# Recommend a movie made since 2000 that you think most people haven't seen.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 27, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640 "2010-02-27T11:49:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/1 "2010-02-27T11:49:08Z")

</div>

I’m watching [Dear Frankie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377752/) on TV. Although it is a late night Saturday TV movie I rated it 9 on IMDB when I saw it in 2004. It stars Gerard Butler and Emily Mortimer and tells the story of a woman who fakes a sea-faring father for her son and then eventually has to produce him. The director Shona Auerbach seems to have never worked again. Butler is so good that I have been constantly disappointed by his choices since because he can really act.

It is a really charming movie and the [Variety review](http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923739.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0) seems about right to me.

Your turn now.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/2 "2010-02-27T12:43:50Z")

</div>

My first reaction was [My Life Without Me](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314412/). I really dig that movie, but it seems to have gotten over 10,000 ratings on imdb so I’m guessing that means it’s pretty well known. Replacing one Sarah Polley movie with another, I’ll go with [The Secret Life of Words](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430576/). Note: Sarah Polley movies are frequently major downers, and these two are no exception.

[Zerophilia](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421090/) was light and fun and pretty good overall. (Or I could just be beguiled by [Rebecca Mozo](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3972502016/nm1720113).)

[Imagine Me & You](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421994/) was a sweet (if formulaic) romantic comedy, notable for featuring a lesbian couple as the leads. Probably more well known than you’re looking for.

[Good Dick](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944101/) was weirdly captivating. As in it was really weird but I couldn’t stop watching. I’m pretty sure I liked it, but not quite positive.

[Spiral](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491162/) was a little slow but otherwise an interesting suspense/thriller. It’s kinda sorta almost a horror movie, but not quite.

[Sleepwalking](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0888693/) had a better cast than script, but it was worth watching. Kinda bleak.

I really liked Paul Schneider and Zooey Deschanel in [All the Real Girls](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299458/). They both played awkward to perfection. Not to be confused with the other Paul Schneider film of almost the same name, Lars and the Real Girl.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/3 "2010-02-27T12:47:40Z")

</div>

Well since, in my case, you have a 100% “I Haven’t Seen That” ratio, I think you have got the gist of the OP perfectly.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/4 "2010-02-27T13:12:12Z")

</div>

OK, I’m gong to recommend one that almost no one will have seen. It’s based on a [manga series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Metal_City), which was released as a 12-episode anime OVA early in August 2008. But I’m talking about the live action movie released just 15 days later: [Detroit Metal City](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142972/). It’s about a young man who loves to sing sweet ballads, but who finds himself as the lead singer in a death metal band, with a violent on-stage persona that he turns out to be very good at, but which the sweet young girl that he’s in love with hates. Of course, only a few people know the connection between the on-stage and off-stage personas. I found it very funny, even if the humour is broad at times, but it’s really about this young man’s struggle to find his real identity.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/5 "2010-02-27T16:40:44Z")

</div>

> [@don\_t\_ask](#):
>
> Well since, in my case, you have a 100% “I Haven’t Seen That” ratio, I think you have got the gist of the OP perfectly.

I just clicked your link and realized that the movie in the OP has around 10,000 ratings, many more than the ones I linked. That opens up a wider selection. The following films are more widely known but also better quality. Though I do like the ones I recommended above, they have a very “independent” (read as: low budget) feel. These retain the independent spirit while having an actual budget.

[Wristcutters: A Love Story](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477139/)  
Fresh, original, quirky, sweet, funny, dark; everything you want in a movie.

[Thumbsucker](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318761/)  
Coming of age drama that gets extra points from me for featuring Kelli Garner. Even more bonus points for casting A-list stars in minor supporting roles.

[The Chumscrubber](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406650/)  
Skewering suburbia, one of my favorite genres.  
And to go even further mainstream, on the off chance you haven’t seen any of the following, here are some SDMB favorites, fantastic movies all:

[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/)  
Detective caper with Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer. This was Michelle Monaghan’s breakout role.

[In Bruges](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/)  
Crime caper with Colin Farrell. You’ll either love it or hate it; most people love it.

[Brick](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393109/)  
Offbeat look into teenage organized crime. This works much better if you think of it as being set in an alternate universe where teenagers think like, act like, and have the freedom of adults.

[Snatch](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0208092/)  
Guy Ritchie’s crowning achievement.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/6 "2010-02-27T17:01:11Z")

</div>

Dummy [Dummy (2002) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246592/)

Brilliant cast. Very funny.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/7 "2010-02-27T17:26:47Z")

</div>

_Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead_ [Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292963/)

Stars Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke as brothers planning a robbery of their parents’ jewelry shop. Things don’t exactly go as planned.

I think this is a very good movie that got overlooked. I had not even heard of it until I saw it on Showtime. It’s also directed by the great Sidney Lumet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/8 "2010-02-27T17:28:37Z")

</div>

Doh, it came out in 1996, but I’d still like to recommend [Grace of My Heart](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116442/). I loved it!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/9 "2010-02-27T17:29:03Z")

</div>

Perhaps these are both too well known:

_American Splendor_ (2003, U.S., dir. Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini)  
\*Before Sunset \* (2004, U.S., dir. Richard Linklater)

In addition, that second movie is a sequel to the following film, and it’s hard to understand without seeing this one first:

_Before Sunrise_ (1995, U.S./Austria/Switzerland, dir. Richard Linklater

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/10 "2010-02-27T17:32:21Z")

</div>

> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> I just clicked your link and realized that the movie in the OP has around 10,000 ratings, many more than the ones I linked. That opens up a wider selection. The following films are more widely known but also better quality.

There you go. Shows how tricky it is picking what is popular as I have seen 5 of that lot. Mind you I think they are all good choices.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/11 "2010-02-27T17:39:44Z")

</div>

[y tu mama tambien](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/)

[The Believer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247199/)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/12 "2010-02-27T17:42:26Z")

</div>

_Schultze Gets the Blues_. Bittersweet.

_Dead Like Me_, the Movie, after seeing the series, of course!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/13 "2010-02-27T18:00:16Z")

</div>

_The Three Burials of Melchiades Estrada_ with Tommy Lee Jones. An excellent and tight film that got little press.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/14 "2010-02-27T18:03:55Z")

</div>

> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> _The Three Burials of Melchiades Estrada_ with Tommy Lee Jones. An excellent and tight film that got little press.

I also love this movie, though my husband hated it. Seems TLJ can do no wrong these days.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/15 "2010-02-27T18:10:08Z")

</div>

I’ll third _Three Burials_.

My vote is for [Lars and the Real Girl](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/fullcredits), about a painfully shy man who sends away for an inflatable woman, and the reactions of his family and the townspeople. I won’t spoil it except to say that it’s not what you might expect.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/16 "2010-02-27T18:15:47Z")

</div>

\*À la folie… pas du tout \*(English title: _He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not_)

A French film starring Audrey Tautou wherein she plays a woman in love with a doctor, and their relationship to one another.

> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> [y tu mama tambien](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/)

Not to be a jerk, but I finally saw that a couple weeks ago after hearing how great it was for years, and it seemed like nothing more than a late-night Showtime or Cinemax movie in Spanish to me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/17 "2010-02-27T18:19:13Z")

</div>

_Repo! The Genetic Opera_

A cyber-goth rock opera set in a future where an epidemic of organ failures has left most of the population addicted to surgery or pain killers, or both. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line for a new organ from GeneCo, but if you fall behind on your payments they send the Repo Man after you… and then your time is _up_.

Nathan Wallace (Anthony Stewart Head, best known as Giles from _Buffy_) is a loving but overprotective father to his daughter Shilo (Alexa Vega from the \*Spy Kids \*movies), whose mysterious illness has forced her to be an invalid in their home her entire life. But Nathan is also hiding dark secrets from Shilo, concerning his real involvement with Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino), the powerful founder and owner of GeneCo. Shilo’s quest for independence puts her at odds with her father and leads her into the clutches of Rotti and his three spoiled, degenerate children (played by Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, and Ogre from Skinny Puppy).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/18 "2010-02-27T18:32:25Z")

</div>

[Alien Raiders](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996979/) was clearly made on a limited budget and some (most) of the plot twists are pretty predictable, but I thought it was a fresh, entertaining and overall well acted take on the “aliens taking over human bodies” theme.

I really don’t know how popular [District 9](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/) is, but again a well done sci-fi movie on a limited budget (probably a lot more than Alien Raiders’ though), with an interesting premise, good acting by the protagonist, and pretty entertaining.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/19 "2010-02-27T18:37:27Z")

</div>

[Mongol](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416044/), the Genghis Khan biopic.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640/20 "2010-02-27T19:05:10Z")

</div>

> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#):
>
> I also love this movie, though my husband hated it. Seems TLJ can do no wrong these days.

Movies about human nature are always of interest to me. It’s the appeal of films like _Unforgiven_, which most people think is a western, rather than a character study.

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-movie-made-since-2000-that-you-think-most-people-havent-seen/530640.md?page=2)
