Oh my god, how did I forget Big Fish?! That’s one of my favorite movies ever, and it never gets the credit I think it deserves. Ewan McGregor is my favorite actor because of that film.
Oh. Oh no. I just thought of one that people are going to hate me for. Screw it: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. I know. Watch it, though. Dustin Hoffman delivers a monologue in that movie that seriously one of the best he’s ever given. Plus, it’s actually surprisingly enjoyable. Kids might be bored with it, but who cares about them, right? People ripped that movie to shreds, but I really liked it. Sue me.
Big Fish was a failure for me on every level. Obviously it has worked for some people, but it just seemed like Burton trying too hard to capture that Edward Scissorhands wonderment and not even coming close. Each vignette was too brief to be impactful, and really too contrived.
I’ll be honest—I hated it. Coming off of Planet of the Apes I saw it as a major misstep for the director. His next film didn’t do anything to assuage my opinion, either.
I’m so glad someone mentioned Brick. Entertainment Weekly’s jackass critics named it the second worst film the year it came out. I absolutely love that movie. It’s just a classic noir in an unusual setting, and has surprising depth on repeat viewings.
Brick is a fantastic film. Love, love, love it.
Rollerball (1975)
Falling Down. A frightening and sad slice of pathological genius. If you mention it, people will agree that it was good, or even great, but it never attained the recognition or status it deserves.
I’ve heard that interpretation of Big Fish from some people, but the ending and the wonderful performances left me completely satisfied and deeply moved. To each they’re own, I suppose.
Has anyone here seen “Toto the Hero” or “Lady Snowblood”? And does anyone think Criterion should pick up either one? because I do.
I think those are very underrated.
Home from the Hill – V. Minnelli. I like it more than Some Came Running.
Onibaba definitely a little gem!
Red Beard I’m gobsmacked at the lack of attention this film gets!
Constantine – a guilty pleasure that was crucified
Vastly Underrated -
A King in New York – Chaplin
The Cameraman – Keaton
Thuong Nho Dong Que (Nostalgia for the Countryside) by Dang Nhat Minh, Vietnam
Agantuk, Satyajit Rays last film
Stage Door, with Katherine Hepburn
THE CAMERAMAN under-rated?
It’s usually considered second only to THE GENERAL.
“All the Way Home”: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056818/
Red Beard certainly. Kurosawa has just too many great films. Somehow this one gets overlooked. For my money this is his most remarkable film (and remarkable films are about the only kind AK knew how to make).
Gray’s “Two Lovers.”
And I agree with whoever said Chaplin’s “A King In New York.”
Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice.”
Audiard’s “The Beat That My Heart Skipped.” Just superb acting, great character study.
How about Todd Field’s In The Bedroom?
Landscape Suicide
Women in Mirrors
Barry Lydon
Throw Away Your Books,Rallye in the Streets
Black Cat White Cat
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
I second Todd Field’s In The Bedroom. I love Tom Wilkinson. Great movie.
@ Max-I love that movie too…But it sure wasn’t underrated! I think it won lots and lots of awards(valuable ones)
Nice to see some love for James Benning and Terayama Shūji, Edwin N!
Edwin, nice call with Barry Lyndon. That film always gets forgotten as one of Kubricks best. And yeah, i guess your right about In the Bedroom, not really critically underrated, it’s just not as well known.
Max Hirtz, I so agree with you. I loved In The Bedroom.
Oh, another one for the list: The Godless Girl (B. DeMille).
Parallax View
The Conversation
Jacob’s Ladder
Toto the Hero
Lawndogs
Trop Belle pour Toi
Raise the red lantern
Ridicule (well anything by Leconte)
A number of Spike Lee “joints.” Unfortunately, his image as an artist has been tarnished by his activist agenda and inflammatory remarks (which may or my not be blown out of proportion by hyper sensitive white devils.) However, Roman Polanski and Woody Allen have sex with girls who’ve yet to develop full breasts, yet we’ve come to appreciate their eccentricity regarding the subject. It’s funny how things change when opinions on race relations come to the table.
Summer of Sam is near perfect, with the exception of a few dreadfully bad scenes involving a talking dog. He Got Game was also pretty excellent. And frankly, Malcolm X was one of the most powerful films I’ve ever seen. He does a lot of good work while balancing commercial and indie influence (not an easy task by any means.)
Paul Jazz – I’ve got lots of love for Jacob’s Ladder as well.
Oh, and most of Bernardo Bertolucci’s work is awesome too… in a twisted and perverted sort of way.
AudioSuede
The Darjeeling Limited. Even Wes Anderson fans forgot about that film when it came out, but it’s by far my favorite of his movies. It’s so touching and personal. I also adore I Heart Huckabees for its ability to connect the high thought and low thought crowds by making fun of both and then comforting them afterwards. Since someone mentioned Punch-Drunk Love (which I enjoy quite a bit), I would add Reign Over Me. Yes, it’s a bit sappy, but Sandler really did something unlike himself. Oh, and Jarhead. I was pissed that people didn’t like that. And Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. But then, I think Sam Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors today.
Oh, and The Machinist. It was the perfect amalgam of Memento and Fight Club, yet I felt more satisfied than I did with either of those films, personally.
And I know I won’t be popular for this, but Be Kind Rewind was such a sweet-hearted ode to film and community. People just seemed to really dislike it. And Lucky Number Slevin. And In Bruges. Saved. Stay. Michael Clayton.
You know, I think I love a lot of “underrated” films.