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Underrated/underappreciated movies

infection

infection

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Movies that are great, but perhaps didn't get much commercial fanfare or flew under the radar.

A few of mine:

- Bowfinger. Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. Steve Martin is a low-budget film producer and Eddie Murphy is a huge star. Steve Martin has a good script but can't get Murphy to be in the movie, so he decides to film the movie without him knowing he's in it. Makes fun of a lot of Hollywood culture, as well as some thinly veiled references to Scientology's role.

- Who's Harry Crumb? John Candy plays a private detective. John Candy's other roles have overshadowed this one, but it's a classic.

- Best in Show. @Gameface made a reference to this one recently. Put out by the same people who did Spinal Tap, and again a mockumentary before its time. It's about a bunch of people involved in the dog show business. It's as good as Spinal Tap.

- Fletch. Okay, so this one doesn't exactly fly under the radar, but when people talk about Chevy Chase, this one doesn't come up that much, and though there's a cult following, it just doesn't seem to get that much traction among people who haven't seen it a ton.

I've got more, but I'll start there.
 
I'm no kind of movie buff, and I don't really look into the directors or actors at all, so take my picks for what they're worth.

My two favorite movies are:

Punch Drunk Love

I've heard so many people talk about how absolutely stupid, boring and horrible this movie is. They were looking for something like Little Nicky and ended up watching this. For me, as a person who has a lot of social anxiety, who is often described as being "very quiet" and has seldom been at ease around attractive women I find Adam Sandler's portrayal in this movie to be almost perfect. I laugh constantly through the whole thing. Adam Sandler's comedies are okay funny, but Punch Drunk Love kills me. I love how real everyone in this feels to me.

Bottle Rocket

I love the absurdity of this movie. I love the pointlessness of the endeavors the characters embark upon and how monumental they seem to regard them as. For example, when they're holding up a bookstore they're trying to stuff the money into these small little bags and becoming growingly frustrated Owen Wilson's character asks rather politely if they have any bigger bags, like for dictionaries or something. Again, I love comedies low and high, but this is a movie that I watch with a huge smile and sense of joy.
 
The Conversation - Gene Hackman. Coppola's movie in between Godfathers I & II and Apocalypse Now so naturally it flies a bit under the radar - even though it was nominated for Best Picture . Allegedly both Coppola's and Gene Hackman's favorite movie.

Vampire's Kiss - Nicholas Cage. 80's Yuppie douchebag gets bit by a vampire. Maybe. Cage before he became a cartoon character and Jennifer Beals is hot AF.

The Straight Story - David Lynch. Lynch's "normal movie." Broken down old man travels about 1000 miles on a riding mower to see his estranged dying brother. Richard Farnsworth is brilliant.
 
Gameface said:
I'm no kind of movie buff, and I don't really look into the directors or actors at all, so take my picks for what they're worth.

My two favorite movies are:

Punch Drunk Love

I've heard so many people talk about how absolutely stupid, boring and horrible this movie is. They were looking for something like Little Nicky and ended up watching this. For me, as a person who has a lot of social anxiety, who is often described as being "very quiet" and has seldom been at ease around attractive women I find Adam Sandler's portrayal in this movie to be almost perfect. I laugh constantly through the whole thing. Adam Sandler's comedies are okay funny, but Punch Drunk Love kills me. I love how real everyone in this feels to me.

Bottle Rocket

I love the absurdity of this movie. I love the pointlessness of the endeavors the characters embark upon and how monumental they seem to regard them as. For example, when they're holding up a bookstore they're trying to stuff the money into these small little bags and becoming growingly frustrated Owen Wilson's character asks rather politely if they have any bigger bags, like for dictionaries or something. Again, I love comedies low and high, but this is a movie that I watch with a huge smile and sense of joy.
Click to expand...

Agree on Bottle Rocket - great movie. Sweet, funny, sad, weird.....all that AND James Caan.
 
Cold Blooded (1995) - Jason Priestly is cold blooded hit man. Like no emotion talk to people and kill.
 
The Dream Team

 
This is a great thread and I've enjoyed reading the comments.

Hit & Run
I can't remember a movie besides the Jackasses that I laughed so much seeing. Dax Shepard is a gem and the fact he wrote this movie makes it even better. Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper and Kristen Bell kill it. One of my favorite movies.

I'll mention more but will have to think about it. Off the top of my head other movies I find underrated are.

The Place Behind the Pines (it's like 3 movies in 1.)

The Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth.

The Cabin in the Woods.

Bone Tomahawk.

Dirty Work

Falling Down with Michael Douglas

Tropic Thunder
 
Archie Moses said:
This is a great thread and I've enjoyed reading the comments.

Hit & Run
I can't remember a movie besides the Jackasses that I laughed so much seeing. Dax Shepard is a gem and the fact he wrote this movie makes it even better. Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper and Kristen Bell kill it. One of my favorite movies.

I'll mention more but will have to think about it. Off the top of my head other movies I find underrated are.

The Place Behind the Pines (it's like 3 movies in 1.)

The Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth.

The Cabin in the Woods.

Bone Tomahawk.

Dirty Work

Falling Down with Michael Douglas

Tropic Thunder
Click to expand...

Lot of great ones there.
I liked place behind the pines.
Hated shape of water
Liked cabin in the woods
Loved bone tomahawk
Super duper loved tropic thunder and thought Robert Downey should have got an Oscar.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
Archie Moses said:
This is a great thread and I've enjoyed reading the comments.

Hit & Run
I can't remember a movie besides the Jackasses that I laughed so much seeing. Dax Shepard is a gem and the fact he wrote this movie makes it even better. Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper and Kristen Bell kill it. One of my favorite movies.

I'll mention more but will have to think about it. Off the top of my head other movies I find underrated are.

The Place Behind the Pines (it's like 3 movies in 1.)

The Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth.

The Cabin in the Woods.

Bone Tomahawk.

Dirty Work

Falling Down with Michael Douglas

Tropic Thunder
Click to expand...
Love love love The Place Beyond The Pines.

I’d add American Animals, Joe, Birth, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, and The Talented Mr. Ripley off the top of my head.

AA totally flew under the radar. I recall Cy loving it and he’s right. It’s fantastic. Without seeing what else I watched from that year, I’d guess it was one of the best five films I saw.

If you saw Mud and liked it, Joe is a better version of it. Grittier, yes. Not as wholesome. But better.

If you’ve ever felt head over heals in love, as if someone was quite literally your soulmate, this movie is hauntingly beautiful. Ebert, one particular year, had it in his top ten movies OF ALL-TIME.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a great heist movie. And it’s led with great direction and great acting in PSH and Hawke.

Lastly, for me, I always tout Boogie Nights as the best movie I’ve ever seen. In saying that, I suppose what I mean is, it’s flawless. It is perfect in every way. Another movie that falls under the category for me to a slightly lesser degree is The Talented Mr. Ripley. It would definitely be in my top ten movies of all-time, I’d think. That’s not to say I’d rewatch it that often but I find it to be one of the best ten films I’ve seen.
 
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