# Name a little-known movie that deserves more recognition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 18, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922 "2022-08-18T23:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/181 "2022-08-20T21:34:26Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > But so far, not one nod for _Big Trouble In Little China_? I’ll throw in a vote for that one! Great, somewhat misunderstood movie. “Your people have a lot of Hells!” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/182 "2022-08-20T22:26:00Z")
2nd these: _Seeking a Friend for the End of the World_ _Latitude Zero_ _In America_ _Lone Star_ _Primer_ _Trollhunter_ _Lust/Caution_ _The Salton Sea_ Adding: _ **A midwinter’s Tale/In the Bleak Midwinte** r_ A group of out of work actors get together to do Hamlet at Christmastime, a Kenneth Branagh gem. _ **Children of the Revolution** _ Austrailan film with Judy Davis as a socialist true believer that has Staln’s love child. _ **Red Rock West** _ Neo noir with Nicholas Cage and Dennis Hopper ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/183 "2022-08-20T22:27:58Z")
I will suggest a movie I watched only a few weeks ago. The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970). When Roger Moore reflected on his career he said this movie was his best performance. “It was a film I actually got to act in, rather than just being all white teeth and flippant and heroic.” ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/184 "2022-08-20T22:31:24Z")
A little-known movie my wife and I really enjoy is DUETS. Paul Giamatti at his scene-chewing best. Also with Gwenyth Paltrow and Huey Lewis, and with some surprising cameos. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IOSNdpxiLaU/maxresdefault.jpg "Duets (2000) Official Trailer #1 - Gwyneth Paltrow Movie HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOSNdpxiLaU) ---
**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:** [August 20, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/185 "2022-08-20T23:07:41Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Lust/Caution Long thread. I posted about it earlier. Great film. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Speaking of oddball, there’s this 2007 Chinese movie, [_Lust, Caution_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808357/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1), which I’m not even going to try to explain. Here’s what [Roger Ebert](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lust-caution-2007) had to say (he gave it 3 stars): > > > [Ang Lee](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/ang-lee)’s “Lust, Caution” is first languid, then passionate, as it tells the story of a young woman who joins a political murder plot and then becomes emotionally involved with her enemy. It begins at a 1942 Mah-Jongg game in Hong Kong, when erotic undertones become clearly audible to us, and then flashes back to Shanghai, 1938, during the Japanese occupation of China. One of the rich ladies at the game table is revealed to have been a college student, and not really the wife of a wealthy (but unseen) tycoon. > > > > The underlying plot gradually reveals itself. Too gradually, some will believe, unless the languor is necessary to create the hothouse atmosphere that survives in the midst of war. > > … ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/186 "2022-08-20T23:21:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@outlierrn](#): > > > > Lust/Caution > > Long thread. I posted about it earlier. Great film. Yeah, that was a list of already posted films I was seconding, sorry if that was unclear. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/187 "2022-08-20T23:57:19Z")
Ok, was just commenting on the hammy acting, but I do like the image of a clove studded ham. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/188 "2022-08-21T00:12:24Z")
_The Journey of Natty Gann_ with a young John Cusack as deuteragonist. Natty is a preteen living in Chicago who’s separated from her father, who has minutes to choose to get on a bus to Washington state and get a job. Natty goes out to reunite with him. It’s on Disney Plus. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/189 "2022-08-21T00:17:09Z")
“Natty” is married to Patton Oswalt. Her dad used to be my dentist for a short while. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/190 "2022-08-21T01:08:39Z")
Oh, I need to rewatch that one. I remember enjoying it. The character has a tiny cameo in the remake of Witch Mountain, which I think is on Disney +. While we are on the subject of Disney +, Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken was a good movie. McFarland USA is also completely enjoyable with a good cast. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/191 "2022-08-21T01:13:02Z")
> [@Tarataratara](#): > > The character has a tiny cameo in the remake of Witch Mountain, which I think is on Disney + Same actress, and the character name is the same (well, “Natalie” Gann), but I think it’s designed as an homage, and not supposed to be the same character. _Journey of Natty Gann_ took place during the Depression, and reporter Natalie Gann was fairly young in _Race to Witch Mountain_. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/192 "2022-08-21T01:44:10Z")
two 1980 comedies I enjoyed(though they might not be for all tastes): _Midnight Madness_ -a 1980 film about five teams of college students doing an all night scavenger hunt/competition. Also Michael J. Fox’s film debut in a small role. _Up the Academy_ - a 1980 film about a group of misfits at a military academy. Originally titled _Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy_ Mad Magazine was disappointed with the results and had its name taken off the film when it was originally released on video. (I believe the references have been restored now.) ---
**Author:** ![bmoak1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@bmoak1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/193 "2022-08-21T02:08:52Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Of course “little known” is relative. Here, it could refer to older movies, non mainstream ones, foreign films or whatever you want. > > So I nominate the great film “Local Hero”. If you want to quibble about how well this is known, please see above. I’m convinced that Local Hero was a major influence on TV show Northern Exposure. Bill Forsythe’s other films from that era, Gregory’s Girl and Comfort & Joy, are also great quirky fun. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/194 "2022-08-21T02:21:18Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > The Journey of Natty Gann I love this movie. I don’t own a lot of movies, but I own this and _The Station Agent_. Another movie aimed at kids but enjoyable for adults, is _Monkey Trouble_, starring Thora Birch, Harvey Keitel, and Mimi Rogers. It’s about an irresponsible kid who finds and raises in secret a capuchin monkey, which, unbeknownst to her, had been trained as a pickpocket by a grifter (Keitel) who wants his meal ticket back. It’s very well done and Keitel is always fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/195 "2022-08-21T02:54:48Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > It’s not Christmas without **The Ref.** Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/196 "2022-08-21T14:06:23Z")
I just rewatched _The Spanish Prisoner_, and then read your spoilered analysis. I agree completely! I had missed several of your clues, but I did have the feeling there was about a 55% chance the “bad guys” included those you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/197 "2022-08-21T14:17:04Z")
I found _The Spanish Prisoner_ to be quite a disappointment. I think the two best, less well known, Mamet movies are _State and Main_ and _Heist_. (Ricky Jay was a much better actor than most people think.) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/198 "2022-08-21T14:33:46Z")
I’ll back you on **State and Main**. Very funny movie. Great cast (Alec Ballwin, Sarah J Parker, William Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman), 85% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Just 6 million box office in the US. (…and I thought **Spanish Prisoner** was kind of a “by the numbers” effort.) ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/199 "2022-08-21T14:40:11Z")
**The Invisible Guest** Spanish thriller from 2016. IMDB says: A successful entrepreneur accused of murder and a witness preparation expert have less than three hours to come up with an impregnable defence. Have seen it a couple of times. Taut, nail biting and kept me guessing the whole way through. Very well directed. Probably not well known outside of Spanish-speaking countries but I discovered it on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/200 "2022-08-21T14:44:56Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > _Up the Academy_ - a 1980 film about a group of misfits at a military academy. Originally titled _Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy_ Mad Magazine was disappointed with the results and had its name taken off the film when it was originally released on video. (I believe the references have been restored now.) I’m not that fond of this movie. But the scene with Barbara Bach as the weapons instructor is hilarious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922.md?page=11)