Since we seem to be on a movie kick in here, I figured I'd spotlight a few movies I love that haven't gotten much recognition: Joe Versus the Volcano: Tom Hanks as Joe and Meg Ryan as 3 different characters - also, Ozzie Davis, Abe Vagoda, Nathan Lane and Lloyd Bridges. An existentialist comedy that bombed at the box office by Stephen Spielberg, I really like this movie. The speech Hanks gives when he quits his job is priceless. A not-so-subtle "carpe diem" type movie, but one of my favorites. Six Degrees of Separation: Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland and Will Smith in an unforgettable performace. Smith during his Fresh Prince days plays a young gay man who cons an upper west side New York couple (Sutherland and Channing) into believing he was mugged when he showed up on their door. He charms them into believing he is a friend of their son and the son of Sidney Poitier. His soliloquy describing his stolen term paper on the relationship between Catcher in the Rye and killers and would-be assasins was a show-stopper. I didn't know anything about Smith other than the Fresh Prince stuff but the 6 months worth of acting lessons he took to gear up for this role worked. A brilliant, quiet film and an amazing performance by Smith. Unzipped: Documentary of fashion designer Isaac Misrahe (sp?) and his preparation for an upcoming runway show. Features supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. If you liked the Birdcage, you'll love this black and white and color documentary. The fact that Misrahe's hero is Mary Tyler Moore and his decision to go with a "Nanook of the North" motif is simply priceless. It is a laugh riot! Where the Buffalo Roam: Bill Murray stars as wacked-out Rolling Stone writer Hunter S. Thompson in this film about his trip to the super bowl in 1971 (or was it 70?). Peter Boyle plays his imaginary lawyer, Lazlo. The scene in the hotel room where he plays catch with a bust boy is unreal. Murray at his best. Razor's Edge: Bill Murray again in a drama! That isn't a typo. You really have to see this to believe it. A great film that won a lot of critical praise. Mississippi Burning: Ok, this isn't exactly an independant film, but I LOVE Gene Hackman. He was brilliant as usual and Willham Defoe wasn't bad either. If you've never seen it, definitely check it out. There are a few of my choices. I'm sure I'm missing some. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Office Space: If you ever worked in a office, your bound to identify with a couple of scenes in this flick. ------------------
My favorite all time little known movie is "The Power of One" Its a rocky type movie with the most notable actor being morgan freeman. it deals with the issues of prejudice and apartheid in the backround. its a an excellent excellent movie. ------------------ --TEX
(from Charleston) Rubin & Ed. all the ms. indy films (ClockWatchers, house of yes, etc.) rule too. ------------------
no one will see it because i dont expect them to but my favorite really good movie is "after hours" by scorsese....it is not p*rn although the name may indicate something like that..dont worry.... ebert rated it in his top 100 all time movies....it is worth seeing although if you dont watch it closely it is hard to get all the intracacies and is not as enjoyable.... ------------------
This may not exactly be a secret, but American History X is one of the best movies I've EVER seen. Ed Norton Rocks!!! This guy can act circle around most of his peersin Hollywood. It's amazing how versatile an actor he is. WARNING: It's pretty disturbing film. Not a family flick. Speaking of 'indie' films lest we not forget Clerks. This will make you fall on the floor laughing, and won't let you get up. Any movie with "Silent Bob" is a good movie!!! ------------------ - hoopjunkie "when you come in da HOOD... things change."
Check out "Waiting for Guffman". Hilarious movie starring Christopher Guest (who also wrote & directed), Parker Posey, and Eugene Levy. ------------------ "We're sitting there, shooting alcohol into our veins... We could just drink it!" -Tommy Lee
Anybody ever see "Naked Lunch"? Its based on the book by William Burroughs. Freaky stuff goin on there p.s. IT IS NOT A p*rn FLICK!!!! ------------------ You just want to be on the side thats winning.
Naked Lunch is a trip! I think I actually liked the movie better than the book. (Don't tell B Kagy that I took part in either--I'll have to give my right winger card back) If you like that one Bob, you might check out Eraserhead from David Lynch--easily the weirdest movie I've ever seen--you'll have trouble finding it though. "Breaking the Waves" is another good one. A foreign film that's definitely disturbing, but a must see. Another great one, if you can deal with the subtitles, is Farinelli. I keep checking to see if it will come out on DVD, but so far, no such luck. It's about a famous castrato (castrated to give him a voice similar to a soprano) and his brother. All the women wanted him, but of course, he couldn't perform--so he would start the deed, and his brother would finish. A great deal for the brother. There is more to the story, though. The film was BEAUTIFULLY shot, and the music is incredible. If you're a music lover, I highly recommend it. ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
Be careful with Naked Lunch and Eraserhead; they are not for everyone. I hated both of them myself. I can see where it appeals to some people, but if you end up not liking it you will really not like it, in my experience. Breaking the Waves was disturbing but good. I agree. ------------------
"True Romance" is one of my all-time favorites. It's not exactly 'unknown', but not everyone's heard about it. Written but not directed (I think) by Quentin Tarantino. Actors: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Bronson Pinchot, Chris Penn, and a couple other recognizable lesser actors. Any movie with Gary Oldman in it. Even the bad ones like "Dracula" and "The Scarlett Letter" are worth watching for his performance. Well, if you watch "The Fifth Element" and "Dracula", he will be the only speck of quality in either film. Some of his best movies include: State of Grace Immortal Beloved Romeo is Bleeding The Professional Two more of my all-time favorite "lesser-known" films are: "Zorro, the Gay Blade" (George Hamilton) and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" (Gene Wilder). I find both to be insanely hilarious, and I've seen each of them about 15 times each or more. OH MAN, I can't believe I forgot "Strange Days". That movie rocks. It's a little dated, since it's set in New Year's 1999 - 2000, but it kicks ass. Stars include: Angela Bassett, Ralph Fiennes, and Juliet Lewis. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited May 15, 2000).]
I like Gary Oldman, but that Dracula performance was just awful. I guess I can't blame it on him. From what I heard, Copolla made everyone do like 10 takes of every line and then edited together the one's he like. Even Anthony Hopkins was bad, and making him suck is tough to do. That line: "I have crossed oceans of time.." was horrid! ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
There is another strange movie, but I can't remember the name of it. John Tarrentino is in it and John Goodman. Its about a writer who has an award winning play on broadway. This big hollywood producer/director brings him out to California to write a movie, but he gets writers block and can't write anything. The big shot starts getting pissed cause he paid a lot of money to get him. Lots of wierd stuff happens in this movie, a must see if you liked naked lunch. ------------------ You just want to be on the side thats winning.
Jeff, I absolutely hated the movie, "Bram Stoker's Dracula". I had just read the book like a month or two before and was all hyped up. My feeling is that if you use the author's name in the title that the movie should resemble the damn book. I don't mind a movie that doesn't follow a particular book word for word, but they used Stoker's friggin' name! That is one reason I hated the movie. The other is that it has to be the worst casting job ever in the history of cinema. You try to put Wynona Rider and Keanu Reeves in a movie that is set back in 1600s or whatever, that's just plain ridiculous. I think Reeves is a terrible actor, and Rider a very limited actress. I also hated the way the film was edited. I didn't like all the cut aways that made it hard to follow. Personally, I thought Oldman's and Hopkin's performances were the only reason I didn't ask for my money back after watching that crap. No, they didn't warrant an Academy award, but having to work next to Rider and Reeves they should be given some kind of award. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
Man, I'm with ya DREAMer. The only reason Wynona Rider was in it is because she looks good! Reeves...well, I better not go there. Another good example of a movie that is a classic but did a terrible job of following the book was The Shining. Nicholson was great, but, damn, the book was far scarier even though I am not a Stephen King fan. How in the world do you go from a blonde babe in the book to Shelly Duvall!? BTW: the tv mini-series version that was overseen by Stephen King starring Rebecca DeMournay (now, that's more like it!!!) was dead on the book and even included a new King ending. It wasn't as well acted as the film and not as cool, but it is tough to top Nicholson and Kubrick. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Jeff, What I like about Oldman is his versatility. The guy has played: Sid Vicious, Beethoven, a Drug dealing pimp, an Irish ganster, a Russian terrorist, a crooked cop, Dracula, a priest, etc. Not just versatility, though, anyone can play many roles. It's how he becomes the characters he plays. I mean, when I found out that it was Oldman who played that drug dealing pimp in "True Romance", I couldn't believe it. He was Ludwig Van, he was Sid Vicious, he was Russian, he was every character I've seen him play. Another actor that doesn't get a lot of credit for his acting ability is Val Kilmer. He simply becomes the characters he plays. In the semi-rockumetary "The Doors", no one could've played Jim Morrison better. On the topic of "lesser-knowns". Another actor I've tried to see all their movies is, Tim Curry. Once I saw him in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", I just had to see what else he could do. "I'm just a sweet transvestite from transexual Transylvaniaaaaa ahaaa." "In just seven days, I can make you a maa haaa haaaa haaaaaan." He hasn't been in a ton of movies, but he was good as the evil clown in Stephen King's TV movie "It". I didn't care for either his performance, nor the movie "Congo". It's probably in my top ten 'worst' movies I've ever seen. But, he was decent in Stallone's "Oscar", and in "Clue". I can't think of any other movies he's been in right now...
I like Oldman too, but he's not my favorite. I gotta go with Gene Hackman at the top followed by Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and probably Bill Murray for his comedic brillance. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
You gotta go with UHF. It stars Weird Al and a little known actor named Michael Richards (Kramer). The plot is iffy, but some of the scenes are the most hilarious I've ever seen. ("Today we're teaching poodles how to fly") Great movie to watch drinking with friends. ------------------ How about the Houston Comets and their quest to become "Quadrepeatchicks!"
I don't know if you can count these as little known movies, but shows like "Above the Rim" and "Hoop Dreams" are awesome. Basketball movies like these are awesome. ------------------ The Chuckwagon came, saw, and threw people through windows!
