confused about the word underrated.

 

The Predators ( 2010)
Like when the captives discover their not on planet earth. Adrian Brody didn't exactly beef himself up, more oiled up. Great cast, underrated.

 

Le Mans 1971

Featuring Steve McQueen

Yes a vehicle for him and an indulgence of his greatest passion (outside of women) car racing.

There is a story line.
There is a quality leading lady.
But best of all the racing footage is absolutely brilliant!
No doubt due in part to McQueen being so hands on, plus using some of the greatest intetnational drivers of the time to add to the realism!

Easy to pan but even easier to watch for the action and suspence!

 

Southern Comfort (Walter Hill)
Jacob's Ladder (Adrian Lyne)
Two Deaths (Nick Roeg)
Falling from Grace (John Mellencamp's only directorial effort, not a masterpiece, but an interesting little personal film with some terrific performances)
Wake in Fright (Ted Kotcheff)

 

I've always felt like Watchmen is underrated. I think it's due to the fact that people went into it expecting a superhero type movie, and that's not what it is at all. I think that it's about as close to the graphic novel as you can get.