# Underrated Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233 "2012-09-09T21:23:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/41 "2012-09-11T12:36:19Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > Good call. Have you seen **Spider Forest**? Not the best Korean movie by a long shot but an effective psychological horror/ghost story that many probably haven’t heard of. Thanks for the tip, I’ll give it a go. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/42 "2012-09-11T12:58:25Z")
Rollo Tomasi: > [@](#): > > Like you said, I always have trouble figuring out what’s considered “underrated.” Like from the above, Eternal Sunshine won an Oscar for its screenplay Only underrated by the Academy, I think. It may have won for screenplay, but given how much critics liked it, how did it not even get _nominated_ for Best Picture? Not to mention that (IMHO) Carrey and Dunst deserved to be at least nominated for their acting performances. Winslet was, but she deserved it less than those two. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/43 "2012-09-11T13:22:14Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > Here’s my number one: **American Dreamer** [American Dreamer (1984) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086886/) > (snip) except for that other chick, I’ve never met anyone that has heard of either of them. I remember seeing _American Dreamer_ back in the 80s, when I was a kid, on HBO or something. My parents and I really enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/44 "2012-09-11T13:53:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s my number one: American Dreamer [American Dreamer (1984) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086886/) > > Looking at the credits part, I noticed a name. David Greenwalt. “THE David Greenwalt? From the Buffyverse, etc?” thought I. Indeed, twas the same. Why am I typing like that? Odd. Anyhoo, yes. Now I realize why I like it so much. I liked **American Dreamer** , too, but I have two complaints: 1.) The trailer gave away too much of the movie 2.) It came too soon after **Romancing the Stone** , which it resembled in many ways. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/45 "2012-09-11T14:55:37Z")
**Joe Vs. The Volcano** , everyone involved in that movie hated it, but while schmaltzy in many places it’s got a terrific cast effectively delivering corny lines. The result is a crazy story that manages to be touching. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/46 "2012-09-11T15:13:40Z")
Last weekend I caught Sin City on IFC. Terrific film noir take off that I felt never got the credit it deserved. Very well done and pretty damn sexy too. In a related vein I think the Grindhouse pair never got props either. Definitely not for everyone, but very entertaining, especially if you view them as homage to the old grindhouse cheapie flicks. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/47 "2012-09-11T15:55:20Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I liked **American Dreamer** , too, but I have two complaints: > > 1.) The trailer gave away too much of the movie > > 2.) It came too soon after **Romancing the Stone** , which it resembled in many ways. I first saw it on cable like **Tangent** so I didn’t have the spoiler problem. So YAY! ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/48 "2012-09-11T16:04:35Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Only underrated by the Academy, I think. It may have won for screenplay, but given how much critics liked it, how did it not even get _nominated_ for Best Picture? Not to mention that (IMHO) Carrey and Dunst deserved to be at least nominated for their acting performances. Winslet was, but she deserved it less than those two. Fair enough, but considering how many great movies are made every year that don’t get within shouting distance of any Oscar nominations (particularly those with difficult subject matter that’s too tough for the Academy’s blue-hairs), I tend to not think of any movie that’s been awarded an Oscar in one of the top eight categories as “underrated.” It’s pretty much the industry’s most prestigious way of recognizing the work. But that’s just my perspective. And Winslet less deserving of a nomination than Dunst? Wow, totally disagree. I think Winslet’s was one of the great performances of that decade. I’ll submit [Agora](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186830/), a really compelling movie with Rachel Weisz about the astronomer and philosopher Hypatia in Roman Egypt that was pretty roundly dismissed by critics and barely made a dent in the U.S. box office, although I understand that it was very popular in Spain, the director’s home country. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/49 "2012-09-11T16:29:32Z")
Forgive the hijack… > [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > And my number two–I mean the second: **Hawks** [Hawks (1988) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097487/) The title didn’t ring a bell, so I clicked on the link to see if anything about it seemed familiar. It didn’t, but I recognize quite a few names in the cast, including Connie Booth. On her page are pictures of what looks like a relatively recent reunion of the _Fawlty Towers_ cast. Was a bit surprised to see that; thought she’d left the public eye quite deliberately. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/50 "2012-09-11T16:33:12Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > Fair enough, but considering how many great movies are made every year that don’t get within shouting distance of any Oscar nominations (particularly those with difficult subject matter that’s too tough for the Academy’s blue-hairs), I tend to not think of any movie that’s been awarded an Oscar in one of the top eight categories as “underrated.” It’s pretty much the industry’s most prestigious way of recognizing the work. But that’s just my perspective. And Winslet less deserving of a nomination than Dunst? Wow, totally disagree. I think Winslet’s was one of the great performances of that decade. > > I’ll submit [Agora](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186830/), a really compelling movie with Rachel Weisz about the astronomer and philosopher Hypatia in Roman Egypt that was pretty roundly dismissed by critics and barely made a dent in the U.S. box office, although I understand that it was very popular in Spain, the director’s home country. Whoa! They made a movie about Hypatio? I never heard of this. And it stars Rachel Weisz (_The Mummy_ and _The Mummy Returns_) as Hypatia? With Michel Lonsdale(_Day of the Jackal_ and _Moonraker_ and _Munich_)? Cool! ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/51 "2012-09-11T16:56:24Z")
Rollo Tomasi: > [@](#): > > And Winslet less deserving of a nomination than Dunst? Wow, totally disagree. I think Winslet’s was one of the great performances of that decade. She was very good, but I thought Dunst was amazing in her role and should have gotten a Best Supporting Actress nod. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/52 "2012-09-11T17:15:42Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Whoa! They made a movie about Hypatio? I never heard of this. > And it stars Rachel Weisz (_The Mummy_ and _The Mummy Returns_) as Hypatia? With Michel Lonsdale(_Day of the Jackal_ and _Moonraker_ and _Munich_)? Cool! It’s available on Netflix Streaming. I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s on my queue. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/53 "2012-09-11T17:34:17Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **Joe Vs. The Volcano** , everyone involved in that movie hated it, but while schmaltzy in many places it’s got a terrific cast effectively delivering corny lines. The result is a crazy story that manages to be touching. It’s also a fairly \*dark \*comedy, as well as having Hanks in an angry man role. My vote still goes to a charming little romance, [Year of the Comet](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105871/) (1992). ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/54 "2012-09-11T17:50:26Z")
Three Kings Excalibur Stardust Those three were already mentioned and I heartily second them. I love all three of them and think they’re all excellent films. I think Conan the Barbarian (the original John Milius one) is actually an excellent film that holds up surprisingly well. It’s got great music and visuals, a ton of fun moments, and Conan both as a character and as a film in general has a lot more depth than your typical muscles and killing 80’s action flick. I think the problem is that the sequel was far campier and more kid friendly and that causes people to forget that the original was actually fairly serious and clever and far less cheesy than the posters and trailers for it make it seem. Conan the Barbarian is not Commando with swords instead guns is the gist of what I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/55 "2012-09-12T11:08:23Z")
I agree the original Conan is better and more ambitious than you’d expect it to be. It’s has some great cinematography and the music sets the pulse of each scene. I particularly like the scene where Conan finds the sword. The acting is pretty ropey though, and not all of the humour is intentional. Rexor and Thorgrim seem to have wandered out of a heavy metal band. I shudder to think what the re-make did to it. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/56 "2012-09-12T13:07:23Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > This is one of my favorite movies. Sexy and stylish and playful, and the music is terrific throughout. In addition to Brosnan and Russo being in top form, Denis Leary is really great as the weary police detective. I third this. **The Thomas Crown Affair** seems to be dismissed as “just” a popcorn movie, but if so it’s one that gets everything right. Good chemistry, smart (and age-appropriate, for a change) female lead, tension, and of course that fantastic score. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/57 "2012-09-12T14:51:00Z")
_Quiz Show_ should go on this list. I think most people who watched flicks in the 1990s or later have seen it, but I happen to think it’s one of the handful of best movies from that decade. Paul Scofield never hurts. I don’t know how in the hell they got him to sign on, but it was inspired casting. Inspired casting all around, including that Rob Morrow kid. “Thank you, Charlie!” “I see they have a Reuben sandwich, but I don’t perceive any Reubens in the restaurant. --Touche’!” It certainly got a lot of ink in its day, but I don’t believe it shows up in many “GOAT” type lists. Oh, and _The Color of Money_ – obviously very well known, but not considered one of Scorsese’s best. I think it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/58 "2012-09-12T14:58:08Z")
Speaking of Scorsese, although _After Hours_ has been somewhat rehabilitated, in part thanks to Roger Ebert’s encomium, it’s still not even as widely praised as _The King of Comedy_, which latter could be called a modern classic not given its due except by cultists and completists. For Hitch, I’d give _Marnie_ a go for underappreciated. And for famous French directors, Truffaut’s _La Peau douce_ doesn’t seem to be that well-known, despite a very famous director known by people who watch movies. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/59 "2012-09-12T16:34:33Z")
[The Brothers Bloom](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844286/). Fun, quirky, romantic con game. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233/60 "2012-09-13T09:43:15Z")
I’d like to nominate [MicMacs](http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1149361/). It’s the most recent Jean-Pierre Jeunet film, and the best comedy I’ve seen for a while. It’s very inventive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-movies/634233.md?page=4)