The “underrated” movie or at least a movie that is just not in the limelight often is The Spanish Prisoner by David Mamet. I love the fact that during the whole movie where Campbell Scott is getting duped, we never know what the process is that he created. Fantastic movie. A couple others: High Fidelity, Wall Street, The Man Who Really Wasn’t There, and A Bronx Tale.
Tailor Of Panama – John Boorman has made some odd films but this is one of his best. An intelligent and entertaining spy film for those who don’t usually enjoy such films.
Criterion Crazies, a documentary about people who are unhealthily obsessed with The Criterion Collection. It is very sad.
Marketa Lazarova by Vlacil is a great film, i dont think it is available on region 1 dvd. I have it on region 2.
If you like Tarkovskys Andrei Rublev then you will probably like Marketa Lazarova, one of my favorites.
Orphans (1997) directed by Peter Mullan. The characters are well developed, and it has a good mix of dramatic moments and humor. The structure is similar to that of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (though not overly similar). Definitely worth a look.
i don’t think teen wolf gets the respect it deserves…i also really enjoy major league.
and hot rod, the andy samberg movie is pretty awesome.
Speaking of documentaries on unhealthy obsessions – Vinyl
haha man, if you want unhealthy obsessions, there’s always the crazy audiophiles:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvkes_film-about-audiophile-club-of-athen
Diner
We Married Margo,it was this independent film that was like just on tv, like regular antenna tv, in the middle of the day. I was caught up on it, it was funny. The film does not exist on dvd or vhs. It is on IFC this coming Monday, if you’re interested, check your listings.
Matthew K. Vaughn’s L4YER CAKE (layer cake) with Daniel Craig before he was Bond is one of my favourites
They Live (1988), a little known film by John Carpenter. An excellent satire on capitalism and the wealthy.
i’ll second the vote for “a bronx tale”. i’ve always liked the film, but i’m starting to appreciate it more and more. it’s really a brilliant screenplay. there’s nothing but pure emotion in the film. its so profound in what it says about family, friends, love. all the things that really matter in life.
I’ve mentioned it before, but: “Two Deaths” by Nicholas Roeg. A BBC production with Sonia Braga as a mysterious housekeeper to an Eastern European gent who has an annual dinner party with a few friends.
Malick’s “The Thin Red Line”, a study of war that is both brutally real and poetically dreamlike at times. Overlooked because of “Private Ryan.”
Maniac Nurses Find Ecstasy and the TNT television movie series The Librarian
One film that I love, that hasn’t been mentioned on this site ( as far as I know ) – “The Man Who Would Be King” with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer, Dir. John Huston. (1975)
and, a couple of fun swashbucklers, “The Crimson Pirate” with Burt Lancaster, dir.Robert Siodmak (1952) and “Scaramouche” with Stewart Granger and Janet Leigh (1952).
Children of Men
Oliver Stone’s U Turn. Everyone I know loves this film.
Soybean-I also love The Man Who Would Be King.
Patrick-They Live would have been more interesting if the aliens didn’t look ridiculous when we get to see them Plus having Roddy Piper as the lead didn’t help.
They Live. YES!
@ shotzi- wher can i find this documentary? (are you pullin our legs?)
They Live is amazing, ahah I actually own a T-shirt from the film. To be honest, I don’t think there’s any Carpenter films I don’t love.
Better Off Dead. I mean seriously, it’s got 80’s cheese, a claymation hamburger that sings Van Halen, and John Cusack.
After the Wedding. Nobody talks about this movie, but its seriously good.
And Mean Creek.
kill bill
Just one of the guys. I love that Joyce Hyser.
dirty dancing! perfection
Freddy Got Fingered. Seriously.
Films that I love and aren’t talked about much…….hmmm…..
Paper Moon (Bogdanovich, ’73)
The Last Detail (Hal Ashby, ’73)
Kes (Ken Loach, ’69)
Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (Huston ’72)
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Ken Loach, ’06)
The Conformist (Bertolucci, ’70)
The Informer (Ford, ’35)
Odd Man Out (Carol Reed, ’47)
None are underrated but definitely under-watched I think.
Everyone Says I Love You (It isn’t even in the Allen pantheon, but a delightful film.)
Better of Dead (I like the cut of your jib, Bruce Dixon!)
One Wild and Crazy Summer (though Better Off Dead is much better).
They Live! (I agree with everyone else who trumpets that unsung, great film)
Drew Gregory
It is really easy to find what are considered the best films of all time but what I am asking is for a film you love (or just like) that is not talked about much. It can either be a lesser known work by a great director or by a somewhat unknown. I have not explored every single inch of very many director’s careers so I’m interested on films I should see that I might have not heard of much.