The title of this list could very well be “Top 10 Overlooked Contemporary Movies That We Thought Up Off the Top of Our Heads That You Should See if You Haven’t.” I have the oldest movie on the list, and even it came out after I was born. These are films that, one way or another, have stuck with us personally. Meanwhile, it seems, they have received little attention from the mainstream media, and may lie on your local DVD rental shelf for months at a time without being rented. Yes, these films do have some sort of personal connection with each of us, but they are not merely nostalgic. We recommend any movie on our respective lists with a full rock fist way up, and believe that they all deserve a look and possibly a re-evaluation. I hope you enjoy them…
-Eric
Eric’s List
Series 7: The Contenders (2001) : Director Daniel Minahan was way ahead of the curve in this warped film about a reality show where randomly-picked contestants must kill or be killed in a popular TV reality show. Apparently America wasn’t ready for a movie with a ruthless gun-toting heroine in a late-term pregnancy (the mesmerizing Brooke Smith), because it had a release of only 10 theaters. Thanks to DVD, you can experience all of Minahan’s dark black humor and spot-on satire of our culture’s obsession with sensational “reality” programming now. This is the rare “timely” satire that only gets more prescient with age. Extra bonus: Filmed on digital video!
Bulworth (1998) : Warren Beatty laid it all on the line as the director, star, co-writer and co-producer of this nutso political satire about an aging liberal senator who takes a hit out on his own life. Knowing his death is imminent, he all of a sudden begins to speak (gasp!) the truth. What could have been a tiring lecture on the sad state of fake politicians and staged media becomes a strangely funny and ballsy ride, as Senator Bulworth begins to rap all of his speeches and hang with Halle Berry. Hollywood movies rarely get this confrontational, but Beatty used all his power and cred to get this anomaly made. Extra bonus: Beatty’s dope rhymes!
24 Hour Party People (2002) : I still have barely a passing interest in the music that came out of Manchester, England in the 80s and 90s, but this extraordinary Michael Winterbottom film is a self-referential hybrid that mixes documentary footage with an original script that is sparklingly alive with the excitement of the hedonistic times it portrays. Steve Coogan plays Factory Records head honcho/TV personality Tony Wilson, through which the stories of Joy Divison, New Order, and the Happy Mondays are told. Whether speaking directly to the camera or to one of the many rock stars playing minor bit parts in their own stories, Coogan is the glue that holds together a movie that zings wildly from despair to ecstasy in mere minutes. Extra bonus: Filmed on digital video!
Miami Blues (1990) : Alec Baldwin’s best performance ever is in this very funny and surprisingly touching little-seen gem, based on the crime novel by Charles Willeford. He plays cocky and stupid Frederick “Junior” Frenger, an ex-con on the run who accidentally kills a Hare Krishna by breaking his finger at an airport, then steals both the badge and false teeth of Sgt. Hoke Moseley (Fred Ward), the cop who’s chasing him. He meets a hooker named Pepper (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and they try, in their own twisted way, to complete their vision of the suburban American dream. It is a movie so weird, sad, and wonderful, it’s a wonder it ever got made. Extra bonus: Baldwin’s Tony Montana impression!
River’s Edge (1987) : Youthful alienation has never been as crippling as it is in Tim Hunter’s disturbing tale of a teenage boy who strangles his girlfriend to death and his group of friends who do nothing about it. Believe it or not, a pre-“Bill & Ted” Keanu Reeves is the conscience of the pic, while Ione Skye and Crispin Glover are his burnout friends. Dennis Hopper follows up his psycho role in “Blue Velvet” the year before with another one here, playing a crazed madman with an affinity for blow-up dolls. Ironically, Hunter would go on to direct several episodes of “Blue Velvet” director David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” It also contains the best Keanu line ever, to his Mom’s boyfriend: “The only reason you stay here is so you can fuck my mother and eat her food. Motherfucker! Food eater!” Extra bonus: lots of thrash metal, including early Slayer!
Bamboozled (2000) : Spike Lee’s shocker is a finger-pointing black comedy, the kind he’s often accused of making and rarely actually makes. The writer/director savagely parodies racist stereotypes on all sides when an honest-to-God modern minstrel show becomes the most popular program on American TV. Damon Wayans takes early Nic Cage and Crispin Glover-like quirkiness to a new level as Pierre Delacroix, a television executive (with the most annoying voice ever) assigned to come up with a show that would appeal to a black audience. Out of frustration, he offers the most racist idea he can come up with, thinking that it will get him fired. When the opposite happens, the movie gets more and more painful to watch, suggesting that we need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than try to pretend they never happened. Think of it as a pre-cursor to Kevin Willmott’s scathingly funny “Confederate States of America.” Extra bonus: Filmed on digital video!
Babe: Pig in the City (1998) : This much-maligned sequel to the 1995 Best Picture nominee “Babe” sank like stone at the box office due to its darker tone and the fact that it almost completely abandons the popular Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell). Directed by George Miller, who did all the “Mad Max” films and wrote the screenplay for the original “Babe,” it features some of the most expertly staged physical comedy and chase scenes of all time, especially considering many of them are mainly animal actors. It’s an inventive, sometimes quite frightening journey for Babe the talking pig as he finds himself in “the big city,” a marvel of creative art direction which contains every famous monument in the world. Extra bonus: a 78-year old Mickey Rooney!
The Ice Storm (1997) : Although not filmed in 1973, this chilling adultery drama is set in that same year, a strange time for parents who are still looking to fulfill all the promises of the sexual revolution. Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, and Joan Allen star in this elegant adaptation of Rick Moody’s novel, directed by recent Oscar winner Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain”). It may be his best movie, due in no small part to devastating performances by his three leads, plus subtle and appropriately confused portrayals by four young actors named Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, Katie Holmes and Christina Ricci. Extra bonus: Wife-swapping has never been less fun!
The Long Goodbye (1973) : Robert Altman’s revisionist take on Philip Marlowe turned Raymond Chandler’s famous tough guy detective into a rumpled, weary Elliott Gould and updated the setting for the turbulent ‘70s. It’s an inspired choice that provides much in the way of sarcastic humor and a sly comment on a Los Angeles that was radically different from Marlowe’s original 1940s L.A.. Altman’s long takes and roving camera, along with veteran actor Sterling Hayden’s riveting portrayal of a tragic Hemingway-esque writer, help give the film a melancholy tone that’s completely missing in all other Chandler adaptations. Extra bonus: Gould shops for cat food for 10 minutes!
Pieces of April (2003) : Writer Peter Hedges (“About a Boy,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) made his directorial debut with this small independent family comedy. The surprise Oscar nomination of Patricia Clarkson gave it a little extra steam, but it barely made a dent (under 3 million) at the box office. Clarkson is full of icy, acerbic wit as a dying cancer patient and Oliver Platt is at his best as her exasperated husband trying to get his suburban family to their eldest daughter’s NYC apartment for Thanksgiving. Hedges’ writing is sharper than ever, and Katie Holmes makes the family black sheep April her most likable role yet. Extra bonus: Filmed on digital video!
J.D.’s List
Real Genius (1985) : Along with “Say Anything,” “Real Genius” epitimizes the best of the films that are often concidered of the genre “80’s movies.” This did for me what “Sixteen Candles” or “Breakfast Club” did for everybody else. Val Kilmer is fantastic alongside William Atherton (”Die Hard”) and Gabriel Jarrett who played Mitch - the youngest student admitted to a school of geniuses. Jarrett’s career didn’t take off after this breakout role, but he has been spotted in “Apollo 13” and an episode of “West Wing.” “Real Genius” is extraordinarily quotable and has a permanent spot on my must watch list.
Hard Eight (aka: Sydney) (1996) : Director Paul Thomas Anderson has gone on to bring us “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia,” but before we all knew his name he directed “Hard Eight.” Originally titled “Sydney”, Phillip Baker Hall (”Magnolia”) played the then title role as a Las Vegas grifter who takes the struggling John C. Reilly under his wing without clear reason. We later learn Sydney’s motivations as Reilly and co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson get involved in deep dark sin city trouble. Anderson’s talent was unmistakable even then and Phillip Baker Hall’s performance rivals his work in “Magnolia,” both of which frankly, deserved Oscar nominations.
Highlander (1986) : I saw this movie 17 times in the theatre. There was a dollar theatre in town and as a seventh grader the combination of swords, immortality and a Queen soundtrack rocking the big-screen were more than enough to dominate my pliable little mind for the better part of the next year. “Highlander” would go on to spawn more features and a moderately popular TV series, but none of it would do justice to the original film. It was the “Matrix” of its time, furthering the science-fiction genre on film and telling a new story. Director Russell Mulcahy’s vision included some of the most memorable transitions I had ever seen, including a fade between star Christopher Lambert’s face and the face of the Mona Lisa on a building mural and an aquarium water line becoming a Scottish lake in the highlands. The movie grossed less than 6 million in the U.S. at the Box Office, and even though it ascended to cult status on video it has never enjoyed its rightful place as a groundbreaking, undeniably original classic.
Six Degrees of Seperation (1993) : Two words, Will and Smith. Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland co-star in this adaptation of a stage production that was the best vehicle imaginable to “seperate” Smith from his squeaky-clean “Fresh Prince” persona. As a laser sharp con-man claiming to be the son of acting great Sidney Portier, Smith sweeps into the world of the social elite and swindles absolutely everyone. This is definitely one of those little films with a bigger than life career changing performance. After this one, Hollywood had no choice but to look at Smith differently, even if the ticket buying public had no idea what he was capable of just yet.
That Thing You Do! (1996) : Tom Hanks’ first and only feature film serving as the director, “That Thing You Do!” is as well-executed as it is charming. Featuring a cameo from Mrs. Hanks, Rita Wilson, the cast of “That Thing You Do!” make it nearly impossible to dislike. Liv Tyler, Tom Everett Scott and Steve Zahn are a sugary-sweet bunch of kids from Pennsylvania whose perfectly catchy song comes along at just the right moment to live a “Beatlemania-like” adventure before they become the “one-hit Wonders.” What’s not to like, it’s so good I think I’ll stay up and watch it tonight.
Hudsucker Proxy (1994) : Almost, but not quite a Coen Brothers movie, “Hudsucker Proxy” was directed by Joel Coen and Sam Raimi (”Spider-Man”). Easily one of Tim Robbins’ (”Bull Durham”) finest moments, “Proxy” has extraordinary art direction and power-house performances from Paul Newman and Charles Durning and yes, even Jennifer Jason Leigh. The scene with Leigh and Robbins, as she fakes her way through a recital of an old school song, both of them cawing and whooping away is enough on its own to recommend this movie. It has the Coen vibe and then some…”you know, for kids.”
Everything Is Illuminated (2005) : The most recent of my list of “Overlooked Films,” “Everything Is Illuminated” is the best small film of 2005. Directed by Liev Schreiber and starring Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz and Boris Leskin, “Illuminated” is an adaptation of the incredible novel of the same name by author Jonathan Safran Foer. I saw the film and then read the book and believe both to be examples of the absolute best in film and literature of the last decade.
Gattaca (1997) : “Gattaca” is a truly beautiful film. Director Andrew Niccol (”The Lord of War”) uses washes of color and exquisite art direction to create a spectacular vision of a future where genetic engineering has become common place and is central in determining a person’s potential and opportunities in society. “Gattaca” is dark, smart and captivating. Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and a then unknown Jude Law are at their collective best and this is a must see for anyone who appreciates the kind of sci-fi that doesn’t come complete with phasers and Klingons.
Music of Chance (1993) : I have often said of the film “Music of Chance” that the jury is still out. It’s the trick question I always ask other film-nuts, desperate for someone else to tell me what their experience was since I’m still not sure how I feel about it. The cast is sensational and includes Mandy Patinkin, James Spader, Charles Durning and Joel Gray. Patinkin picks up Spader in a ditch, they end up at Durning and Gray’s place in a high-stakes poker game and it just keeps getting weirder from there. I have been bothered by this film for years, it remains firmly stuck in my craw. Try this one if the next time you’re lining up your Netflix you find yourself thinking…”I know! I really want to watch something strange and totally unsettling!”
Cadence (1991) : I love a man, and his name is Martin Sheen - honestly when has he ever not delivered - in my mind he is one of the real treasures of American cinema. “Cadence” is Sheen’s only directing credit and it features both Charlie Sheen and lesser known brother of Charlie and Emilio, Ramon Estevez. There is a meloncholy about this film that always affects me in a memorable way. This isn’t to say the film is without some serious flaws, but Martin and Charlie give some pretty heavy and inspired performances and the ensemble led by Lawrence Fishburne is phenomenal. It deals with fathers and sons and war and duty, sadly it was received quietly, but “Cadence” like the rest of these overlooked gems deserves it’s day in the sun.
Eric’s runners-up: To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Wonderboys (2000), The Passeneger (1975), Dark City (1998), To Die For (1995), Sexy Beast (2000), Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
J.D.’s runners-up : Tune in Tomorrow (1990), Cradle Will Rock (1999), Serenity (2005), Fearless (1993), Standing In the Shadows of Motown (2002)
YES! It seems that all my friends have heard of “That Thing You Do” but have never seen it. God, I love that movie. Pretty much the only movie Steve Zahn was ever funny in, and was he ever. He was funny as hell!
Left out SLC Punk!
Into The Wild