Underrated flicks

Liquid Sky was some freakish hallucination.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: outstanding.

Someone may have mentioned Army of Darkness, and They Live is hilarious (Rowdy Roddy Piper's on-screen debut?).

I liked Ghosts of Mars as well. For what it was meant to be, it delivered.
 
Anything by Werner Herzog, particularly Aguirre Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo

El Topo and The Holy Mountain, both by Alejandro Jodorowsky

All The Real Girls and George Washington, both by David Gordon Green

Noi (or Noialbino). Basically an Icelandic Cather In The Rye.

Julien Donky-Boy. Harmony Korine and Dogme 95 aren't for everybody, but this really is a work of art. Speaking of Dogme 95...

Festen (aka The Celebration). The first Dogme film. Amazing.

Dogville, Breaking The Waves, Dancer In The Dark, Idioterne (The Idiots) all by Lars Von Trier.

Mutual Appreciation by Andrew Bujalski and Nights and Weekends by Joe Swanberg--possibly the two best mumblecore films.

The Savages: Funny and heartbreaking film about siblings dealing with their estranged abusive father's dementia.

Lars and the Real Girl: from a brief description of the plot, it would sound like a cheesy "quirky indie" film, but it's actually very honest and tender.

Band of Outsiders and Contempt by Jean-Luc Godard.

Thumbsucker: Great coming-of-age film that features Keanu Reeves as a New Age Healing-obsessed Orthodontist, and music by The Polyphonic Spree, and songs by Elliott Smith.
 
Joe Vs. The Volcano. I shouldn't like this movie, but I do. It has a childlike charm to it. George Delures score gives it the feel of a fable. The early scenes with Dan Hedaya in the office are hilarious. "I'm not arguing that with you Harry...I'm not arguing that with you Harry!". And the section with Joe stranded at sea using his steamer trunks for floatation achieves a kind of epic grandeur. I also love Meg Ryan's goofy first character in the film (she appears again in 2 other guises). The movie falls apart when they get the to the island so it's not a complete success, but parts of the movie really stick with me.
 
SPZ said:
Kung-Fu Hustle was great. Actually Stephen Chow has a collection of films where he starred that are simply hilarious. From King of Cookery, Flirting Scholar, Fight Back to School, God of Gamblers, etc. The man is absolutely hilarious and has a comedy sense that is really on par with the best in the World. If anyone reading this is a comedy fan, they should really check out Stephen Chow's filmography both as actor and director. Great stuff.
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Agreed! I'm a huge Stephen Chow fan and have been tracking down all of his stuff for the past year. He is a great actor and his comic timing is indeed impeccable, very Buster Keaton or Marx Brothers. Also, most of his movies have heart. One of my favorite actors.
 
Kubrick71 said:
Barry Lyndon
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It was definitely underrated by critics at the time it was released, but I think the critical tide has turned in its favor as the years go by. One of the 10 most perfectly shot films of all time cinematography wise.
 
If you're going to mention Stephen Chow, then you have to throw in Shaolin Soccer.

And if you're going to go there, then Kung Pow: Enter the Fist is the natural progression.
 
Empire of the Sun, by Steven Spielberg. Was given the cold shoulder by critics at the time of its release, but I think it has much to recommend. A haunting story about the loss of childhood innocence in wartime. Allen Daviau's cinematography is utterly gorgeous. Christian Bale gives an excellent child performance. John Williams score is a bit too grandiose at times (and I think did much to draw the ire of critics), but other times it gives me chills...And keep an eye out for an early Ben Stiller appearance.
 
Batutta said:
Joe Vs. The Volcano. I shouldn't like this movie, but I do. It has a childlike charm to it. George Delures score gives it the feel of a fable. The early scenes with Dan Hedaya in the office are hilarious. "I'm not arguing that with you Harry...I'm not arguing that with you Harry!". And the section with Joe stranded at sea using his steamer trunks for floatation achieves a kind of epic grandeur. I also love Meg Ryan's goofy first character in the film (she appears again in 2 other guises). The movie falls apart when they get the to the island so it's not a complete success, but parts of the movie really stick with me.
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Glad you thought of this movie.
It's one that I remember enjoying as a child, and when it comes on today, I still enjoy it but for even more reasons - I suppose deeper reasons.
And even though it was a "Tom Hanks" movie, there are so many great characters, and it was when Meg Ryan was IMHO in her prime. She was beautiful, she was funny; a multidimensional actress without even trying.
Love that movie. :thumbsup:
 
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