Sympatico's list of 22 underrated and overlooked films, do you agree?

Note: This list does not express my views, but those of the sources. I am simply putting it up to get people interested in reviewing the stars and seeing what they feel is their favourite underrated films.

"Underrated and Overlooked Films (by Eric Thaler)
Despite what the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (i.e., the 6,000 industry insiders that dole out Oscar statuettes) would want you to believe, a disproportionate number of the best movies made are ones that are overlooked by the masses and, as such, perform poorly at the box office. Moreover, these films occasionally include major Hollywood talent — even that of the vapid variety. In light of these points, here is my list of the best films you may not have seen by some of the bigger stars in Hollywood:

1.Gwyneth Paltrow (Hard Eight – 1996): Before Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) became famous with his one-two punch of ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Magnolia,’ he wrote and directed a somewhat obscure film entitled ‘Hard Eight’ (or in some markets, ‘Sydney’). Despite playing the most hackneyed character known to Hollywood — a hooker with a heart of gold — Paltrow delivers a solid performance opposite such PTA regulars as John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Philip Baker Hall in this gritty tale of flawed humanity.

2.Nicole Kidman (Dogville – 2003): The first instalment of Lars von Trier’s infamous U.S. trilogy is a powerful piece of filmmaking. I have never seen a film come closer to (successfully) incorporating both theatrical and literary techniques. Notwithstanding its length (three hours), ‘Dogville’ possesses a creative method of storytelling that includes an indictment of U.S. politics and history as its subtext. Moreover, Kidman’s Botox-enhanced, doe-eyed persona has never been better suited to a role.

3.Ryan Gosling (The Believer – 2001): Prior to becoming half of Hollywood North's preeminent couple (with fellow Canuck Rachel McAdams as the other half), Ryan Gosling was a young actor in search of a good role. ‘The Believer’ isn’t a particularly impressive film when taken as a whole, but Gosling’s portrayal of a Jewish boy’s transition to neo-Nazism is gripping enough to justify seeing it.

4.Eric Bana (Chopper – 2000): After three consecutive lead performances in three years (‘Hulk,’ ‘Troy,’ and ‘Munich’), Eric Bana has cemented his reputation as a dependable leading man in Hollywood. Prior to this success, Bana, a native Australian, played legendary Aussie criminal Mark “Chopper” Read in this film based on Read’s best-selling autobiography. Bana’s performance is gritty and disturbing — consequently, this is a difficult film to watch, but primarily in a good way.

5.Matt Damon (Gerry – 2002): Matt “Jason Bourne” Damon is now an action-movie juggernaut and has unquestionably eclipsed his childhood pal, Ben Affleck, in box-office receipts. In ‘Gerry,’ Damon plays opposite another Affleck (Casey) in one of this decade’s most polarizing films (particularly among critics). Director Gus Van Sant creates a near-masterpiece with a film that contains virtually no dialogue and only two men — both named Gerry — who get lost in a desert. That a film of such an austere nature employs riveting cinematography is hardly a surprise, but the real payoff is the metaphysical underpinnings that are subtly exposed by its conclusion.

6.David Arquette (The Grey Zone – 2001): Mr. Courtney Cox’s filmography is littered with unfunny comedies and B-movie fodder. ‘The Grey Zone,’ however, is the most striking anomaly in Arquette’s body of work. It is relentless in the brutality it depicts. ‘Schindler’s List’ and ‘The Pianist’ may have received armfuls of Oscar hardware, but ‘The Grey Zone’ is the best Holocaust film of the three.

7.Cate Blanchett (Heaven – 2002): As a disciple of the deceased Polish master Krzysztof Kieslowski, Tom Tykwer directed the first instalment of a trilogy written by Kieslowski prior to his passing. It’s hardly surprising that both the cinematography and Cate Blanchett’s performance are stunning, but the fact Tykwer was able to coax out a performance from Giovanni Ribisi that doesn’t ruin the film speaks volumes about his directing ability.

8. Uma Thurman (Hysterical Blindness – 2002): Set in 1980s New Jersey, Thurman and co-star Juliette Lewis portray two women approaching their 30s who are looking for a meaningful relationship (i.e., a boyfriend or husband) at the local bar. I recognize this premise sounds like a trite, disposable rom-com vehicle, but the sense of desperation and pathos projected by the female leads propels this film well above its peers.

9.Ethan Hawke (Tape – 2001): Ethan Hawke stars opposite Uma Thurman (prior to their divorce) in this claustrophobic, low-budget indie film. There are only three characters and it takes place exclusively inside a seedy motel room in Lansing, Michigan. The dialogue and acting are both superb, and the plot takes an interesting turn shortly after establishing the seemingly straightforward premise: old high-school friends reminisce about the past.

10. Jennifer Connelly (Dark City – 1988): ‘Dark City’ was a box-office bust, and it’s ostensibly a sci-fi film (which rarely bodes well for the demanding viewer), but this vehicle manages to defy the odds. It’s visually arresting with its mixture of the past and the future, it possesses an intricate yet accessible plot, and it boasts a strong cast consisting of Jennifer Connelly, Kiefer Sutherland, and William Hurt.

11. Claire Danes (It’s All About Love – 2003): Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (co-founder of the Dogme 95 movement), ‘It’s All About Love’ is a bizarre tale of love set in the near future with a world on the brink of collapse as the backdrop. In addition to Claire Danes, this visually hypnotic film also stars Joaquin Phoenix and Sean Penn in a very non-traditional depiction of marriage.

12. Rosario Dawson (Kids – 1995): Before the comely Rosario Dawson appeared in mainstream films of debatable quality, such as ‘The Rundown,’ ‘Alexander,’ and ‘Clerks II,’ she was discovered sitting on her front porch and was offered a role in the disturbing indie film ‘Kids.’ This film depicts a gritty sense of urban realism by mixing adolescents with guns, drugs, sex, and HIV in New York City. Not for the squeamish.

13. Christina Ricci (The Laramie Project – 2002): This film is based on approximately 200 interviews conducted in Laramie, Wyoming, after the brutal murder — via a gay hate-crime attack — of Wyoming resident Matthew Shepard. It blends actual news reports with actors portraying roles as it re-creates the chronology of events. This novel approach provides a better emotional payoff than a straight documentary or drama would.

14.Nick Nolte (Northfork – 2003): ‘Northfork’ is an absolute gem of a “lost movie.” And prior to Nick Nolte becoming a punch line for Hawaiian T-shirt and mug-shot jokes, his portrayal of a church father in an orphanage is noteworthy. The film juxtaposes a dying child with a dying town (via a forced evacuation) while utilizing magic realism and ascetic visuals for a fuller dramatic effect.

15.Jennifer Lopez (Out of Sight – 1998): I’m not going to claim J.Lo is the strongest link in ‘Out of Sight,’ but not unlike my reference to Giovanni Ribisi in ‘Heaven,’ the fact that she doesn’t detract from the film is an impressive feat. Director Steven Soderbergh is currently best known for his bloated ‘Ocean’s Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen’ franchise, but this quasi-heist film is definitely superior (and, coincidentally enough, George Clooney is the protagonist).

16.Anna Paquin (The Squid and the Whale – 2005): You know her better as Rogue from the ‘X-Men’ franchise. And some of you might claim her Oscar-winning performance in ‘The Piano’ 15 years ago trumps this one. Well, you might be right about the performance, but this is the better film. At barely 80 minutes in length, this tightly wound story of a crumbling marriage — and the attendant familial fallout — is both disturbing and hilarious (often at the same time).

17.Ralph Fiennes (Spider – 2002): Being Canadian and a part-time cinephile, I’ve been subjected to a serious dose of accolades for David Cronenberg over the past few years, and I’m not happy about it. Despite widespread praise for his two most recent films — the overrated ‘Eastern Promises’ and the borderline embarrassing ‘A History of Violence’ — the last good film he directed was ‘Spider.’ Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of a man grappling with insanity is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

18.Selma Blair (Storytelling – 2001): Selma Blair is the most attractive short-haired actress in Hollywood, but, more importantly, she has recently established her leading-lady status opposite Ron Perlman in the ‘Hellboy’ franchise (the second instalment of which is due out this summer). Despite its moniker, ‘Storytelling’ is not suitable for family viewing. Blair adroitly plays a university student willing to be exploited to improve her creative-writing skills.

19.Billy Crudup (World Traveler – 2001): Were you surprised I didn’t pick ‘Jesus’ Son’ here? It’s an excellent film, too, but I think it has a bit of a cult following and is better known than this much-maligned (from the critic’s perspective) and much-ignored (from the viewer’s perspective) film. It’s a stunningly shot road movie with a flawed, but human, protagonist in search of “something” (the pacing of the film is slow and the director clearly isn’t interested in spoon-feeding the viewer — at least at first).

20.Juliette Binoche (Three Colours: Blue – 1993): Paris-born Juliette Binoche won an Oscar for her performance in ‘The English Patient’ and earned an Oscar nomination for her role opposite Johnny Depp in ‘Chocolat.’ However, her best performance is in Krzysztof Kieslowski’s absolute masterpiece ‘Blue’ (the first instalment in the ‘Three Colours Trilogy’), which is a haunting film about loss, liberty, and spirituality.

21.Ewan McGregor (Young Adam – 2003): He plays a terse drifter opposite 2007 Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton in this dark film set in 1950s Scotland. The discovery of a female corpse floating in the water leads to intrigue and physical attraction. And, more importantly, McGregor has never evoked this type of pathos in any role.

22.Franka Potente (The Princess and the Warrior – 2000): Okay, I’m not going to pretend that Franka Potente belongs on this list. By even the most lax criteria she is still unknown in Hollywood. Would it help if you knew she’s big in Germany, had an international breakthrough performance in ‘Run Lola Run,’ and played Matt Damon’s love interest in the first two instalments of the ‘Bourne’ franchise? Probably not, right? Regardless, rent this film. Notwithstanding a silly Keystones Cops-esque bank-heist scene, it is a moving art film without any pretence.