Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
03-08-21, 11:36 AM
#26
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Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Excellent choices, although I should point out that ZELIG was highly praised and a huge critical favorite when it came out. I was skeptical at all the hype and a friend of mine at the time insisted, "It really is that good!" I eventually saw it and was disappointed. It would have made a good short film--about 30 min., but the concept was, for me, too slight to justify a full-length feature. Of course, it could be considered underrated today, since it's 38 years later and, for obvious reasons, doesn't get talked about as much as MANHATTAN or HUSBANDS AND WIVES or the films that relate more directly in their way to the Woody Allen/Mia Farrow conflict.
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John Pannozzi (03-08-21)
03-08-21, 11:48 AM
#28
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
There's a tragic coda in the book which really feels like a gut-punch. I bet the audience felt wrecked enough without it in the film version.
03-08-21, 12:37 PM
#29
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
I know that it is no secret that I have a bee in my bonnet about Alligator not getting the same type of blue ray/4K treatment on home video as say the film Tremors, so I understand if some folks will roll their eyes at my suggestion that if you are a John Sayles fan you need to make sure to set aside the time to watch Alligator, which was written by John Sayles.
Also, The Brother From Another Planet is another John Sayles film well worth seeking out. It is from 1984, and I only ended up watching because of a class I was taking when I was an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz.
ETA: I ended up watching the film as part of an African American literature class I was taking to get my B.A. in Literature where the professor had us read certain novels and also thought it would be cool if we watched a handful of films that spoke to the African American experience in the United States.
Also, The Brother From Another Planet is another John Sayles film well worth seeking out. It is from 1984, and I only ended up watching because of a class I was taking when I was an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz.
ETA: I ended up watching the film as part of an African American literature class I was taking to get my B.A. in Literature where the professor had us read certain novels and also thought it would be cool if we watched a handful of films that spoke to the African American experience in the United States.
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John Pannozzi (03-08-21)
03-08-21, 12:55 PM
#30
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Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice for Yosujiro Ozu. I admit I have not seen his entire filmography, but I just felt that this film was so much better than Tokyo Story.
The Dark Knight Rises for Christopher Nolan. You could put Insomnia here, too, I just feel like this gets lumped into the "lol plotholes" and "3rd act of a trilogy curse" piles, when it's more of a character study about a superhero with severe depression.
Porco Rosso for Miyazaki. It gets forgotten between Totoro and Mononoke, but it's such a blast of a movie and a better adventure story than Howl or Castle in the Sky.
The Dark Knight Rises for Christopher Nolan. You could put Insomnia here, too, I just feel like this gets lumped into the "lol plotholes" and "3rd act of a trilogy curse" piles, when it's more of a character study about a superhero with severe depression.
Porco Rosso for Miyazaki. It gets forgotten between Totoro and Mononoke, but it's such a blast of a movie and a better adventure story than Howl or Castle in the Sky.
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John Pannozzi (03-08-21)
03-08-21, 01:13 PM
#31
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
The most underrated film in his filmography BY FAR is Match Point. It's a really good drama/thriller that doesn't feel at all like a Woody Allen film. If you didn't Woody's name in the opening credits, I bet most wouldn't realize it's his work. But it is a fine film and kind of a hint at the sort of filmmaker he could have been if things had played out a little differently.
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Decker (03-08-21)
03-08-21, 03:02 PM
#32
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
A Perfect World by Clint Eastwood features Kevin Costner's best performance and is a great tragedy. I did feel the Laura Dern character was completely unnecessary and kind of shoehorned in.
03-08-21, 03:34 PM
#33
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03-08-21, 06:00 PM
#34
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Deal of the century - William Friedkin
Always - Spielberg
Desperate Living - John Waters
Busting - Peter Hyams
Forrest Gump - Zemeckis (based on this darn forum
)
Always - Spielberg
Desperate Living - John Waters
Busting - Peter Hyams
Forrest Gump - Zemeckis (based on this darn forum
)
03-08-21, 06:57 PM
#35
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Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Hmm. I'm trying to think of directors that I might be able to think of something. Maybe some of these will qualify:
The Limey - Something about this Steven Soderbergh thriller just clicked with me. I liked his play with editing, which he used in other movies in more toned down ways but works better here.
The Limey - Something about this Steven Soderbergh thriller just clicked with me. I liked his play with editing, which he used in other movies in more toned down ways but works better here.
03-08-21, 07:39 PM
#36
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
The most underrated film in his filmography BY FAR is Match Point. It's a really good drama/thriller that doesn't feel at all like a Woody Allen film. If you didn't Woody's name in the opening credits, I bet most wouldn't realize it's his work. But it is a fine film and kind of a hint at the sort of filmmaker he could have been if things had played out a little differently.
I'd throw out Magic in the Moonlight as an underrated Allen. Not a masterpiece by any stretch, but one of the more likeable recent outings.
03-08-21, 07:46 PM
#37
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Only one Oscar nomination - Original Screenplay, like he got every year during that period. Checking IMDB you are right about the GG though, four nominations.
03-08-21, 07:57 PM
#38
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Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Aside from the shit ending, The Call was actually a pretty damn good thriller from Brad Anderson. Does that count?
I'll also go with Spider by David Cronenberg.
I'll also go with Spider by David Cronenberg.
03-08-21, 08:44 PM
#39
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Didn't expect so many Woody Allen responses. To me his most underated film is September. It's a fantastic film thats been nearly forgotten.
03-08-21, 08:52 PM
#40
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Francis Coppola has a bunch of great films that get overlooked in response to his 70's output. The Rain People, One From the Heart, Rumble Fish and Tetro are all terrific. The Outsiders is great too, but I think it has a pretty big audience because of all the highschools that included the book in their curriculum.
03-08-21, 09:00 PM
#41
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
John Huston in the 70's and 80's was making films as good as anyone in Hollywood. But he was old Hollywood and thereby yesterdays news, so he never got the acclaim that the Scorsese's and Coppola's got.
But,
Fat City
The Man Who Would be King
Wise Blood
Under The Volcano
Prizzi's Honor
The Dead
all fantastic films.
Also, a much older film, but I think The Misfits is one of the greatest films ever made. It was the last film that Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable ever made, and Montgomery Clift died only a few years later. Hot take, but I think its the best film for all 3 of them.
The Unforgiven, another CRIMINALLY underrated John Huston film.
He made some stinkers throughout his career, but I believe John Huston is basically the greatest director of all-time.
But,
Fat City
The Man Who Would be King
Wise Blood
Under The Volcano
Prizzi's Honor
The Dead
all fantastic films.
Also, a much older film, but I think The Misfits is one of the greatest films ever made. It was the last film that Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable ever made, and Montgomery Clift died only a few years later. Hot take, but I think its the best film for all 3 of them.
The Unforgiven, another CRIMINALLY underrated John Huston film.
He made some stinkers throughout his career, but I believe John Huston is basically the greatest director of all-time.
Last edited by Hazel Motes; 03-08-21 at 09:06 PM.
03-08-21, 09:03 PM
#42
03-08-21, 09:06 PM
#43
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03-08-21, 10:30 PM
#44
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
So many great responses. I completely agree with "Match Point", "A Simple Plan" and "The Hunger". I also agree that "Death Proof" was terrible. About "Some Kind of Wonderful". A near perfect movie. I usually like Eric Stoltz, but he was insufferable in this for me. There was such an arrogance in his performance. Preening and posturing the entire time. I found it obnoxious. Mary Stuart Masterson was the heart and soul of the film. And she carried it. Lea Thompson was also quite good in it too. It might not be better than "Pretty in Pink". But the soundtrack sure was.
Last edited by Daytripper; 03-08-21 at 10:35 PM.
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story (03-09-21)
03-09-21, 01:35 AM
#45
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Sidney Lumet actually has some "hidden gems", but I'd say Find me Guilty is pretty underrated since no one is expecting anything good of a Vin Diesel court drama.
03-09-21, 03:05 AM
#46
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
Sidney Lumet. That reminds me. Equus. Great film. But intense and depressing as hell.
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TheAllPurposeNothing (03-09-21)
03-09-21, 10:41 AM
#49
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Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?
The film is also available for digital purchase in 4K UHD format from Amazon.
03-09-21, 10:48 AM
#50
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Most underrated gem in a director or writers resume?