5 Films You Either Never Saw or Didn't Appreciate Enough

Now that you feel guilty enough to read this, let me elaborate - these are five films that I feel were either snubbed by critics or simply ignored by the general public for whatever reason. Behold:

5. The Thin Red Line

Forget Saving Private Ryan, this is easily my favorite war film. It was outshined by Spielberg's movie, which I also love, but what makes The Thin Red Line stand out is that it is truly the only film I can think of that can best be described as moving poetry. The stunning visual beauty and the lyrical narration will genuinely sink into you and take root, and it is full of more than enough grit and blood to sell you on the realism of war. The main theme of the film - how war destroys nature, and therefore man himself - is never once touched upon through dialogue. Rather, Terrence Malick inserts shots of a bound crocodile in the back of an army jeep, or a baby bird squirming around in the dirt as cannons roar, to show the scars left on nature through war. This film also has one of the best casts I have ever seen - Penn, Nolte, Koteas, Caviezel, Cusack, Harrelson, Clooney, Travolta, Reilly, etc. Whether their parts are big or small, every actor here brings their A game. This is a truly wonderful film that demands your full attention.

4. Narc

We all love the hard-edged cop drama, but Narc will grab you by your collar and headbutt you...then throw you on the ground and bury its knee into your throat. The opening scene involving Jason Patric chasing down a drug addict is so frenetic and exciting that you'll find yourself taking your first breath only after the scene has finished - the camera work in this scene puts that of the Bourne movies to shame. This film was not seen by a soul, at least no souls that I know, which is a tragedy since I know there is a huge audience for films like this. Ray Liotta is his usual scary self, but his moments of frailty sprinkled throughout the story are sincerely sad. The plot is simple enough: two cops try to track down the murderers of a fellow undercover cop, but don't let the back of the DVD fool you. This film is inventive, well-crafted crime drama that you won't regret seeking out.

3. Titus

Shakespeare for those who hate his romantic comedies and otherwise whimsical foolishness. I have heard that many "scholars" consider this to be Shakespeare's worst play. Fuck them. This play offers a fascinating look at how violence and vengeance consume us all, and Julie Taymor adds the extra attraction of a gorgeous and unique visual style. It's not merely the cinematography that shines in this film, but the costumes and set design - it mixes ancient and modern dress, architecture, and mechanical design, creating a true work of art that looks Roman one minute and suburban the next. You are not likely to find a movie as visually clever as this, with the exception of maybe Tarsem Singh's The Cell. The lines are genuine Shakespeare, to be sure, but the rest is a product of Taymor's endless creativity. If you like tales of revenge, murder, and family tension, rent this one.

2. Lions for Lambs

I believe the Spill crew themselves were pretty lukewarm regarding this movie, which puzzled me a bit since I thought this was one of the best written critiques of today's political climate in recent years. Not since Tarantino's movies have I been so happy to just sit there and watch two people talk for two hours, and that's not to suggest that Lions for Lambs is anything like Pulp Fiction. This film offers three great discussions regarding the people that guide America forward - the young adults who will shape the future, the politicians that direct the people without recognizing the individual, and the soldiers that must actually endure the decisions that the government make. The acting is great and really makes the long dialogue scenes seem timeless, leaving you wanting more. I have heard criticisms that this movie does not seem to offer any answers for how America can get its act together, but anyone who makes this argument does not truly understand the point of the film - the film isn't meant to provide a solution for America's problems, it's meant to make the audience talk about our problems. It's meant to make people want to take some sort of action, to do something that might actually express true interest in our country and the world beyond our own personal lives. And if all that seems too heavy for you, hey, this movie was made for you.

1. Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut)

Carlyle once remarked that he thought this was one of the best movies of the decade (or something like that), and I was so happy when I heard that because he is absolutely right. While the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven is certainly no "Some Ol' Bullshit," Ridley Scott's director's cut is above and beyond pretty much anything I thought it could have been. Too often is the title "Director's Cut" bestowed on films that simply added a scene or two that got cut for time. This film adds scenes that not only expand the story, they expand the character development, and really, that's the best thing you can do when it comes to this sort of thing. This is another film that has a political/war theme, but it is disguised behind a beautiful and bloody period piece about the Crusades. Don't let Orlando Bloom scare you off, this is actually his best film. He's not dancing around with Johnny Depp or sporting girl's hair in this film, he's actually pretty tough. The supporting cast is phenomenal and the scope of the film is utterly breathtaking. I personally place this film along with Apocalypse Now and Lawrence of Arabia as one of the most epic films I have ever seen. This is a film that anyone who calls themselves a cinephile must see at least once in their life.



That's all I got. So, my fellow Spillios, which ones did I miss? What are some of your favorite underrated films?