Top 20 Underrated Films of the Decade
Cinema Door posted her list very recently and here is mine! I read her introduction (but don't worry, not the list!) and her reasoning applies to me as well. Each film is on the list for a different reason but some for similar reasons. A few have to do with unjust awards recognition, a lot have to do with having critical acclaim but being very obscure and many have to do with films that do not have the reviews to back up how good the film really is. These lists are completely subjective. This list was harder than I thought. I had to cut some off because even though I think the films are underrated, I do not quite love the films in the same way I do these (O, Stardust, The Gift, Unbreakable, Ben X, The Duchess, The Strangers, Lost and Delirious, etc), others I felt were underrated but are increasingly considered to be one of the best films of the decade and are getting appropriate amounts of respect at least in cinephile circles (Zodiac, Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Head-On). May is respected properly within the horror genre, Thirst has not had enough time to gather a following, etc. And some I simply had no room for (Princess and the Warrior, Darjeeling Limited, The Contender, Margot at the Wedding, Master and Commander and Little Children). That was my sneaky way of having an honorable mentions list. Another note to point out is that this list does not reflect the order that I prefer these films. The order would be much different.
Feel free to comment on what you think was underrated from the decade! I would love to know!
20. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About his Father (2008)
The only documentary on the list, this is easily the most emotionally intense and draining film I saw from 2008. It is also the most emotionally intense documentary I have seen. The film succeeds by being completely partial to one side of things which is usually a no no for documentaries. The story behind the documentary is that Kurt Kuenne, maker of Dear Zachary, had a friend named Andrew who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend. WHen he heard that the ex-girlfriend was pregnant with Andrew's child, he decided to make a documentary about his father so the son, Zachary could see it when he got older and kno who his father is. Kurt interviews many people from Andrew's life but Andrew's parents become the heroes of the story as we see the way they have handled the process. Things take a turn when the film chronicles the communication the parents are forced to have with the woman who murdered their son (she was acquitted) in order for them to see their grandson. The film continues along as they attempt to get custody claiming that Shirley (the girlfriend) is insane. Then the unthinkable happens. It is extremely disturbing and gut wrenching. It is also unashamedly intimate and personal and filled with anger, rage and sadness. I am getting teary eyed just writing this. I could never watch this again but it really should be seen once. Any faults the film might have technically are completely overtaken by the raw emotion going on here. An absolute must see.
19. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
This film had the critical acclaim and certainly Willem Dafoe's performance was recognized in the way it deserved to be. It has faded with time though and I do not think that the creativity and oddities of this work have been fully appreciated. The concept alone. It works as a horror film and as a black comedy in moments and as an alternate history. John Malkovich playing Murnau is inspired casting as well and his supposed obsessiveness in real life is completely infused into the story in a really fascinating way.
18. Tape (2001)
This woefully unsung Richard Linklater film is his most sparse and one of his most interesting. The film has Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard in a hotel room for an hour and a half talking about a rape that may or may not have happened. I understand why the film is not really well known because it is very low budget and very stagy. However the acting is top notch and the dialogue sustains itself throughout; you won't even notice that they never leave the room.
17. My Summer of Love (2004)
I just recently saw this and really loved it. The Paddy Considine character veered dangerously close to parody but he does such a great job with the character (because its Paddy fucking Considine) that it barely matters. The film itself has had great critical acclaim but does not have the recognition that should accompany the acclaim it had. It also features 3 incredible performances by Nathalie Press, Emily Blunt and Paddy Considine. It explores two girls from two different classes and their motivations and feelings going into and having a romantic relationship.
16. Orphan (2009)
Don't even get me started on the brilliant trash that is Orphan. The film is surprisingly deep, it takes its time and it has a shocking level of character development. We have the pleasure of watching two respected ACTUAL actors (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) appearing in the film together. Then we have the standout performance from youngster Isabel Fuhrman as Esther pulling off a Russian accent. The film goes places that are so ridiculously over the top yet somehow maintains its integrity because it is so unapologetic about itself. Come on; her stabbing a nun 15 times? Breaking her own arm with a clamp? Almost castrating a child? The final twist? It takes any potential that The Good Son had, amps everything up to eleven and just goes balls out. Its not perfect by any means but it is one of my favorite horror films of the decade and it is way too unique to just pass off. The reviews were actually quite good for a horror film but unfortunately the film came and went very quickly and is now all but forgotten. If people took the time to watch it they would see the most satisfying guilty pleasure movie quite possibly of the decade and one with some actual worth hidden within it as well.
15. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Yes this film was nominated for Best Picture. It has the most accolades behind it out of any film on the list. The reason it on is because since the 2007 Oscars I have not heard the film mentioned anywhere...at all....ever. Even its placement within the Oscars that year felt a little odd and without any buildup. Everyone has been praising director Clint Eastwood's amazing output of films this past decade. I believe though that this film is better than any of them. Better than Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, Gran Torino and certainly better than its counterpart Flags of Our Fathers. I remember thinking that it was the most emotionally authentic feeling war movie I had seen for quite some time. For me it was his most successful film and nobody talks about it; thus, it is underrated.
14. Hard Candy (2006)
Even though Hard Candy has developed a solid if small fan base, its accomplishments are overlooked because of people who write off the genre and from people who were so angry about it they forgot to realize that the anger and discussion is what the film wants to create. A horror film that is mostly a conversation between two people with feigned extreme violence? Granted, the fake castration scene is pretty extreme even as a faked procedure. The two lead performances by Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson are magnetic, especially Ellen Page who jumps off the screen in her best performance. It is quite the powerhouse. The film uses only 8 minutes of score and mostly takes place in the same space in a film that turns the tables on who is in the dominant and submissive position and forces the audience to decide who they believe and who they agree with. It makes for a very active viewing experience and for a great, underrated film.
13. Stuck (2008)
While I like Hard Candy more than Stuck, much more people know about the former than the latter. Stuck strikes such an extreme note of black comedy and Stuart Gordon excels in maintaining the tone as events become more ludicrous. Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea both put in great performances. I laughed more (again, the laughs are intentional) during this movie than most comedies from the decade. A treat that has been vastly under seen by film watchers.
12. In the Loop (2009)
It is a little early to count this one in but I did anyways. Here is why; when I have to listen to people talking about whether Avatar is going to be nominated for Best Picture while the little buzz that this razor sharp, endlessly quotable and relentlessly fast paced British political comedy had going for it has disintegrated, then we have an underrated problem. In the Loop is the best comedy I have seen this year, possibly my favorite comedy since both Hot Fuzz and Superbad. The film deserves to be getting Best Picture Oscar buzz and it isn’t. Not only that but barely anybody has even seen this at least in the States and there is another problem.
11. Snow Angels (2008)
David Gordon Green’s other film besides Pineapple Express from last year was a tragic near masterpiece about well…everything. The film covers so much thematic ground involving life young, old, regretful and impossible. The performances across the board are phenomenal with Sam Rockwell giving his best performance (yes I have seen Moon, yes this is still his best performance by a mile) and Kate Beckinsale, Michael Anagrano and Olivia Thirlby all turning in top notch performances. Instead of concentrating on the literal connections between the various characters, Green focuses on the differences between them and the absolute hopelessness and disaster of two characters whose lives go horribly wrong and two characters that carry the hope of humanity within the film because of their sincerity and inherent good. It has a disturbing and drawn out final act but this film was completely overlooked in awards season last year and even critics were only moderately in favor of it. For me it was a film that wholly resonated and was far too underappreciated in all aspects.
10. Boy A (2008)
This is on the list because I just adore this film and everything about it and it just does not have the respect or popularity even within the cinephile circles. It got great reviews and it is indeed a great film. Andrew Garfield will be a huge star. Mark my words. I was onto Ellen Page and Carey Mulligan beforehand and now I shall add a third to my list. He walks away with this one. The film involves a man who, when he was a child, murdered a young girl his own age. The film tells the tale of his anonymous reentrance into society and his attempts to function once again among others and dealing with the urges he has to reveal his past to those who become close to him. Boy A does such a good job at choosing when to show the audience certain events. It never becomes a mystery but at the same time it is one. It never takes away from the true story which is about Eric/Jack/Boy A and his development as a character. This was another one of the best films from last year that few know about.
9. Mysterious Skin (2005)
Now we are getting into slightly redundant territory. I get why few have seen this. It is not easy subject matter and it is not an easy film to watch. It is though, an extremely rewarding experience and Gregg Araki makes an honest and unflinching film that takes on the different ways that kids who have been through something so traumatic (in this case sexual abuse) grow into adults, the insight into how it shapes them and the various ways of processing trauma is masterful. We cannot forget the two performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet because they are indeed unforgettable.
8. Mean Creek (2004)
Flat our one of the best films of the decade. It deals with children in a mature and refreshing way. It has been so long since I have seen this but I remember quite a bit of it even now; simply underappreciated.
7. The Edge of Heaven (2008)
It was between this and Head-On for which Fatih Akin film I was going to choose but I went with this one. This is the best “interweaving stories” film of the decade that I have seen. (Blows Babel out of the water). Instead of going back and forth between the stories, the film is split into chapters which chronicle the characters lives as we leave one character and seamlessly join another. It is so much more subtle and effective this way and each character brings something new to the table. This got tons of acclaim when it came out but was snubbed by the Oscars in the Foreign Film category thus losing its chance for any exposure in the US. Hopefully people will find their way to this gem of a film; one of the best of the decade.
6. The 10th Kingdom (2000)
This was a 10 hour (including commercials) TV miniseries but we are counting it for the list. While the effects are not very good and there are many corny moments, the 10th Kingdom is a film I have seen numerous times because it is so full of magic, wit, pure entertainment and memorable characters. It really creates its own world within the film and it is satisfying on every level for any fan of fairy tales or fantasy. I watched this when it aired over the course of a week in 2000. Unfortunately it was a flop in the ratings and the miniseries is left with a very small but very enthusiastic fan base. I wish more appreciated this truly fun film which satisfies on every conceivable level.
5. The Anniversary Party (2001)
A lot of people find The Anniversary Party to be self indulgent; it is. Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh wrote, directed and starred in this film, they cast themselves as husband and wife, gave each other intense emotional and incredibly raw scenes for themselves to act and cast their friends as….their friends! I don’t care though because The Anniversary Party is a great film. Instead of going the normal route with an ensemble cast (including John C. Reilly, Jane Adams, Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates and Gwyneth Paltrow among others) by giving them each a distinct arc to work through during said party, we are only given a glimpse into these peoples’ lives. No answers are given, no stories are wrapped up, and no definitive events are set into place with the supporting cast. Cumming and Leigh take the time to give the viewer a sense of their specific situation in life and not of any sort of problem to work out within the span of the party. This is where the brilliance of the film lies. Overall the film is wholly underappreciated which is unfortunate because it is a very different and very engaging film.
4. Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000)
Very few people know of this film. After 8 Women, this is my favorite Ozon film I have seen. It was based on the Fassbinder play of the same name (in German of course). In typical Fassbinder style we are given characters whose actions are difficult to either relate to or to admit that we do relate to them. It features lots of interrelationships and of course and lots of cruelty. Nobody does it like Fassbinder and having such a talented director as Francois Ozon interpret the play is an immense pleasure. He does not attempt to shift the locations of the play, rightly keeping it grounded in the privacy of the home. It also features one of my favorite cinematic scenes of all time featuring a song titled “Tanze Samba mit mir” (Dance the Samba with me). Again, this film is underappreciated simply because it is so good and so few people know about it.
3. Peter Pan (2003)
Some might scoff at this inclusion but that would be precisely why it is on the list. Roger Ebert understood how deep and dark this refreshing adaptation is. He gave the film 3 and a half stars upon its release (it must be noted that this was back when a 3 and a half star rating from him was something to take notice of, not now when he gives out 4 star ratings like candy). Quoting from his review he says “It's so different from what I expected. I walked in anticipating a sweet kiddie fantasy and was surprised to find a film that takes its story very seriously indeed, thank you, and even allows a glimpse of underlying sadness.” and, “this is the first "Peter Pan" where Peter's final flight seems not like a victory but an escape”. He caught this and even though the film got good reviews, its success never caught on the way it should have. There are certainly moments and scenes that appeal more to children and there is broad humor to make the film accessible to a kid’s audience. However, Ebert’s quotes are indeed accurate. There is a lot going on beneath the surface in this adaptation and behind all of the action and excitement, the film unconventionally acknowledges that Peter Pan’s situation is tragic and not a gift. It also has a great cast. Even though Jeremy Sumpter is annoying as Pan he is supposed to be so it works. The beautiful young Rachel Hurd-Wood plays Wendy, Ludivine Sagnier plays Tinker Bell (also featured in Water Drops on Burning Rocks), Olivia Williams plays Mrs. Darling and Jason Issacs goes along with tradition to double up as Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. With adult kids films like Where the Wild Things Are (which I love) out now, people should take the time to go back to the more mainstream but also mature and underrated version of Peter Pan.
2. The Dead Girl (2006)
I saw this a couple of years ago and it is an absolute standout in interweaving stories/anthology films. The film is separated into 5 stories, each told in vignette form. Each story features a woman who is somehow connected to a dead girl (Brittney Murphy). The last story features what actually happened to the Murphy character. Instead of making this s mystery like it could have been, the film plays as intense character studies of different women whose connection to the Murphy character subtly affects or unsubtly affects their lives. The women whose stories are told are Toni Collette as the woman who finds the body, Rose Byrne as the woman who performs the autopsy, Mary Beth Hurt whose connection I will not divulge, Marcia Gay Harden as Murphy’s mother and of course Murphy herself. This is Karyn Moncrieef’s follow up film to Blue Car, which I mean to see very soon. The close observation and the decision to do vignettes instead of interconnecting everything is a great choice and all of the performances here are great. In addition to the people I mentioned, Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin and James Franco also star. The film took me by surprise by how engaged I was with it. The reason it is higher than some films that are better, is because this film does not have the respect, despite the reviews, that it should. At all. I remember it still and it was one of the most rewarding viewing experiences of the decade.
1. George Washington (2000)
Before Pineapple Express, Snow Angels, Undertow and All the Real Girls, Green directed his first film George Washington. It has nothing to do with George Washington. Green takes a lot of cues from Terence Malick, particularly in the narration which is reminiscent to Days of Heaven, Green’s debut manages to be ferociously original and standout. The film rightfully is part of the Criterion Collection. It involves the story of a group of children who band together to cover up a tragedy. It sounds a lot like Mean Creek or rather vice versa since this came first but they are very different. The film is not about plot, it is all about atmosphere and getting into the groove of how their kids live their lives. I soaked this film up. I am slightly obsessed with it. Expect it to appear on both my Favorite and Greatest of the Decade. It has the critics respect but outside of that is pretty obscure and was not considered for any sort of important awards consideration (although it was nominated for 4 Independent Spirit Awards). It is grossly under seen and deserves to be exposed to people on a mass scale. It is brilliant and is the only true masterpiece on this list. See this as soon as you possibly can.
Feel free to comment on what you think was underrated from the decade! I would love to know!
20. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About his Father (2008)
The only documentary on the list, this is easily the most emotionally intense and draining film I saw from 2008. It is also the most emotionally intense documentary I have seen. The film succeeds by being completely partial to one side of things which is usually a no no for documentaries. The story behind the documentary is that Kurt Kuenne, maker of Dear Zachary, had a friend named Andrew who was murdered by his ex-girlfriend. WHen he heard that the ex-girlfriend was pregnant with Andrew's child, he decided to make a documentary about his father so the son, Zachary could see it when he got older and kno who his father is. Kurt interviews many people from Andrew's life but Andrew's parents become the heroes of the story as we see the way they have handled the process. Things take a turn when the film chronicles the communication the parents are forced to have with the woman who murdered their son (she was acquitted) in order for them to see their grandson. The film continues along as they attempt to get custody claiming that Shirley (the girlfriend) is insane. Then the unthinkable happens. It is extremely disturbing and gut wrenching. It is also unashamedly intimate and personal and filled with anger, rage and sadness. I am getting teary eyed just writing this. I could never watch this again but it really should be seen once. Any faults the film might have technically are completely overtaken by the raw emotion going on here. An absolute must see.
19. Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
This film had the critical acclaim and certainly Willem Dafoe's performance was recognized in the way it deserved to be. It has faded with time though and I do not think that the creativity and oddities of this work have been fully appreciated. The concept alone. It works as a horror film and as a black comedy in moments and as an alternate history. John Malkovich playing Murnau is inspired casting as well and his supposed obsessiveness in real life is completely infused into the story in a really fascinating way.
18. Tape (2001)
This woefully unsung Richard Linklater film is his most sparse and one of his most interesting. The film has Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Robert Sean Leonard in a hotel room for an hour and a half talking about a rape that may or may not have happened. I understand why the film is not really well known because it is very low budget and very stagy. However the acting is top notch and the dialogue sustains itself throughout; you won't even notice that they never leave the room.
17. My Summer of Love (2004)
I just recently saw this and really loved it. The Paddy Considine character veered dangerously close to parody but he does such a great job with the character (because its Paddy fucking Considine) that it barely matters. The film itself has had great critical acclaim but does not have the recognition that should accompany the acclaim it had. It also features 3 incredible performances by Nathalie Press, Emily Blunt and Paddy Considine. It explores two girls from two different classes and their motivations and feelings going into and having a romantic relationship.
16. Orphan (2009)
Don't even get me started on the brilliant trash that is Orphan. The film is surprisingly deep, it takes its time and it has a shocking level of character development. We have the pleasure of watching two respected ACTUAL actors (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) appearing in the film together. Then we have the standout performance from youngster Isabel Fuhrman as Esther pulling off a Russian accent. The film goes places that are so ridiculously over the top yet somehow maintains its integrity because it is so unapologetic about itself. Come on; her stabbing a nun 15 times? Breaking her own arm with a clamp? Almost castrating a child? The final twist? It takes any potential that The Good Son had, amps everything up to eleven and just goes balls out. Its not perfect by any means but it is one of my favorite horror films of the decade and it is way too unique to just pass off. The reviews were actually quite good for a horror film but unfortunately the film came and went very quickly and is now all but forgotten. If people took the time to watch it they would see the most satisfying guilty pleasure movie quite possibly of the decade and one with some actual worth hidden within it as well.
15. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
Yes this film was nominated for Best Picture. It has the most accolades behind it out of any film on the list. The reason it on is because since the 2007 Oscars I have not heard the film mentioned anywhere...at all....ever. Even its placement within the Oscars that year felt a little odd and without any buildup. Everyone has been praising director Clint Eastwood's amazing output of films this past decade. I believe though that this film is better than any of them. Better than Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, Gran Torino and certainly better than its counterpart Flags of Our Fathers. I remember thinking that it was the most emotionally authentic feeling war movie I had seen for quite some time. For me it was his most successful film and nobody talks about it; thus, it is underrated.
14. Hard Candy (2006)
Even though Hard Candy has developed a solid if small fan base, its accomplishments are overlooked because of people who write off the genre and from people who were so angry about it they forgot to realize that the anger and discussion is what the film wants to create. A horror film that is mostly a conversation between two people with feigned extreme violence? Granted, the fake castration scene is pretty extreme even as a faked procedure. The two lead performances by Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson are magnetic, especially Ellen Page who jumps off the screen in her best performance. It is quite the powerhouse. The film uses only 8 minutes of score and mostly takes place in the same space in a film that turns the tables on who is in the dominant and submissive position and forces the audience to decide who they believe and who they agree with. It makes for a very active viewing experience and for a great, underrated film.
13. Stuck (2008)
While I like Hard Candy more than Stuck, much more people know about the former than the latter. Stuck strikes such an extreme note of black comedy and Stuart Gordon excels in maintaining the tone as events become more ludicrous. Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea both put in great performances. I laughed more (again, the laughs are intentional) during this movie than most comedies from the decade. A treat that has been vastly under seen by film watchers.
12. In the Loop (2009)
It is a little early to count this one in but I did anyways. Here is why; when I have to listen to people talking about whether Avatar is going to be nominated for Best Picture while the little buzz that this razor sharp, endlessly quotable and relentlessly fast paced British political comedy had going for it has disintegrated, then we have an underrated problem. In the Loop is the best comedy I have seen this year, possibly my favorite comedy since both Hot Fuzz and Superbad. The film deserves to be getting Best Picture Oscar buzz and it isn’t. Not only that but barely anybody has even seen this at least in the States and there is another problem.
11. Snow Angels (2008)
David Gordon Green’s other film besides Pineapple Express from last year was a tragic near masterpiece about well…everything. The film covers so much thematic ground involving life young, old, regretful and impossible. The performances across the board are phenomenal with Sam Rockwell giving his best performance (yes I have seen Moon, yes this is still his best performance by a mile) and Kate Beckinsale, Michael Anagrano and Olivia Thirlby all turning in top notch performances. Instead of concentrating on the literal connections between the various characters, Green focuses on the differences between them and the absolute hopelessness and disaster of two characters whose lives go horribly wrong and two characters that carry the hope of humanity within the film because of their sincerity and inherent good. It has a disturbing and drawn out final act but this film was completely overlooked in awards season last year and even critics were only moderately in favor of it. For me it was a film that wholly resonated and was far too underappreciated in all aspects.
10. Boy A (2008)
This is on the list because I just adore this film and everything about it and it just does not have the respect or popularity even within the cinephile circles. It got great reviews and it is indeed a great film. Andrew Garfield will be a huge star. Mark my words. I was onto Ellen Page and Carey Mulligan beforehand and now I shall add a third to my list. He walks away with this one. The film involves a man who, when he was a child, murdered a young girl his own age. The film tells the tale of his anonymous reentrance into society and his attempts to function once again among others and dealing with the urges he has to reveal his past to those who become close to him. Boy A does such a good job at choosing when to show the audience certain events. It never becomes a mystery but at the same time it is one. It never takes away from the true story which is about Eric/Jack/Boy A and his development as a character. This was another one of the best films from last year that few know about.
9. Mysterious Skin (2005)
Now we are getting into slightly redundant territory. I get why few have seen this. It is not easy subject matter and it is not an easy film to watch. It is though, an extremely rewarding experience and Gregg Araki makes an honest and unflinching film that takes on the different ways that kids who have been through something so traumatic (in this case sexual abuse) grow into adults, the insight into how it shapes them and the various ways of processing trauma is masterful. We cannot forget the two performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet because they are indeed unforgettable.
8. Mean Creek (2004)
Flat our one of the best films of the decade. It deals with children in a mature and refreshing way. It has been so long since I have seen this but I remember quite a bit of it even now; simply underappreciated.
7. The Edge of Heaven (2008)
It was between this and Head-On for which Fatih Akin film I was going to choose but I went with this one. This is the best “interweaving stories” film of the decade that I have seen. (Blows Babel out of the water). Instead of going back and forth between the stories, the film is split into chapters which chronicle the characters lives as we leave one character and seamlessly join another. It is so much more subtle and effective this way and each character brings something new to the table. This got tons of acclaim when it came out but was snubbed by the Oscars in the Foreign Film category thus losing its chance for any exposure in the US. Hopefully people will find their way to this gem of a film; one of the best of the decade.
6. The 10th Kingdom (2000)
This was a 10 hour (including commercials) TV miniseries but we are counting it for the list. While the effects are not very good and there are many corny moments, the 10th Kingdom is a film I have seen numerous times because it is so full of magic, wit, pure entertainment and memorable characters. It really creates its own world within the film and it is satisfying on every level for any fan of fairy tales or fantasy. I watched this when it aired over the course of a week in 2000. Unfortunately it was a flop in the ratings and the miniseries is left with a very small but very enthusiastic fan base. I wish more appreciated this truly fun film which satisfies on every conceivable level.
5. The Anniversary Party (2001)
A lot of people find The Anniversary Party to be self indulgent; it is. Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh wrote, directed and starred in this film, they cast themselves as husband and wife, gave each other intense emotional and incredibly raw scenes for themselves to act and cast their friends as….their friends! I don’t care though because The Anniversary Party is a great film. Instead of going the normal route with an ensemble cast (including John C. Reilly, Jane Adams, Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates and Gwyneth Paltrow among others) by giving them each a distinct arc to work through during said party, we are only given a glimpse into these peoples’ lives. No answers are given, no stories are wrapped up, and no definitive events are set into place with the supporting cast. Cumming and Leigh take the time to give the viewer a sense of their specific situation in life and not of any sort of problem to work out within the span of the party. This is where the brilliance of the film lies. Overall the film is wholly underappreciated which is unfortunate because it is a very different and very engaging film.
4. Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000)
Very few people know of this film. After 8 Women, this is my favorite Ozon film I have seen. It was based on the Fassbinder play of the same name (in German of course). In typical Fassbinder style we are given characters whose actions are difficult to either relate to or to admit that we do relate to them. It features lots of interrelationships and of course and lots of cruelty. Nobody does it like Fassbinder and having such a talented director as Francois Ozon interpret the play is an immense pleasure. He does not attempt to shift the locations of the play, rightly keeping it grounded in the privacy of the home. It also features one of my favorite cinematic scenes of all time featuring a song titled “Tanze Samba mit mir” (Dance the Samba with me). Again, this film is underappreciated simply because it is so good and so few people know about it.
3. Peter Pan (2003)
Some might scoff at this inclusion but that would be precisely why it is on the list. Roger Ebert understood how deep and dark this refreshing adaptation is. He gave the film 3 and a half stars upon its release (it must be noted that this was back when a 3 and a half star rating from him was something to take notice of, not now when he gives out 4 star ratings like candy). Quoting from his review he says “It's so different from what I expected. I walked in anticipating a sweet kiddie fantasy and was surprised to find a film that takes its story very seriously indeed, thank you, and even allows a glimpse of underlying sadness.” and, “this is the first "Peter Pan" where Peter's final flight seems not like a victory but an escape”. He caught this and even though the film got good reviews, its success never caught on the way it should have. There are certainly moments and scenes that appeal more to children and there is broad humor to make the film accessible to a kid’s audience. However, Ebert’s quotes are indeed accurate. There is a lot going on beneath the surface in this adaptation and behind all of the action and excitement, the film unconventionally acknowledges that Peter Pan’s situation is tragic and not a gift. It also has a great cast. Even though Jeremy Sumpter is annoying as Pan he is supposed to be so it works. The beautiful young Rachel Hurd-Wood plays Wendy, Ludivine Sagnier plays Tinker Bell (also featured in Water Drops on Burning Rocks), Olivia Williams plays Mrs. Darling and Jason Issacs goes along with tradition to double up as Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. With adult kids films like Where the Wild Things Are (which I love) out now, people should take the time to go back to the more mainstream but also mature and underrated version of Peter Pan.
2. The Dead Girl (2006)
I saw this a couple of years ago and it is an absolute standout in interweaving stories/anthology films. The film is separated into 5 stories, each told in vignette form. Each story features a woman who is somehow connected to a dead girl (Brittney Murphy). The last story features what actually happened to the Murphy character. Instead of making this s mystery like it could have been, the film plays as intense character studies of different women whose connection to the Murphy character subtly affects or unsubtly affects their lives. The women whose stories are told are Toni Collette as the woman who finds the body, Rose Byrne as the woman who performs the autopsy, Mary Beth Hurt whose connection I will not divulge, Marcia Gay Harden as Murphy’s mother and of course Murphy herself. This is Karyn Moncrieef’s follow up film to Blue Car, which I mean to see very soon. The close observation and the decision to do vignettes instead of interconnecting everything is a great choice and all of the performances here are great. In addition to the people I mentioned, Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin and James Franco also star. The film took me by surprise by how engaged I was with it. The reason it is higher than some films that are better, is because this film does not have the respect, despite the reviews, that it should. At all. I remember it still and it was one of the most rewarding viewing experiences of the decade.
1. George Washington (2000)
Before Pineapple Express, Snow Angels, Undertow and All the Real Girls, Green directed his first film George Washington. It has nothing to do with George Washington. Green takes a lot of cues from Terence Malick, particularly in the narration which is reminiscent to Days of Heaven, Green’s debut manages to be ferociously original and standout. The film rightfully is part of the Criterion Collection. It involves the story of a group of children who band together to cover up a tragedy. It sounds a lot like Mean Creek or rather vice versa since this came first but they are very different. The film is not about plot, it is all about atmosphere and getting into the groove of how their kids live their lives. I soaked this film up. I am slightly obsessed with it. Expect it to appear on both my Favorite and Greatest of the Decade. It has the critics respect but outside of that is pretty obscure and was not considered for any sort of important awards consideration (although it was nominated for 4 Independent Spirit Awards). It is grossly under seen and deserves to be exposed to people on a mass scale. It is brilliant and is the only true masterpiece on this list. See this as soon as you possibly can.
Horrorphile
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
you have made me very curious about Peter Pan now, i havent seen it yet, i just dismissed it as a childrens movie
Cinema Enthusiast
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
Morgan Bell; yeah a lot of people write off Peter Pan. and while it is a children's film and it does have some humor that makes me roll y eyes sometimes, I just think there is a lot more depth going on in the film than I expected. a lot more. it is definitely worth checking out.
Film & TV on DVD
Again, several here I love (Mysterious Skin, Deadgirl, Tape, Hard Candy Shadow of the Vampire)
I reviewed "Mysterious Skin" and "Hard Candy" on my site too..i am really regretting not seeing In the Loop yet.
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I'll never understand how it got those good reviews. Ever.
Cinema Enthusiast
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
Horrorphile
Cinema Enthusiast
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Anyway, i feel like the little boy who points out that the king isn't wearing any clothes. only with me, i'm jumping up and down but everyone keeps saying, no, no, the emperors clothes are lovely, we love the emperor's clothes. But when i look i see nothing.
Horrorphile