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Movies That Do Not Get The Recognition They Deserve
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akent35
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May 29, 2014, 02:55 PM
 
The thread about TV series got me thinking about a related topic. That is, which movies do not get recognized enough? I have 3 of them:

1. Murder In The First - Super inspiring story (based on fact, but of course not "exactly" 100% accurate), with Kevin Bacon and Christian Slater giving excellent performances. I let one of our friends borrow the DVD I have, and they also felt it is an excellent movie.

2. Awakenings - Another inspiring story and it is 100% accurate. Robert De Nero and Robin Williams were truly superb! I found it especially fascinating that 1) they acted so well together, and 2) the roles each of them performed were both just about totally new for each of them.

3. Witness - Probably the most baffling of all. To me, the 3 best movies Harrison Ford has done are Witness, The Fugitive, and Air Force One. Yet, the gritty drama Witness is not mentioned very much.

Like to hear what others think, and also what other movies there are that are basically "neglected", and really need to be given their due.
     
zro
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May 29, 2014, 03:51 PM
 
U-Turn

The Oliver Stone dark comedy. Grade A performances all around, but John Voigt takes the cake. If you've seen Red Rock West a lot of the core plot mechanic will seem familiar, but this one is better by a long shot.
     
subego
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May 29, 2014, 07:04 PM
 
Godzilla (1998)
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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May 30, 2014, 05:59 AM
 
On that note, how about Gareth Edwards' first movie, Monsters...it's fairly unknown, but was good enough to score him the Godzilla remake.

It's not perfect, but it's definitely worth watching and has some awesome scenes.
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abbaZaba
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May 30, 2014, 12:41 PM
 
I always thought The Fifth Element was underrated
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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May 30, 2014, 12:42 PM
 
Haha, I've always thought it was over rated
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subego
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May 30, 2014, 01:26 PM
 
Spy Games, with Bill Pullman.

It's a comedy, yet portrays the "craft" of being a spy more accurately than any movie I've seen.
     
exca1ibur
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May 30, 2014, 01:44 PM
 
Contact - Jodi Foster / Matthew McConaughey

The Last Castle - Robert Redford / James Gandolfini / Mark Ruffalo / Delroy Lindo

Devil In A Blue Dress - Denzel Washington / Don Cheadle / Jennifer Beals

American History X - Edward Norton / Edward Furlong
     
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May 30, 2014, 02:23 PM
 
Paranorman (YouTube trailer) I liked it a lot, and the plot is pretty different to other 'zombie' movies. I also appreciated the amount of attention to detail and 'love and care' that went into it.

The Way Back (YouTube trailer) Walking from a prison in Siberia to northern India for freedom. "Based on a true story" (not sure how much). Its a "survival" movie... much like Cast Away.
     
mattyb
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May 30, 2014, 03:01 PM
 
Originally Posted by exca1ibur View Post
Contact - Jodi Foster / Matthew McConaughey

The Last Castle - Robert Redford / James Gandolfini / Mark Ruffalo / Delroy Lindo

Devil In A Blue Dress - Denzel Washington / Don Cheadle / Jennifer Beals

American History X - Edward Norton / Edward Furlong
Great films.
     
Doc HM
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May 30, 2014, 06:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
On that note, how about Gareth Edwards' first movie, Monsters...it's fairly unknown, but was good enough to score him the Godzilla remake.

It's not perfect, but it's definitely worth watching and has some awesome scenes.
Monsters is a really great little film.

Husdon Hawk (yes i know it's a thing I have)

Tremors (the first one only). Brilliant homage to 50s B movies. Bacons best film

Dredd
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
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May 30, 2014, 06:37 PM
 
Battlefield Earth - John Travolta / Forrest Whitaker. It was really a LOT WORSE than the reviews and the ratings made it out to be.

OAW
     
subego
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May 30, 2014, 06:46 PM
 
I remember back in the usenet days, a guy, we'll call him Doug, because that's his name, complaining about how bad it was.

Someone responded "it's like cancer".

I happened to know Doug had cancer, and was wondering how he was going to handle it.

Doug's response: I *have* cancer, you know... Battlefield Earth is worse".
     
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May 30, 2014, 07:33 PM
 
Shoot Em Up with Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti and Monica Bellucci

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
OAW
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May 30, 2014, 08:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I remember back in the usenet days, a guy, we'll call him Doug, because that's his name, complaining about how bad it was.

Someone responded "it's like cancer".

I happened to know Doug had cancer, and was wondering how he was going to handle it.

Doug's response: I *have* cancer, you know... Battlefield Earth is worse".
Wow. Just wow.

OAW
     
unicast reversepath
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May 31, 2014, 12:33 AM
 
King of New York

( a 1990 crime drama film, starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, Giancarlo Esposito, and Steve Buscemi)
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Shaddim
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May 31, 2014, 02:55 AM
 
The Name of the Rose - a clever mystery
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
subego
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May 31, 2014, 06:53 AM
 
Originally Posted by unicast reversepath View Post
King of New York

( a 1990 crime drama film, starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, Giancarlo Esposito, and Steve Buscemi)
Know going in though, it's kinda over the top. Walken really chews it up.

Fried chicken scene is awesome.
     
exca1ibur
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May 31, 2014, 05:04 PM
 
Men Of Honor - Cuba Gooding, Jr, Robert DeNiro, Charlize Theron, Powers Booth
     
akent35  (op)
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May 31, 2014, 05:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by exca1ibur View Post
Men Of Honor - Cuba Gooding, Jr, Robert DeNiro, Charlize Theron, Powers Booth
Yes, that one certainly qualifies! Always liked Cuba Gooding, Jr., and of course De Nero is De Nero.
     
turtle777
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Jun 1, 2014, 02:46 AM
 
Jaws 4 - The Revenge
I kid, I kid
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BadKosh
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Jun 1, 2014, 10:42 AM
 
Dogma

Beast from 20 Thousand Fathoms
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Blood Simple
Emperor of the North(1973)
     
ghporter
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Jun 1, 2014, 10:50 AM
 
Originally Posted by Shaddim View Post
The Name of the Rose - a clever mystery
Ditto. Deep, rich, well acted. A really great film.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
subego
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Jun 1, 2014, 12:23 PM
 
The one off-note I recall was the sex scene from out of nowhere.
     
zro
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Jun 1, 2014, 12:32 PM
 
You Name Of The Rose fans should read Foucault's Pendulum., also by Umberto Eco. Serious mind **** that one.
     
subego
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Jun 1, 2014, 12:54 PM
 
I was told it's excellent, but that there's a not insignificant portion in Latin.
     
Thorzdad
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Jun 1, 2014, 01:39 PM
 
Revolver. Probably the least-appreciated of Guy Ritchie's films.
     
Shaddim
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Jun 1, 2014, 06:12 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
The one off-note I recall was the sex scene from out of nowhere.
I know a secret about that scene...

 
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
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akent35  (op)
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Jun 1, 2014, 07:31 PM
 
Another hidden "gem" is Inside Man, with Denzel Washington, Clive Oven (super as the mastermind of the "heist"), Jodie Foster, William DaFoe, and Christopher Plummer. Quite a bit of intrigue in this one.
     
exca1ibur
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Jun 1, 2014, 10:42 PM
 
Originally Posted by akent35 View Post
Another hidden "gem" is Inside Man, with Denzel Washington, Clive Oven (super as the mastermind of the "heist"), Jodie Foster, William DaFoe, and Christopher Plummer. Quite a bit of intrigue in this one.
     
unicast reversepath
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Jun 1, 2014, 10:59 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Know going in though, it's kinda over the top. Walken really chews it up.

Fried chicken scene is awesome.
If you have Ghosts, you have Everything!
     
zro
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Jun 2, 2014, 02:44 AM
 
Of Mice And Men (1992)

I'd never read it or seen the old movie. If this is you, watch this movie ASAP. Remember to breath during the ending.
     
mindwaves
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Jun 2, 2014, 04:10 AM
 
Not a movie, but a TV series called "Final Offer."

It is about a group of dealers competing to buy old stuff from people. I loved this show and bought it from iTunes, which is one of the very few shows I have ever purchased. However, it was canceled without any notice. I am assuming very few people liked it.
     
Mrjinglesusa
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Jun 2, 2014, 10:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by akent35 View Post
Yes, that one certainly qualifies! Always liked Cuba Gooding, Jr., and of course De Nero is De Nero.
Actually, De Nero is De Niro.
     
akent35  (op)
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Jun 2, 2014, 11:03 AM
 
Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa View Post
Actually, De Nero is De Niro.
Oops! Thanks for he correction. My fat fingers were at it again!
     
subego
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Jun 2, 2014, 11:49 AM
 
This one is sorta in a weird spot...

John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness

It's about 80% not just one of the best horror movies ever, but one of the best movies ever. Shockingly creepy visuals. One of the earliest movies to work key biblical players as extra terrestrials, and also worked in quantum theory as an explanation of their natures. People time traveling into your dreams, and a totally sick, double twist ending (which you'll need to replay to make sure you've got it straight).

Christ... Alice ****ing Cooper is in it.


The not so good part, it's truly awful. It has fourteen minutes of mixing the opening credits with the action (I timed it), and the overall pacing of the movie is horrible. Every brilliant move is countered by an equally bad, Carpenter style groaner: Chinese guy kills a devil zombie with a chopstick. I'd come up with more, but I think I've repressed most of those moments by now. Haven't seen it in 20 years.

View at your own risk.



Edit: it also has 2/3 of the cast from the TV show Riptide, which can be a plus or minus, depending. I'd say it's an overall plus. Thom Bray works a far more confident version of his normal character.
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Jun 3, 2014, 07:58 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I'd come up with more, but I think I've repressed most of those moments by now. Haven't seen it in 20 years.
No, I.......I think you've said enough, right there.
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
subego
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Jun 3, 2014, 12:50 PM
 
Thinking about the good parts... I still get chills.

Halfway through the movie Satan informs us we "will not be saved by the God Plutonium".

There are so many cool ideas packed into just that one line. Beautifully executed too. As a spoken phrase it's asking a lot of an actor to make that work. The way it happens in the movie one of the grad students gets possessed, and starts "typing in tongues" on her terminal.
     
   
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