# "Dark Horses" from my Top Thirtyfive Movies List **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705 "2019-09-04T20:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/1 "2019-09-04T20:37:56Z")
Spurred by some of the threads here, I prepared my own Favorite Movies list. Most are familiar favorites which I won’t bore you by listing, but some are “dark horses”: _Flower Drum Song Whale Rider Crash (2004) The Third Miracle To Live and Die in L.A. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Across the Universe Dial M for Murder_ I’m just curious to see if I get “Yes! One of my favorites too” or “Strange choice. Why?” I’ll guess that _Crash_, _Third Miracle_, and _Live/Die L.A._ may seem especially peculiar choices. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/2 "2019-09-04T20:43:21Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Spurred by some of the threads here, I prepared my own Favorite Movies list. Most are familiar favorites which I won’t bore you by listing, but some are “dark horses”: > _Flower Drum Song > Whale Rider > Crash (2004) > The Third Miracle > To Live and Die in L.A. > Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? > Across the Universe > Dial M for Murder_ > I’m just curious to see if I get “Yes! One of my favorites too” or “Strange choice. Why?” I’ll guess that _Crash_, _Third Miracle_, and _Live/Die L.A._ may seem especially peculiar choices. Quite honestly, the only film on that list I’ve seen is _ **Dial M for Murder** _, which is a real classic. I’m not knocking the others, I’m just saying they’ve never been on my “Must see!” list. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/3 "2019-09-04T21:33:20Z")
I adore the film _The Third Miracle_. Love Ed Harris, but then I’m a sucker for a troubled priest story. Back when the IMDB had their discussion boards, the question came up “what WAS the third miracle,” and no one (except me) got it. _Dial M for Murder,_ too. I love Grace Kelly coming out of the bedroom to answer the phone in that perfectly tailored nightgown. Can you REALLY stab a man fatally through an overcoat and a sportcoat with just a pair of scissors? Maybe if you’re in fear for your life you can. Great film! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/4 "2019-09-04T21:41:10Z")
Checking my IMDb ratings, I thought _Whale Rider_ was alright (7), but I hated _Crash_ (1). I remembered hating the latter, but I didn’t remember hating it _that_ much. I may have to search here to see if I ever mentioned what I hated about it so much. That’s _Gladiator_ territory. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/5 "2019-09-04T21:52:58Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > . . . Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? . . . Sure, if you enjoy two hours of people screaming at each other. If I want that, I can go visit my in-laws. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/6 "2019-09-04T22:25:08Z")
I won’t call these great movies, but these are ten of my favorites that I think are under-appreciated: Antz Clerks II Daybreakers Dodgeball Josie and the Pussycats Mystery Men Near Dark The Professionals 7 Faces of Dr Lao Twelve Monkeys This is a pretty off the top of my head list. I’m sure I could name ten more if I took some time. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/7 "2019-09-04T22:25:19Z")
Your Dark Horses are pretty well known. I don’t have a proper Top 35 list, but some dark horses I like that I think lots of people have not seen are: Possession (1981) I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (anime) Peppermint Candy The Sisters Brothers The White Diamond ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/8 "2019-09-04T22:32:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I adore the film _The Third Miracle_. Love Ed Harris, but then I’m a sucker for a troubled priest story. Back when the IMDB had their discussion boards, the question came up “what WAS the third miracle,” and no one (except me) got it. > > _Dial M for Murder,_ too. … Great film! Did you watch any others in OP? I’m so glad you liked these two movies. It would be an effort to explain in essay why doubtful and ambiguous Third Miracle belongs on a Top 30 list, but it does. I wasn’t sure what the 3rd Miracle was. My guess:The Ed Harris character regaining his Faith. I _hate_ “preachy” movies. I can develop my own opinions on contemporary morals by myself, thank you. I’ll guess some opposition to _Crash (2004)_ is due to it seeming “preachy.” **But _Crash_ is NOT preachy.** It’s a powerful story of human interactions where racism often plays major roles, but the movie doesn’t preach, it leaves ambiguities in place. > [@jaycat](#): > > Sure, if you enjoy two hours of people screaming at each other. If I want that, I can go visit my in-laws. 😃 On another day I might promote some heist and adventure films, and demote _Who’s Afraid of VW_ off the list. But this master psychodrama played out between Liz Taylor and Rich. Burton is, IMHO, far greater than far more famous films including _GWTW_, _Citizen Kane_, etc. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/9 "2019-09-04T22:37:45Z")
I notice my list in OP is quite diverse. No two films on the list are even remotely similar to each other! > [@terentii](#): > > Quite honestly, the only film on that list I’ve seen is _ **Dial M for Murder** _, which is a real classic. I’m not knocking the others, I’m just saying they’ve never been on my “Must see!” list. Oh! _I’d_ call them all **must-sees**! 🆒 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/10 "2019-09-04T22:42:30Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Did you watch any others in OP? I’m so glad you liked these two movies. It would be an effort to explain in essay why doubtful and ambiguous Third Miracle belongs on a Top 30 list, but it does. > > I wasn’t sure what the 3rd Miracle was. My guess:The Ed Harris character regaining his Faith. > > … No, that’s not it. I’m going to PM you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/11 "2019-09-05T00:44:41Z")
I couldn’t find English subtltles for _The Third Miracle_ online, but I found French. There is a sole utterance in the final scene where the count of miracles is mentioned: [spoiler] > [@](#): > > … > Oui, oui, c’est ma fille. > > - Elle est magnifique. > > Alors ? Est-ce que ma mère est devenue une Sainte ? > > - On a deux miracles, Maria et le bombardement de Bystrica. L’église n’aime pas parler de Bystrica mais elle en tient compte. On en attend un troisième. > [SIZE=“2”][“There are two miracles, Maria and the bombing of Bystrica. The church does not like to talk about Bystrica, but it does count it. We are waiting for a third.”] > > Tu es devenu curé ? > > … [/SIZE] Saving Maria’s life was one miracle and saving Bystrica from bombardment was the other. Helen actually saved Maria’s life _twice_ but, it seems, under the rules — and fairly so!? — however many savings of the same life counts as only a single miracle. I still think the “3rd Miracle” of the title, albeit irrelevant to the prosecution for St. Helen, is the restoration Frank’s faith.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/12 "2019-09-05T01:28:46Z")
I’ve seen many of these _Flower Drum Song_ – Surprisingly good musical. Dated in its stereotypes, but a real R&H sleeper, with one of their better scores. _Whale Rider_ – Great film all round. _Crash (2004)_ – deserved its Oscar. People sneer at it, but I’ve yet to see anyone who did and who understood what it was saying. _Across the Universe_ – Other than the Beatles songs, just so-so. _Dial M for Murder_ – OK, but not one of Hitchcock’s best. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/13 "2019-09-05T01:52:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > _Across the Universe_ – Other than the Beatles songs, just so-so. I like listening to the Beatles. 🙂 The story is quite fun and sentimental: Better story than _Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz_, etc. > [@](#): > > _Dial M for Murder_ – OK, but not one of Hitchcock’s best. I’m not a big fan of Hitchcock. Instead of \*Psycho, Birds, Notorious _or_ North by Northwest, \*my 2nd-favorite Hitchcock might be _Vertigo_. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/14 "2019-09-05T03:42:54Z")
Live and Die in LA has a great soundtrack and ending. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/15 "2019-09-05T09:44:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I won’t call these great movies, but these are ten of my favorites that I think are under-appreciated: > > Antz > Clerks II > Daybreakers > Dodgeball > Josie and the Pussycats > Mystery Men > Near Dark > The Professionals > 7 Faces of Dr Lao > Twelve Monkeys Twelve Monkeys **is** a great movie. Daybreakers is an underappreciated alternative take on the vampire movie which started really well, but kind of faded a bit in execution. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/16 "2019-09-05T11:47:50Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I couldn’t find English subtltles for _The Third Miracle_ online, but I found French. There is a sole utterance in the final scene where the count of miracles is mentioned: > > [spoiler] > > Saving Maria’s life was one miracle and saving Bystrica from bombardment was the other. Helen actually saved Maria’s life _twice_ but, it seems, under the rules — and fairly so!? — however many savings of the same life counts as only a single miracle. > > I still think the “3rd Miracle” of the title, albeit irrelevant to the prosecution for St. Helen, is the restoration Frank’s faith.[/spoiler] I’m 99% sure the third miracle has something to do with the Cardinal and what happened when he was a soldier in that truck. I remember very vividly (if not clearly) that when this thing (that I can’t exactly remember) was revealed, it was a huge, gratifying \*AHA! \*moment. _“So THAT’S the Third Miracle they’ve been looking for!”_ It’s not Ed getting his faith back. He got his faith back BECAUSE of the revelation of what the third miracle (needed for canonization) was. I’ll watch the movie again and get back to you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/17 "2019-09-05T12:41:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > _Crash (2004)_ – deserved its Oscar. People sneer at it, but I’ve yet to see anyone who did and who understood what it was saying. My understanding (having now reviewed my earlier comments on it): “Racisim is bad! It’s just so bad! It’s so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so _bad_!” ETA: And for what it’s worth, even the director disagrees with your “deserved its Oscar” sentiment. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/18 "2019-09-05T12:44:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Antz > Clerks II > Daybreakers > Dodgeball > Josie and the Pussycats > Mystery Men > Near Dark > The Professionals > 7 Faces of Dr Lao > Twelve Monkeys Nice list…Josie and the Pussycats and 12 Monkeys are both in my top 5…the 7 Faces of Dr. Lao is wonderful…and I love Near Dark, but Strange Days is my favourite Bigelow film. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/19 "2019-09-05T13:28:54Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > My understanding (having now reviewed my earlier comments on it): "Racisim is bad! It’s just so bad! It’s so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so _bad_! Even setting aside the fact that racism _is_ bad :), let’s listen to OP: > [@septimus](#): > > I _hate_ “preachy” movies. I can develop my own opinions on contemporary morals by myself, thank you. I’ll guess some opposition to _Crash (2004)_ is due to it seeming “preachy.” **But _Crash_ is NOT preachy.** It’s a powerful story of human interactions where racism often plays major roles, but the movie doesn’t preach, it leaves ambiguities in place. _Crash_ has humor, suspense, great dialog, huge sentimental appeal, and good story-lines. Several of the scenes are masterpieces. The heroin addict’s relationship with her two sons is poignant: Does racism have anything to do with that? Is racism the linchpin that connects the stories? Sure: Great stories need something besides Dick-and-Jane tales. Suspend the prejudice that you’re being preached at, and watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705/20 "2019-09-05T13:44:45Z")
Watched “To Live and Die in L.A.” a few months ago. One of the few DVDs I own for some reason. While I have always like it, it is sooooo stuck in the 80s! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-horses-from-my-top-thirtyfive-movies-list/839705.md?page=2)