Overlooked Films--Great films (most of) the world missed

[Casper]

Sinne, I'm glad you mentioned "The Fox."  I saw that movie many years ago and you brought back memories to me.  It's a shame Sandy Dennis left this world way too young.

[paintedshoes]

Sinne, I agree with your choice of "Prick Up Your Ears."  My favorite performance in that film was by Alfred Molina.  I think it was the first thing I had seen him in since "Raiders of the Lost Ark."  I find myself fascinated by his work...always excellent, regardless of the material.

[canmark]

Well I am going to add WATER in here.  I can't imagine how I missed this, haven't heard anyone I know speak of it.  And can't imagine how it got passed over at the Oscars.

Are you referring to Deepa Mehta's Water? Although it came out in Canada in 2005, it was released in the U.S. in 2006 and will be Canada's official entry in the foreign language film category at the 2007 Oscars.

http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/water/

[Lola]

Are you referring to Deepa Mehta's Water? Although it came out in Canada in 2005, it was released in the U.S. in 2006 and will be Canada's official entry in the foreign language film category at the 2007 Oscars.

http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/water/

OMG how did I miss this, thanks Mark, you just made my day!    Jay had said "It was eligible for last year's Oscars, the Academy deprived it of a nomination"  I am so glad to hear that is not true.

[afhickman]

You'll probably have to buy the DVD to see it, but I want to recommend the Swedish film "Evil," which features a breakout performance by a young actor named Andreas Wilson.  It's pretty familiar stuff--an abused young man leaves home to spend a year at a boarding school and must deal with a nest of bullies--but it's refreshingly uncliched and it all leads to a unexpectedly satisfying conclusion.  No real gay content, but you can always read between the lines.  There are a few moments of uncomfortable violence (the DVD calls it "Fight Club in a boarding school"), but American audiences shouldn't be bothered.

[Desecra]

I'm not sure if I'd already mentioned 'Monsieur Hire', but it's now it out on DVD.  I first saw it in the cinema years ago and it made a big impression.  It was great to see it again, and it was as good as I remembered.

I watched 'Imaginary Heroes' recently.  I hadn't heard anything about this film, so was pleasantly surprised.  Not particularly great or memorable, but moving and engrossing.

[michaelflanagansf]

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[afhickman]

Saw two over the holiday that are worth seeking out.  The first, and best, is "Un Amour a Taire" ("A Love to Hide"), which is available on DVD from Picture This! Home Video.  Not a perfect film by any means but one that addresses an arcane subject: the reeducation by Nazis of homosexuals in Vichy France.  It's extremely brutal, but it features a superb performance by Jeremie Renier, who is getting a lot of buzz this year for his role as a teenage father who sells his own baby in "The Child."  Also noteworty, but probably a matter of taste, is a 3-part TV miniseries from Britain, "The Line of Beauty," on BBC Video, which is based on the Booker-prize winning novel by Alan Hollinghurst.  If you know anything about Thatcher's England in the 1980s, a period of excess that included the introduction of AIDS and the Falklands War, this might appeal to you.  But the characters are mostly unsympathetic, and the story lacks cohesion (as in the novel).  Nick Guest (get it ?) comes to live with the family of an up-and-coming Tory politician who lives to please "The Lady."  Nick's entree into this world is the politician's straight son Toby (this thread goes nowhere), but he stays on to look after Toby's dysfunctional sister, Cat (whose name may as well be short for catalyst as well as Catherine).  There are some grand moments, as when Nick takes Thatcher for a turn on the dance floor, but it all leaves a pretty sour taste in the mouth.  Nick goes on to live with the Feddens for four years, at the end of which he is sadder but probably no wiser.  The actors do a fine job, and there are some pretty weighty issues bandied about, but you'll have to decide for yourself whether you want to invest three hours in the lives of these, ultimately, unattractive people. 

[michaelflanagansf]

Also noteworty, but probably a matter of taste, is a 3-part TV miniseries from Britain, "The Line of Beauty," on BBC Video, which is based on the Booker-prize winning novel by Alan Hollinghurst.  If you know anything about Thatcher's England in the 1980s, a period of excess that included the introduction of AIDS and the Falklands War, this might appeal to you. 

Glad to see this mentioned here.  I bought a copy of this for a friend for Xmas.  She's a big fan of this sort of thing.

I agree with you about your comments about the characters being unattractive - in the end it was why I had problems with the series.  But for people who like period dramas (and yes, I think we can already consider this that) this is worth watching.

[dback]

It was good--parts of it very good--but not great, mostly due to a certain coldness--possibly inherent in the source material.  As has been said, its hard to figure out who to sympathize with.

I've spent a big chunk of today thinking--of all things--about the Disney version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which I think will one day be regarded as the studio's last traditional animation masterpiece.  ("Hercules," the year after, was fun but not in the same league.)  Tom Hulce, who is openly gay and starred in "Dominick and Eugene" and produced "A Home At The End of the World," is wonderful (and a great singer!) as "Quasi" (short for "Quasimodo").

[Nax]

One of my favorite films is Rosanna's Grave / Rosanna's letzter Wille with Jean Reno and Mercedes Ruehl. I think it's deleted now but I think one of Reno's best.

http://akas.imdb.com/name/nm0826315/forsale

Please read the comments from viewers at the botton of the page link below - it's not just me.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00096S49E/imdb-button/

Totally overlooked little gem and well worth hunting down. Gentel humour, good storyline and good acting.

[dback]

I think that also might be called "For Rosanna."

A comedy to recommend: an absolute hoot called "Man of the Century" that imagines--for no particular reason--a man of the 1920's plunked down amidst contemporary New York.  Flags a bit here and there and logic is not its forte, but the score is beyond terrific, the cast wonderful (among them Gary Beach, Susan Egan, Frank Gorshin and Anthony Rapp), and the climax a comedic tour-de-force.  One of those films that will put you in a wonderful mood.

[oilgun]

Great thread, however I question soem of the titles included.  For example it's hard for me to consider The Right Stuff, Memento and Airplane(!) as being movies that the world missed, lol!

Anyway, my vote for most recent underrated film is Terry Gilliam's Tideland.  The critics ruined any chance it may have had with the public.  I saw it on TMN and was so impressed that I had to run out and buy the DVD.

http://akas.imdb.com/title/tt0410764/

For a synopsis check out rotten Tomatoes (which give it a 29% Rotten rating!):
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tideland/about.php

If you remember being a kid then this film will ring very true, it's uncanny how well it portrays the mind of child.  Young actor Jodelle Ferland basically has to carry the film and she is astonishing! 

[Lola]

I didn't see where Momento was mentioned, but I thought it was an excellent film.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/memento/

It had a very high rating at Rotten Tomatoes - 94%

[oilgun]

I didn't see where Momento was mentioned, but I thought it was an excellent film.

Memento is mentioned on page one of this thread. 

Another recent film that inexplicably didn't find an audience is The Lookout by director Scott Frank.



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427470/
A smart taut thriller with the always excellent (and Heath lookalike) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Jeff Daniels and Matthew Goode also give good performances.

Check out Rotten Tomatoes for the synopsis: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lookout/about.php
Critics loved this one as the 88% fresh rating will attest.