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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 12:33:49 GMT
What are some films you think are often getting overlooked or are underappreciated within a director's filmography, because there are some other films that are generally considered his best work and are usually the ones talked about?
For example I think that this is the case with Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy. Also Saboteur is a very strong film.
Ingmar Bergman had a few strong early films, which nowadays are often overshadowed by his work from 1957 on. Still I consider Summer with Monika one of his best films and Smiles of a Summer Night is great as well.
I still have a lot to see of him (although he's probably my favourite director as of now), but Akira Kurosawa's Stray Dog is just amazing.
As for Billy Wilder The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is incredibly funny without ridiculing the great detective, but actually handles the essentials of Sherlock Holmes pretty well.
I agree for the most part with the consensus, that Francis Ford Coppola regressed after his excellent 70s, but The Rainmaker is a wonderful courtroom drama with a strong screenplay and a great cast (I mean especially you, Jon Voight).
I'll maybe add more later. What are some works of directing greats you consider to be treasures?
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Post by pacinoyes on Mar 13, 2020 12:43:33 GMT
Good thread!
Coppola's Rumble Fish is a near Great film (capital G), The Godfather Part III is a deeply flawed but at times devastating film (The 45 minute opera sequence rivals his best work).
The Coens A Serious Man is among their very best and while it's acclaimed is never ranked that high
Spike Lee's He Got Game is his 2nd best film and is better than his overrated ones (the not that good Malcolm X, good but not great The 25th Hour)
Oliver Stone Talk Radio is his very best film actually.
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 12:48:51 GMT
Good thread! Coppola's Rumble Fish is a near Great film (capital G), The Godfather Part III is a deeply flawed but at times devastating film (The 45 minute opera sequence rivals his best work). The Coens A Serious Man is among their very best and while it's acclaimed is never ranked that high Spike Lee's He Got Game is his 2nd best film and is better than his overrated ones (the not that good Malcolm X, good but not great The 25th Hour) Oliver Stone Talk Radio is his very best film actually. Good point on Coppola. Was thinking of including Rumble Fish as well, but I don't like it as much as I do with Rainmaker. Also agree about Godfather III and totally about the opera sequence (!), but thought this actually gets more hated (undeservedly) than overlooked  . |
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Post by Pittsnogle_Goggins on Mar 13, 2020 13:10:02 GMT
Nolan - Insomnia
Scorsese - Bringing Out the Dead
Ridley Scott - Black Hawk Down
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Post by JangoB on Mar 13, 2020 13:11:47 GMT
Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise is both a terrific adventure epic and a truly solid character study which features some of the best visuals of his career. His own Black Rain is a wonderfully stylish and very exciting action film which is just gorgeous to look at.
I love John Ford's 3 Godfathers - a powerful Biblical parable inside an entertaining western package.
Most will say that in David Lean's Ryan's Daughter the grandiosity of the images and the film's sheer size overwhelm the intimacy of the melodrama but for me it all works the opposite way, making a small story feel like it belongs to the universe.
Although Akira Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, it seems that it's barely mentioned when people talk about Kurosawa's magnificent career. But it should be. A film about the inseparable connection between nature and man to rival Malick's musings on the same subject.
David Lynch's Dune always gets a bad rep but it's actually a stunningly strange and unique piece of sci-fi filmmaking which truly stands apart from the other examples of the space opera genre.
Jonathan Demme's Married to the Mob features some of Demme's strongest direction which genuinely elevates a film that could've been just an okay crime comedy in the hands of a lesser filmmaker. And its ensemble is truly a marvel.
Bernardo Bertolucci's The Sheltering Sky is a total stunner and I'm kinda shocked by how it seemingly came and went, especially after his huge Oscar success.
I've never done drugs but watching Oliver Stone's The Doors felt close to what I imagine the experience is like. And I mean that as a compliment. An intense take on the tired music biopic genre.
Brian De Palma's Mission to Mars is the kind of an awe-inspiring and highly ambitious sci-fi piece that gets instantly adored these days. Too bad it came out when it did.
Steven Spielberg's Amistad is for my money as powerful a film on the subject of slavery as any - unflinching, tough, hopeful but sober. And it's a great film about the power of communication.
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Post by pacinoyes on Mar 13, 2020 13:16:25 GMT
A couple more for outside the US filmmakers:
Fassbinder - I Only Want You To love Me (1976) is my favorite of all his work. Most people haven't seen it - it's a film he did for German TV so it always gets passed over. I think it recounts and underlines many of his themes more assuredly than he had prior at the very least.
Bergman - From The Life of The Marionettes (1980) is a real strange one - first it was made during his exile, it doesn't look like a Bergman film at all - doesn't have his style or sensibility - if anything it looks like a Fassbinder movie and has his anarchic streak and themes. I put it in his all-time top 5 - I'm not sure he was ever "outside himself" as he was here.
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 13:57:43 GMT
Nolan - Insomnia Scorsese - Bringing Out the Dead Ridley Scott - Black Hawk Down Totally agree about Insomnia!!!
It's my #3 Nolan film.
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 14:04:56 GMT
Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise is both a terrific adventure epic and a truly solid character study which features some of the best visuals of his career. His own Black Rain is a wonderfully stylish and very exciting action film which is just gorgeous to look at. I love John Ford's 3 Godfathers - a powerful Biblical parable inside an entertaining western package. Most will say that in David Lean's Ryan's Daughter the grandiosity of the images and the film's sheer size overwhelm the intimacy of the melodrama but for me it all works the opposite way, making a small story feel like it belongs to the universe. Although Akira Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, it seems that it's barely mentioned when people talk about Kurosawa's magnificent career. But it should be. A film about the inseparable connection between nature and man to rival Malick's musings on the same subject. David Lynch's Dune always gets a bad rep but it's actually a stunningly strange and unique piece of sci-fi filmmaking which truly stands apart from the other examples of the space opera genre. Jonathan Demme's Married to the Mob features some of Demme's strongest direction which genuinely elevates a film that could've been just an okay crime comedy in the hands of a lesser filmmaker. And its ensemble is truly a marvel. Bernardo Bertolucci's The Sheltering Sky is a total stunner and I'm kinda shocked by how it seemingly came and went, especially after his huge Oscar success. I've never done drugs but watching Oliver Stone's The Doors felt close to what I imagine the experience is like. And I mean that as a compliment. An intense take on the tired music biopic genre. Brian De Palma's Mission to Mars is the kind of an awe-inspiring and highly ambitious sci-fi piece that gets instantly adored these days. Too bad it came out when it did. Steven Spielberg's Amistad is for my money as powerful a film on the subject of slavery as any - unflinching, tough, hopeful but sober. And it's a great film about the power of communication. Agree about:
Black Rain (gritty, atmospheric and indeed stylish thriller, like the build-up a lot!) 3 Godfathers
and to a lesser extent Amistad and Dersu Urzala. I really need to rewatch the latter one as I've only seen it once like 20 years ago.
About Ryan's Daughter and Sheltering Sky I have mixed feelings. I like both well enough, but Sheltering Sky loses somewhat after a great first half and Ryan's Daughter, while certainly a good movie, in my eyes pretty much deserves the fate I'm criticizing here. It's good, but in my eyes rightfully overlooked because Lawrence, River Kwai and Passage to India.
As for Steven Spielberg, whom I know you're also a fan of I'd suggest Empire of the Sun myself.
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Post by Sharbs on Mar 13, 2020 14:43:22 GMT
One from the Heart is top-3 Coppola
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coop032
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Post by coop032 on Mar 13, 2020 16:14:18 GMT
Agree with most all of the ones I've read above, but specifically the first three I mentioned here. The rest of the ones I named may not stand out as much whether the director not be as famous (some actor/directors) or maybe the film is just more underappreciated than overlooked in my mind. I just feel like these all deserve so much more praise than they seem to have gotten.
Spike Lee - He Got Game
Francis Ford Coppola - The Rainmaker
Steven Spielberg - Amistad
Richard Linklater - Tape; Everybody Wants Some!!
Ang Lee - Ride with the Devil
Clint Eastwood - A Perfect World
Danny Boyle - Sunshine
Gus Van Sant - Gerry
John Carpenter - In the Mouth of Madness
Robert Zemeckis - Allied
Angelina Jolie - By the Sea
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Sean Penn - The Pledge
Ron Howard - The Missing
Stephen Frears - The Hi-Lo Country
Steve Buscemi - Trees Lounge
Todd Haynes - Velvet Goldmine
Wes Anderson - Bottle Rocket
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Post by DeepArcher on Mar 13, 2020 16:17:43 GMT
Miami Vice is Mann's second best film, though it has such a strong cinephile fanbase now that it hardly feels "overlooked." Though I'd say Ali, Public Enemies, and Blackhat are all still pretty overlooked.
Somewhere and The Bling Ring are among Sofia Coppola's best.
A.I. and Munich are among Spielberg's best.
Wild at Heart is one of my favorite Lynch films and really needs to be talked about more in general.
I'm constantly talking about my love for Eyes Wide Shut and Inherent Vice and I think both are still pretty widely seen by cinephiles at least so I'm not exactly sure "overlooked" is the right word for them but I still think my rankings of them in their respective filmmaker's canon is unpopular.
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Post by jakesully on Mar 13, 2020 16:25:39 GMT
Oliver Stone's U-Turn is such a good little overlooked film. So many twists & turns, featuring a lot of funny characters and Jlo gets nude in it too. Just a really fun film imo.
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Post by mikediastavrone96 on Mar 13, 2020 17:20:22 GMT
Charlie Chaplin - Limelight
Francis Ford Coppola - One From the Heart
Clint Eastwood - A Perfect World
Miloš Forman - The People vs. Larry Flynt
David Lynch - Lost Highway, The Straight Story
Hayao Miyazaki - The Wind Rises
Roman Polanski - Macbeth
Martin Scorsese - The Last Temptation of Christ, Silence
Steven Spielberg - Empire of the Sun, Munich, The Adventures of Tintin (a better adventure film than Temple of Doom or Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Orson Welles - The Trial
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Post by TerryMontana on Mar 13, 2020 17:36:21 GMT
Nolan - Insomnia
Coppola - The Rainmaker
Hitchcock - The Trouble with Harry
Sean Penn - The Pledge
Scorsese - The Color of Money
Allen - You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Spielberg - Hook
Burton - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Levinson - Sleepers
Coens - The Hudsucker Proxy
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 17:37:02 GMT
Agree with most all of the ones I've read above, but specifically the first three I mentioned here. The rest of the ones I named may not stand out as much whether the director not be as famous (some actor/directors) or maybe the film is just more underappreciated than overlooked in my mind. I just feel like these all deserve so much more praise than they seem to have gotten. Spike Lee - He Got Game Francis Ford Coppola - The Rainmaker Steven Spielberg - Amistad Richard Linklater - Tape; Everybody Wants Some!! Ang Lee - Ride with the Devil Clint Eastwood - A Perfect World Danny Boyle - Sunshine Gus Van Sant - Gerry John Carpenter - In the Mouth of Madness Robert Zemeckis - Allied Angelina Jolie - By the Sea Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road Sean Penn - The Pledge Ron Howard - The Missing Stephen Frears - The Hi-Lo Country Steve Buscemi - Trees Lounge Todd Haynes - Velvet Goldmine Wes Anderson - Bottle Rocket Oh! Perfect World for Clint Eastwood is a great addition! I had it in my mind, but it then slipped away, when writing my post. Also agree about Ang Lee and Ron Howard. |
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 13, 2020 17:40:33 GMT
Charlie Chaplin - LimelightFrancis Ford Coppola - One From the HeartClint Eastwood - A Perfect WorldMiloš Forman - The People vs. Larry FlyntDavid Lynch - Lost Highway, The Straight StoryHayao Miyazaki - The Wind RisesRoman Polanski - MacbethMartin Scorsese - The Last Temptation of Christ, SilenceSteven Spielberg - Empire of the Sun, Munich, The Adventures of Tintin (a better adventure film than Temple of Doom or Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) Orson Welles - The TrialGood call on Tintin as well! Not sure if The Straight Story is that overlooked. I always thought this is one of Lynch's more beloved films. But yeah, it's probably at least behind Mulholland Dr., Elephant Man and Blue Velvet and considering he hasn't that many it certainly qualifies. Would agree then as it's my second favourite Lynch. |
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Post by Mattsby on Mar 13, 2020 17:53:45 GMT
Cronenberg - Rabid (!!!)
Peter Weir - The Plumber
Demme - Swing Shift, Crazy Mama
John Carpenter - Someone’s Watching Me!
Andrzej Wajda - Innocent Sorcerers
Clint Eastwood - True Crime, Hereafter
Elia Kazan - The Visitors
Orson Welles - The Immortal Story
Altman - That Cold Day in the Park, Thieves Like Us, Kansas City, etc.
Brian De Palma - Hi Mom, Raising Cain
Sidney Lumet - The Offence
Hitchcock - Sabotage, Frenzy
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Post by stephen on Mar 13, 2020 19:32:06 GMT
Hard Eight is one of PTA's finest films and it's easily his most under-discussed narrative feature.
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Post by Johnny_Hellzapoppin on Mar 14, 2020 1:47:53 GMT
Mike Leigh has Bleak Moments and All or Nothing
Stephen Frears has The Snapper
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Post by Mattsby on Mar 14, 2020 2:04:16 GMT
Stephen Frears has The Snapper 7 pounds 12 ounces!  |
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Film Socialism
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Post by Film Socialism on Mar 14, 2020 2:56:07 GMT
some faves:
i don't think a lot of godard gets the credit it deserves, but one i'll single out is The Rise and Fall of a Small Film Company, a minor film in every way but still has the greatness that permeates through most of godard's countless projects.
coppola has several to choose from but the big one to me would be Youth Without Youth, a sidewinding meditation on who knows what the hell.
mdo's No or the Vain Glory of Command is to me one of his best and most ambitious films, i guess he's note quite big of a name to have easily categorized major and minor works but i rarely see this one cited as much of anything so i'll throw it out there.
not seen much aldrich but i really love All the Marbles, feels like a tailor-made movie for me.
pretty well known but often falls by the wayside of his later color films and earlier noir ones, The Lusty Men might just be the greatest western i've ever seen, and my favorite nick ray film as well. some of my favorite characters ever and love the competitive aspects to it, hobby as a hustle.
nowhere near enough people have seen Secret defense which for my money is the 2nd best rivette movie out there. very unlike his other stuff however which leads to mixed results from rivette aficionados, but for people who just don't like his goofier/more theater kid energy projects then it's probably a good place to go (honestly his whole 90s run is generally solid for this).
there's honestly too many of these, most of my favorite movies are like this in some degree, but one more i'll throw out is Ludwig by visconti. i kind of am all over the place with visconti, finding his films anywhere from boring to enthralling, but this is a towering achievement and honestly feels like what he had been pushing his whole career towards - he's the master of grand people in chamber dramas or small people in a big world and this feels like both of those in a really insane way.
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Post by Pavan on Mar 14, 2020 6:12:00 GMT
Coppola's Dracula.
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Post by jimmalone on Mar 14, 2020 8:47:18 GMT
Clint Eastwood - Hereafter Totally agree. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2020 9:00:29 GMT
Dreams is my favorite from Kurosawa and one I hardly ever see anyone else rank that highly
Oh, Woe is Me is one of Godard's most interesting movies, even if it isn't 100% successful - same with Marnie from Hitchcock
Keyhole is my favorite from Guy Maddin
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Post by countjohn on Mar 16, 2020 7:16:16 GMT
I've said this before but Age of Innocence is my favorite Scorsese by a big margin. Edit- Topaz for Hitchcock as well. Would consider it for his top five films. I like The Trouble With Harry and Torn Curtain for him as well. I'm constantly talking about my love for Eyes Wide Shut and Inherent Vice and I think both are still pretty widely seen by cinephiles at least so I'm not exactly sure "overlooked" is the right word for them but I still think my rankings of them in their respective filmmaker's canon is unpopular. Thought of Barry Lyndon for Kubrick but anything Kubrick does is kind of by definition not "overlooked" |
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