This is my kind of thread.
Here is a list (by no means complete) of underrated films that I've enjoyed, along with a brief review of each (no Spoilers, though). Some of these have already been mentioned here:
- Havana (1990): Excellent Sydney Pollack-directed film set in late 1958 Cuba. Robert Redford plays Jack Weil, an American poker player/gamber who is looking for one big score, but who unintentionally gets caught up in a revolution. Great story, cinematography, and scenery.
(I had never heard of this film when it first came out, so either I wasn't paying attention at the time or it didn't get a lot of press - or both).
- Dirty Work (1998): Hilarious & tasteless comedy about two slackers who need to get $50,000 in a hurry, so they start a ?revenge for hire? business. Very, very funny. With cameos by Chevy Chase, Don Rickles, and Chris Farley; also featuring a great soundtrack with groups like Third Eye Blind, Chambawamba, and AC/DC.
- The Game (1997): Extremely well-done thriller about businessman Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas), who is given a mysterious ?gift? on his birthday. Though the gift is seemingly harmless at first, things become stranger and Van Orton is soon on the run for his life. Well worth seeing.
- Layer Cake (2004): Superb UK gangster film, starring a pre-James Bond D. Craig. Great story, cinematography, etc.
- A Serious Man (2009): Amazing film by the great Coen brothers set in 1967 focuses on a conservative man living in the Midwest with his family. Because of events beyond his control, his life is thrown into upheaval. Very interesting depiction of the changing social values in the late ?60?s.
- Croupier (2000): Very good thriller starring C. Owen as a card dealer working in a private, upscale gambling casino in England. Extremely well-done & subtle.
- Ping Pong Playa (2007) - Hilarious film about trash-talking slacker Chris ?C-Dub? Wang, who is drawn into the world of professional ping-pong. Extremely funny.
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994): Almost universally panned on it's release, this is nonetheless a superb film adapting MS's 19th century novel about Victor Frankenstein. Kenneth Br. does a great job as Victor Frankenstein, and DeNiro is amazing as the tortured monster. This film is definitely the most faithful adaptation of MS's novel, and IMHO is far superior to any other movie version of this story.
- Godfather Part III (1990): One of the most underrated films on this list, IMHO this was a great film and was not trying to be like the previous two. Taking place in the 1970's, this was an interesting look at an aging Michael Corleone and his family.
- Blair Witch Project 2: Book of Secrets (2000): It was hard to follow up the huge success of the first BWP, but this sequel definitely delivered. It wasn't anything like the first movie, but was more of a mainstream horror film with some great twists and turns. Very creepy and disturbing.
- Bringing out the Dead (1999): Little-known Martin Scorsese-directed film about an ambulance driver in NYC (Nic Cage). Truly incredible film that I never heard about when it was first released.
- Planet of the Apes (2001): Also panned on it's release, I still found this to be an incredible film and even liked it much better than the original.
- City of Ghosts (2003): Great thriller set in Cambodia. Starring M. Dillon and J. Caan.
- V for Vendetta (2006): Incredible dystopian film based on A. Moore's excellent comic book mini-series. Though I was a huge fan of the comic, IMHO this film was superior to the source material.
- Dog Soldiers (2001): Incredible UK werewolf/horror movie with some of the best werewolf transformation effects I've ever seen.
- Cloverfield (2008): Excellent monster film shot documentary style. Brings to mind the old Godzilla movies, but done much better.
- Leatherheads (2008): Very funny historical?! comedy about the early days of professional football in the U.S.
- The Last Days of Disco (1998): Enjoyable film set in early '80's NYC; this focuses on a group of friends who work by day, and by night party at the local disco clubs. Features a great period Disco soundtrack.
- The Getaway (1994): Amazing heist film/action film/thriller. Starrring Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Far superior in every way to the original early '70's version.
- Until the End of the World (1991): Amazing sci-fi/road trip film by the great German director Wim Wenders. Still not on Region 1 (U.S.) DVD yet, for some reason.
- Surrogates (2009): Great sci-fi film set in the near future where most people on Earth have surrogates (i.e., robots) to do everything for them while they safely stay hooked up to machines and telepathically control the robots. Great story, action sequences, and special effects. Starring Bruce Willis.
- Lenny (1974) - Excellent b&w bio-picture starring Dustin Hoffman as the very controversial 1950?s/1960?s comedian Lenny Bruce. Very well-done period drama filmed in a documentary-style format.
