Here's a list of 10 movies that, in my opinion, have been insufficiently appreciated. I'm not saying they're masterpieces -- well, one or two of them may be -- but they're all well above average for films of their type, even if they don't get enough love.
Of course, opinions about movies are very subjective, so your mileage may vary considerably.
In chronological order:
1. Things to Come. (1936) This highly stylized dramatization of HG Wells' novel is certainly not for all tastes. The acting is stagy, the dialogue portentous. But the film is consistently entertaining and thought-provoking, not to mention extraordinarily ambitious -- it spans 100 years of "future history," as imagined in 1936, beginning with a prophetic depiction of London air raids, advancing to a bombed out Dark Ages (the film's most compelling segment), and concluding with a technologically sophisticated underground city erected beneath the ruins of the old order. As a humanist manifesto, Things to Come is unmatched in its vigor and scope. A recently released computer colorized version actually enhances the film.
2. The Thing from Another World. (1951) When most people mention a movie version of John W. Campbell's novella Who Goes There?, they're thinking of John Carpenter's 1982 gory special-effects extravaganza. But for my money, the first cinematic incarnation of this story is by far the best. Directed by Howard Hawks (though credited to his film editor Christian Nyby), The Thing is a fast-paced, no-nonsense sci-fi classic, peopled by believable characters spouting intelligent dialogue in Hawks' trademark rapidfire, overlapping style. Kenneth Tobey, who surely belongs on any list of the 10 Most Underrated Movie Actors, shines as a likable, competent everyman facing a threat no human being has ever seen before. Remember, "keep watching the skies!"
3. Murphy's Romance. (1985) A charming vignette of late-blooming love in a small desert town. James Garner gives probably his most winning performance as the local eccentric who finds himself falling for Sally Field. Rural life is depicted with humor and sympathy, but without excessive sentimentality. A funny, sweet, sometimes bittersweet concoction.
4. Near Dark. (1987) Decades before she won the Oscar for The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow directed this low-budget independent horror film about a teenage boy inducted into a gang of vampires. The film isn't perfect; it's a bit slow to get started, and a couple of plot developments toward the end strain credibility. But there's a lot of good stuff in here, especially an unforgettable extended scene of relentless violence in a diner. The movie combines elements of horror, action, crime drama, and even Westerns in almost seamless and highly original fashion.
5. What About Bob? (1991) Bill Murray is a hopeless neurotic; Richard Dreyfuss is a pompous psychologist; but in the course of this film, it's Murray who drives Dreyfuss crazy. The slow build of Dreyfuss's frustration and rage is just terrific, and Murray's cheerful cluelessness provides the perfect counterpoint. The ending is a little over-the-top, otherwise, it all works. And it's always good to see Julie Hagerty in anything. (Speaking of which, 1985's Lost in America is another underrated comedy.)
6. Under Siege 2: Dark Territory. (1995) Yes, I know it's a Steven Seagal movie. I know Steven Seagal can't act. I know most of his movies stink, and even the first Under Siege was only so-so at best. Nevertheless, Under Siege 2 is a very enjoyable, slick, well-crafted thriller featuring two great villains (Eric Bogosian and Everett McGill), a clever plot, exciting action, and a teenage Katherine Heigl as Seagal's niece. It's one of the few Die Hard knockoffs that actually work.
7. Rob Roy. (1995) Overshadowed by Braveheart, which came out the same year, Rob Roy is, I think, the better film. Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange are immensely appealing, the script is smart and fresh, and the climactic sword fight is the most realistic duel ever put on film. Did I mention the haunting musical score?
8. Streets of Laredo. (1995) Another James Garner effort, Streets of Laredo is the sequel to the acclaimed miniseries Lonesome Dove. I'm in the small minority who found the sequel even better than the original. True, it lacks the presence of Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall, but it has a stellar cast of its own - Garner, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Ned Beatty, Wes Studi, Sonia Braga, and, in two unusual but very successful casting choices, Randy Quaid as a psychotic killer and George Carlin as an aging cowpoke. Expertly directed by Joseph Sargent, who helmed the original Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, this four-hour series captures Larry McMurtry's book in all its violence, humor, and pathos.
9. Antz. (1998) By today's standards, the computer animation in this early DreamWorks entry is fairly primitive. Still, Antz is a heck of a lot of fun, an animated comedy for grown-ups enlivened by one of the best ensembles of vocal talent ever assembled: Gene Hackman, Jennifer Lopez, Danny Glover, John Mahoney, Dan Akyroyd, Jane Curtin, Anne Bancroft, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Christopher Walken, and above all, Woody Allen as the misfit ant Z, who is basically an insect version of every nebbish Allen ever played. Z: "I don't know, Doc. Sometimes I just feel so insignificant." Psychiatrist: "You are insignificant. You're an ant!"
10. Over the Hedge. (2006) This animated comedy, based on the popular syndicated comic strip, came and went with little fanfare. I think it's hilarious. Bruce Willis and Larry Shandling are ideally matched as the voices of rascally raccoon RJ and phlegmatic tortoise Verne. Lots of great sight gags, slapstick, and comic repartée. And you get to hear William Shatner (playing a highly dramatic possum) give his impression of a near-death experience! What more could you want?
Anybody want to chime in with underrated favorites of their own?
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