Underrated Movies - either bad reviews or no sales
Submitted by jenhowel on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:14
Tags:
- "Fight Club" - the best film of '99 got no respect
- "Zero Effect" - SEE IT NOW!
- "Bram Stoker's Dracula"
- "Labyrinth" - the best kid's movie I know of.
- "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - funny, and not stupid.
- "Phantasm" - a growing horror obsession
- "Henry and June" - read Anais Nin, then see it again
- "Eyes Wide Shut"
- "The Devil's Advocate"
- "Mother" the Albert Brooks/Debbie Reynolds movie - SO FUNNY
- "Black Robe" - Stunning Native American drama
- "Passion Fish" - amazingly realized characters.
- "Lolita" (1997) a fucking masterpiece.
- "Howards End" - I love it, others find it "boring"
- "Impromptu" - One of THE best comedies or romances ever. And a phenomenal cast
- "Persuasion" - such a better adaptation than "Emma" it makes me want to scream!
- "Planet of the Apes" - not nearly enough people respect this movie
- "Saturday Night Fever" - there's way more going on here than disco-dancing (it was Gene Siskel's favorite and he bought the suit from the movie)
- "Chasing Amy" - gets better every time you see it. Excellent acting by all.
- "Mallrats" - wasn't actually bad, quite funny in fact, and Ben Affleck plays a prick!
- "Election" - really clever movie that few saw
- "eXistenZ" - an interesting take on some of the same issues "The Matrix" raised
- the "Jaws" sequels - Hey, they're not "good" movies but they are hella entertaining. Esp. 3, the one set at a waterpark! Hilarious!
- "In the Company of Wolves" - watch this more than once and you'll get sucked in by its bizarre fairy-tale feel. Very weird.
- "Orgazmo" - little-seen comedy by the South Park boys is quite a funny spoof of the porn industry, "Boogie Nights", and Mormons
- Anything Ben Stiller directs or is involved in, including "The Cable Guy", "Mystery Men", "Reality Bites". The man is incredibly intelligent and any time he directs or appears on screen, I'm there.
- "Fear" - Despite the Bush-laden previews, this movie is not silly. It is actuallly an effective, realistic suspense thriller which features future stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg first as hot lovers then as prey and stalker. The love scenes are hot and heady, the scare scenes are actually scary. SEE IT!
- "The Castle" - This Australian film, released on video this year, is funny, sweet, watchable by the whole family, and stays with you. Check it out!
Great list of underrated films.
"Zero Effect" is a must see.
I'd like to also suggest "Out of Sight" and "The Limey", both by Steven Soderberg.
I haven't had a chance to see "Fight Club" yet, but "The Game" was unnecessaarily overlooked.
Adn the most underrated film of 1999 was definitely "Eyes Wide Shut". Too many people went into that with too many expectations. Not only are Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman both brilliant, it is filled with emotion and a beautiful story--not too mention it is one of the most stunningly photographed films of all time.
Thank you for your comments and I totally agree. I would put "Out of Sight" on, except that around here people do appreciate it. As to "The Limey" I haven't seen it yet, but am itching to. I checked out your movie list and will definitely be giving a few of them a try soon! Thanks!
"Henry and June" was indeed fantastic. (I liked "Zero Effect" as well). I wouldn't recommend watching it in public places though. In college we were watching it late at night in a conference room at work on a projection system. A friend walked in right in the middle of a lesbian sex scene. Walked right back out, and then when I saw him later asked what I was doing watching porn at work.
I've not seen most of your others, though I didn't like "The Devil's Advocate."
Funny anecdote! I've heard stories from people who said this movie led to actual orgies! Pretty crazy stuff. Out of curiosity, have you read any Nin or Miller or do you just appreciate the movie by itself? I've rarely met people who like the movie without having read its authors.
I've read a little Nin and tried to read some Miller. Their writing styles didn't grab me for some reason, so I haven't read any more.
I agree about the Devil's Advocate. Any movie with Keanu Reeves is definitely a "DO NOT" see! I don't understand how/why such a no-talent, monotone-voiced actor has been promoted by the Hollywood machine as being someone great. He just sucks.
"Devil's Advocate" is a trip. I'm in law school ... most here resent the hell out of it, though a few swear by it (claim it's the reason they applied in the first place). I swear it's based on a real NYC firm.
"Election" was sweet. It's almost like Matthew Broderick grows up and becomes the Jeffrey Jones character from "Ferris Bueller."
Ever see "Your Friends and Neighbors?"
jen!!! we need to see "your friends and neighbors" PRONTO! --KB
wow, i've never met anyone who likes Impromptu... julian sands is one of my favorites, although he's been in some pretty bad films. good flick--i think i'll re-rent!
as for the rest of my 2 cents: i also adore Drop Dead Gorgeous, Labyrinth, Dracula, and Howard's End... but can do without Chasing Amy/Mallrats. (joey lauren adams' voice must STOP. agh!)
I have to agree 100% with taryn regarding Chasing Amy-- I thought it would be wonderful but her voice just ruined the entire picture-- I'm not sure how anyone could watch.
I also love Impromptu! So there are three of us.
How 'bout Deep Blue Sea. I know you're a fan. :)
I am a fan, but I think it grossed enough, at least overseas and on video to compensate for any critical dismay.
I wish I could understand how Fight Club could have done so poorly, it was an amazing film. Everyone liked Clerks, which is hilarious, but people don't tend to like Smith's other movies. I loved Mallrats.
Glad to see you included "The Castle"- it was one of my favorite films of the year for it's endearing script (eg., "The best part of living by the airport is that when you pick someone up at the airport, you don't have to walk far to get home.") and hilarious portrayal of Australian rednecks (much funnier than anything done by Jeff Foxworthy if ya ask me.) Can you tell me if it was made by the same guy who did "The Full Monty" or was that just a rumor?
"The Castle" is Australian made, and "The Full Monty" was British. The team who wrote, directed and produced "The Castle" are a company called Working Dog (website: www.workingdog.com) who are a group of five Aussie comedians who have a variety of tv shows/series. I have been watching their stuff for about 10 years or more and it is all hilarious. The group have just released a new movie called "The Dish" which I have heard is much like "The Castle" but I haven't seen it yet, so can't comment at this stage.
<< Anything Ben Stiller directs or is involved in, including "The Cable Guy", "Mystery Men", "Reality Bites". The man is incredibly intelligent and any time he directs or appears on screen, I'm there. >>
Watch the blanket statements! Would you pay full fare to go watch "Mystery Men"? I'd hang it out there and say "Meet the Parents" was barely worth matinee price. I wouldn't drive to rent it...I think I'm down to maybe watching it on HBO.
Which version of Planet of the Apes?
Sorry, I wrote this list before the sad sad remake. The original is underrated, and had it been less so, perhaps it could have escaped ever being remade. ALthough, that didn't work for "Psycho". Alas.
There is no doubt that fight club is a genius movie. The plot is amazing and the movie itself was executed unbelieveably. Let me know if you disagree(out of curiousity to see why).