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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

The Dungeon Of Underrated Movie Gems

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Jamieon

15:13 / 25.09.01

Okay then. Like you need to tell me/us.

Maybe it was panned initially, but the press seem to like it now. Along with everyone else. I don't know anyone who dislikes it, apart from thick arseholes who go on about how it's "well fuckin weird".....

Sorry, but 'Lost Highway' doesn't strike me as a film in desperate need of rescuing from the doldrums of General Scorn.

Watch out for him, by the way: he's a mean bastard. Just ask Frunt Force Five.....

The Return Of Rothkoid

15:15 / 25.09.01

Well, I'd say Lost Highway was critically pizzled, yes, but not in terms of word-of-mouth or such. Lynch could get no press and still churn out cult film after cult film at this point, yeah? I mean, his stuff is pretty much standard "must watch at some point 'cause it's so fucked-up" work, isn't it? I just don't think it's that underrated in general - just by the critics?

That said, it does drag in some places. But that's all made up with the Mystery Man scenes...

But, that said, go watch the film anyway, on TV. It's worth it. Some scenes work better than in the cinema.

16:20 / 25.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Deluxe Frunt:
No, but it was crap.

Man, y'all are breaking my heart....
I'm a sap, yeah. I like that movie.

quote:Originally posted by DrDee:
This is getting too intellectual.
What about "Tremors"?
Low budget good fun with no strings attached.
The sequels were not so good.

"These ain't local boys."

quote:Originally posted by Chubby P:
Brain Dead

Which one?

quote:Originally posted by Macavity:
Regeneration - a fairly faithful take on the Pat Barker novel of the same name, which had a small release over here and an even smaller one in the US.

Oooo. Yes. The part where Pryce reads the Wilfred Owen poem... geez, that should go in the Crying Shame thread.

Point Break.
In some ways, it's the perfect surf movie. (Beach Blanket Bingo has skydiving, even.) It even ends with the Perfect Wave.
Adherence to formula while turning the formula inside out. Nice.
Unless, of course, you want naturalistic acting in your formula films.

Big Wednesday
Done by John Milius, the guy who wrote the original script for Apocalypse Now.
Another surf movie that takes the formula and twists it -- only this time, it's a genuinely touching drama about a group of friends growing up together. Beautiful little picture.

Spider Baby
Lon Chaney Jr.'s final performance, as the faithful chauffeur for a family afflicted with congenital madness. It's a cult film that's even overlooked in cult circles. Kooky can vouch for it - it's campy fun, but also quite touching and a bit scary in parts.

[ 25-09-2001: Message edited by: grant ]

Jamieon

16:27 / 25.09.01

Yes! I fucking love 'Point Break'! The men in it are so fetishized, their relationships so completely homoerotic. Patrick and Keanu really should get down to some hot meat thrusting.

And it was directed by a woman...... She put's a whole new spin on the "(hot male) action movie".

[ 25-09-2001: Message edited by: Deluxe Frunt ]

16:33 / 25.09.01

Kiss of the Spider Woman. Everyone slags it these days, why, I don't know. Top film.

Umm... I really, really like Breakfast of Champions, and we're not going there.

16:37 / 25.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Deluxe Frunt:
Yes! I fucking love 'Point Break'! The men in it are so fetishized, their relationships so completely homoerotic. Patrick and Keanu really should get down to some hot meat thrusting.

Neoprene and presidential masks... yeah, I can see it.

quote:Originally posted by Paleface:
Umm... I really, really like Breakfast of Champions, and we're not going there.

I feel the same way about Tank Girl. I'm used to the abuse.

I like just about everything else Alan Rudolph has done, but he's sort of a critical darling.

However, it's worth mentioning that the film of Slaughterhouse Five really works in some strange way. Very nice film. No one talks about it.

[ 25-09-2001: Message edited by: grant ]

16:42 / 25.09.01

Here's another little one worth seeing:

Cookie's Fortune. Offbeat murder mystery in a small Mississippi town. Sterling cast, catfish enchiladas, a touch of the Faulknerian....

18:26 / 25.09.01

War of the Buttons... cute.

18:35 / 25.09.01

Tank Girl was fucking brilliant.

18:57 / 25.09.01

I always liked Tank Girl. I read the comics, and I liked it. If you can imagine such a thing occuring. Then again, I liked A Night At The Roxbury.

The Return Of Rothkoid

09:14 / 26.09.01

grant, I'll take your Tank Girl abuse and go one better:

Striptease.

No, honestly.

I used to pooh-pooh this thing, and then I actually watched it. Forget Demi's ill-advised boob-job and focus on what makes any movie work: Ving Rhames. That, and the fact that Pandora Peaks' name comes up in the opening credits, too. It's brilliant, brilliant stuff: Hiassen (sp?) story, Burt Reynolds as the sleaziest senator I've seen, and Armande fuckin' Assante as a cop. Come on! It don't get much better than this! Unfortunately, most people pass right by without a second glance. It's worth it.

...and now's when I mention that the tape of it that my flatmate bought also has GI Jane on it...

09:14 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by The Haus of Willow:
Also, "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion" - which just goes completely insane about halfway through and also features lovely Janeane Garofalo.

Fucking brilliant film. I dacked my cacks rigid laughing.

The Hudsucker Proxy: "My... pants" - awesome.

Who else here loves "Ravenous?" It's hilarious. The soundtrack is genius: it makes you view the film in a completely different context. The most understated vampire film ever made.

09:14 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by grant:

Spider Baby
Lon Chaney Jr.'s final performance, as the faithful chauffeur for a family afflicted with congenital madness. It's a cult film that's even overlooked in cult circles. Kooky can vouch for it - it's campy fun, but also quite touching and a bit scary in parts.

I've wanted to see that film for ages - it sounds so cool!

I totally enjoyed watching Lost Highway on TV last night. I think more directors should have the balls to make insane, terrifying, 3 hour long films about their dreams.

In fact, there are many essential David Lynch films I haven't seen, so I might spend the afternoon searching for some in the HMV sale rack..

Another underrated film that just sprung to mind: THUNDERHEART - the one with Kurt Russel and the indians.
Sounds shit in theory, but I thought it was a pretty clever and involving film, and it made a good point too..

09:14 / 26.09.01

I have to agree with Kegboy back on page one about Highway 61 - a film I saw 10 years ago in Germany and loved. Not only have I never met anyone else that has seen it, I also have never been able to find any refernece to it again (and therefore see it again), since in the meantime I had somehow convinced myself that the film was called Route 66 or something like that. Don't ask. It was however, from Canada, and now seeing that Kegboy came from there, and the name was not dissimilar I have now rediscovered it - hooray!

Anyway, it's well worth tracking down and watching, should anyone have the opportunity. Mr Bones (don't take him on at bingo) remains one of the best characters I have come across in film.

13:17 / 26.09.01

Damn it... I didn't want to have to agree with the Deluxe Frunt... seeing as s/he minorly slagged off 'In the Bleak Midwinter', which I do not apologise for thinking is an underrated gem... but the 'Hudsucker Proxy' is cool as fuck... and 'Point Break' is solely responsible for me chucking myself out of a plane. If we're getting into incidental homoeroticism in mainstream films - 'Sniper' with Tom Berenger and Billy Zane gets my vote...good film too - dealt very well with the burgeoning relationship between the two main characters...

My vote for underrated mega-mainstream film goes to 'Unbreakable' - way, way better than 'The Sixth Sense'.

What about 'Death Machine'?

13:20 / 26.09.01

And Ving Rhames *is* the man...

and Tankgirl was entirely bearable... I never got why people hated it...

13:28 / 26.09.01

There are too many, but here are a few that come to mind right away.
Fritz Langs - 'M' and 'Metropoils'
Bliss
The End of the World
The City of Lost Children
Jean Cocteau - Blood of the Poet

Regrettable Juvenilia

13:39 / 26.09.01

Casablanca
Citizen Kane
The Matrix
Fight Club
The Usual Suspects
People Are Stupid

deletia

13:53 / 26.09.01

Dungeon of entirely accurately rated movie gems?

14:38 / 26.09.01

Anyone seen Love & Death In Long Island? Both very homoerotic, and one of the greatest John Hurt performances ever. Little seen. Probably due to the fact that Jason Priestley is in it. I do however remember there being solid reviews when it first came out in selected cinemas. It's, to this day, one of my favourite movies ever.

The Natural Way

14:38 / 26.09.01

Yeah, what is this?

Citizen Kane?

Many critics consider it "the best film ever made" - Christ, it's almost a cliche! Maybe that's what you're addressing: that it's got to the point that praise for it is cliched and you're just reminding us of how good it really is? Fly?

...?

City Of The Lost Children?

Cocteau?

Fritz Lang?

Metropolis?

These aren't underrated movies/movie makers - their brilliance is pretty much generally agreed upon.

And EVERYONE loves the Matrix, don't they?

What is it with this thread?

[ 26-09-2001: Message edited by: young runt ]

[ 26-09-2001: Message edited by: young runt ]

deletia

14:44 / 26.09.01

I think Flyboy was joking. To draw attention to precisely that failing in the suggestion of the poster above him. Ironectomy, anyone?

14:47 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:
Another underrated film that just sprung to mind: THUNDERHEART - the one with Kurt Russel and the indians.
Sounds shit in theory, but I thought it was a pretty clever and involving film, and it made a good point too..

Co-starred a cold, hard Sam Shepherd as an FBI killer.
Nuff said.

14:57 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by johnnyfuzz:
I have to agree with Kegboy back on page one about Highway 61 - a film I saw 10 years ago in Germany and loved. Not only have I never met anyone else that has seen it, I also have never been able to find any refernece to it again (and therefore see it again), since in the meantime I had somehow convinced myself that the film was called Route 66 or something like that

There is a movie called Route 66, but it's not Highway 61. "Highway" stars/was co-written by Don McKellar, who has a small part in eXistenZ and made the lovely "Last Night."
If I recall, the Devil lives in a tinfoil room in "Highway 61".
At least, he thinks he's the Devil....

14:59 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Man servant Hecubus:
Bliss

Which one?

The Australian cancer-conspiracy one was BRILLIANT. The American (or was it Brazilian?) sex comedy was lame. And forgettable.

The Natural Way

15:05 / 26.09.01

quote: I think Flyboy was joking. To draw attention to precisely that failing in the suggestion of the poster above him. Ironectomy, anyone?

Oh, you guys!

*feels slightly embarrased and ashamed that he's insulted Fly's intelligence, and starts to play on it in hope of "Papa Spank". Baring cheeks....*

16:09 / 26.09.01

Strange Days.

16:43 / 26.09.01

'Ravenous' was enjoyable, but it aint no vampire film...are you talking about a different movie?

There is only one Brain Dead isn't there?

The Natural Way

16:57 / 26.09.01

Cholister:

quote:My vote for underrated mega-mainstream film goes to 'Unbreakable'

Have to disagree. Again. Not because I'm some miserable fuck - 'Unbreakable' does have its moments - just that, inspite of the good stuff, it's a little too "high concept" for my tastes. High concept that doesn't really go anywhere, with a "twist" (as if we hadn't sussed it right from the get go), snap ending that lurches out of nowhere and BAM! The credits roll. Left me feeling very disatisfied. One idea stretched across an hour and a half - ridiculously static in terms of both action and theme - and then....nothing. Do you really think it's a gem? Did it really rock your world?

Or are you just trying to address all the cussing?

I'd like to know.

Thoughts on a postcard please.

17:17 / 26.09.01

Unbreakable was utter shite. It deserved a mediocre response. It was half an hour too long, it was too clunky in it's clever-clever camera shots...the script was laughable, no one was acting as much as dragging out exposition. Plus: Text Epilogue. WTF. The most painful part was seeing how unhappily the whole concept of comic books, and comic book enterpretation sat with such a waste of celluloid.
Can I finish? CAN I FINISH?!.....
....ok I'm finished.

The Natural Way

17:31 / 26.09.01

Unbreakable is actually very short for a modern film. The reason it seems long? see above.

Lazlo Woodbine [some call me Laz]

18:02 / 26.09.01

David Peoples is the man who wrote Blade Runner, Unforgiven, and Twelve Monkeys. Many consider these to be some of the finest films ever made. Well, I say fuck them. Move their raggedy arses aside and find room for the true gems of People's career: Ladyhawke, Salute of the Jugger, and Accidental Hero.

19:15 / 26.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Johnny Mother:
'Ravenous' was enjoyable, but it aint no vampire film...are you talking about a different movie?

They eat human flesh. It endows them with superhuman strength and healing, making them effectively immortal. OK, it doesn't have the Christian and sunlight phobias, but vampire films have always mixed and matched elements of the mythos as they saw fit.

Molly Shortcake

19:47 / 26.09.01

Hitcher. Event Horizion.

Erie stuff. There's something unsettling about them. (It's been years since I've seen Hitcher, so this could be colored by memory).

Starship Troopers. The most expensive art film ever made. The goriest film ever made. The Art forum crowd got it, but it went right over the heads mainstream reviews, not to mention the public at large. Even the actors were clueless. Could it be any more obvious?

09:36 / 27.09.01

Glad to see someone beat me to "The Hitcher".
Too radical to be proper exploitation fare, extremely evil, morally uncompromising and nihilistic in the extreme.
And with a lot of weird connections (like the guy writing it blowing his brains out after crashing his car through a coffee-shop window or something like that)

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