Overlooked Gems (In no particular order)
A collection of titles from recent years sitting just outside mainstream culture that deserve far more love than they are receiving.
I won't classify them as underrated simply because, by-and-large, those who have seen them love them. The problem is that not enough people have seen them.
I won't classify them as underrated simply because, by-and-large, those who have seen them love them. The problem is that not enough people have seen them.
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- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.Almost everyone who has seen this show has declared it the greatest piece of television ever produced. I went into it ready to disagree, to be the lone naysayer. But by the end of the first season, I was singing its praises to high heaven just like everybody else.
I suppose the reason it does not get the attention it deserves is because it is too slow, too complex, and too real for those who prefer television to serve as entertainment or escape. Not that it isn't entertaining, on the contrary, it is as engaging as anything I have ever seen. It may take a few episodes to really get hooked - it took me two tries to really get into it - but once The Wire gets its claws into you, it will never let go. No other show is half as smart, meaningful, or alive as this one.
The Wire goes beyond entertainment; it is art, it is literature, it is one of the defining social documents of our time. - DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittCasey AffleckSam ShepardRobert Ford, who has idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the resurgent gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.This film, I think, was the victim of misguided expectations. Audiences went in expecting a western and although this film takes place in the Wild West and centers on Jesse James, it is a far cry from the film you might expect given that premise. Slow and deliberate, this is more Greek tragedy than anything else. A quiet, yet poignant examination of fame and the admiration and envy that it inspires, The Assassination of Jesse James boasts a magnificent score, spellbinding performances, and sensational cinematography.
A personal favorite of mine and, I think, one of the finest pieces of cinema ever crafted. - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsColin FarrellBrendan GleesonCiarán HindsAfter a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.Smart, hilarious, exciting, and ultimately deeply touching, this is one of those films that is impossible to categorize. Often called a black comedy, it is truthfully so much more than that. One of the most complete movies I have ever seen.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsJulianne MooreClive OwenChiwetel EjioforIn 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have somehow become infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.A simple but thematically loaded storyline elevated beyond any other action thriller by way of pure cinematic genius from Cuaron. Raw and personal, and riveting to the last, a film with the scale and ambition of a hollywood blockbuster, and the depth and inventiveness of an art-house film.
- CreatorCharlie BrookerStarsWunmi MosakuMonica DolanDaniel LapaineFeaturing stand-alone dramas -- sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia -- "Black Mirror" is a contemporary reworking of "The Twilight Zone" with stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.
Only the best shows can make you feel this deeply, and only a masterpiece can hurt so much to watch and still leave you desperate for more.
*edit - I'm glad it is now starting to gain the following it always deserved
*edit #2 - Seasons 3 and 4 were entirely underwhelming, so I have to drop my rating down from a 10 - DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsGeorge ClooneyPaolo BonacelliViolante PlacidoAn assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.A quiet, introspective character study masquerading as a spy movie. Hypnotic, beautiful, and deeply personal. George Clooney's best performance to date.
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsSam RockwellKevin SpaceyDominique McElligottAstronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.From Sam Rockwell's performance, to Clint Mansell's score, to Duncan Jones' writing and direction, Moon is brilliant across the board. At a time when sci-fi is dominated by spectacle, this film takes a breath and looks inwards instead. Yes, the storyline is familiar, but Moon's execution borders on the flawless.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Val KilmerMichelle MonaghanAfter being mistaken for an actor, a New York thief is sent to Hollywood to train under a private eye for a potential movie role, but the duo are thrown together with a struggling actress into a murder mystery.Everything a comedy should be. Full of smart, original jokes and high production value. Goes far beyond the simple one-liners that saturate today's comedies. One of the most entertaining films in recent years. Hilarious, irreverent, and just so much fun.
Also, Gay Perry is one of the best characters to ever grace the silver screen. - DirectorDerek CianfranceStarsRyan GoslingBradley CooperEva MendesTwo men and their sons must deal with the unforeseen consequences of their actions.Another great film that just falls short of being a Great Film. A sweeping picture that, despite its focus on interpersonal drama, can only be described as epic. The musical score alone is worth the watch. It's only true flaw is that it tackles more than it can realistically handle, that it makes everything work to the extent that it does is nothing short of remarkable. Ryan Gosling is electric, as is Eva Mendes, and the whole film seethes with suppressed emotions that explode out onto the screen in some truly stunning moments.
- DirectorShane BlackStarsRussell CroweRyan GoslingAngourie RiceIn 1970s Los Angeles, a mismatched pair of private eyes investigate a missing girl and the mysterious death of a porn star.It may not have Gay Perry (See above), but the chemistry between Crowe and Gosling is just as good. Another wacky, raunchy, profane, and yet exceedingly fresh and smart comedy-noir from Shane Black. Unlike anything else in Hollywood (except Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).
- DirectorJohn Michael McDonaghStarsBrendan GleesonChris O'DowdKelly ReillyAfter he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him.A quiet, contemplative film laden with big ideas and anchored by a magnificently subdued Brendan Gleeson. The only problem is the missed potential; occasionally, the film just tries too hard. We can only wonder at the masterpiece that this could have become in the hands of a more experienced director. A very good film, even a great one, but, with a slightly defter touch, it could easily have been one of THE greats.
- CreatorVince GilliganPeter GouldStarsBob OdenkirkRhea SeehornJonathan BanksThe trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.More of an out-and-out drama than Breaking Bad, but injected with the same vein of pitch black comedy. On a filmmaking level, Gilligan's craft has matured to another level and the stylistic flourishes we are used to have been refined and perfected. This show may receive a fraction of the attention that its predecessor got but if anything, it's better. Way better.
- DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanRachel McAdamsDaniel BrühlA Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror.A spy movie full of intrigue yet almost completely devoid of action. Absolutely gripping, and entirely unpredictable. Thoughtful, thought-provoking, and highly relevant to the times. A film with a sweeping message, but well grounded in personal drama.
- DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsViggo MortensenCharlize TheronKodi Smit-McPheeIn a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea.This film does everything right in its adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece but it admittedly still falls short. Film is simply the wrong medium for this tale. The true power of the novel lies in McCarthy's style, prose and philosophical musings, things that cannot be adapted even by the most accomplished filmmaker.
Regardless, this is still a very good movie borne from a literary masterpiece. Just a man and his son trying to survive in a cold, punishing world. A harrowing, heart-wrenching, and thoughtful examination of humanity pushed to its limits and beyond. - DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsAbraham AttahEmmanuel AffadziRicky AdelayitorA drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.Fukunaga combines raw, unflinching realism and a hypnotic atmosphere with a deftness rarely seen in modern cinema. A difficult watch, but incredibly rewarding.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsTom CruiseJamie FoxxJada Pinkett SmithA cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.Not really the blockbuster thriller it was made out to be, this film is more of a character study than anything. Yes, it suffers from a tacky, quintessentially 'hollywood' ending, but even that is well executed if fairly vanilla. What elevates this piece is the build up to the third act, which is nothing short of spectacular.
- DirectorSteven KnightStarsTom HardyOlivia ColmanRuth WilsonIvan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.A riveting performance from Tom Hardy coupled with compelling writing and cinematography elevate this film above the cheap cinematic gimmick that it could have been.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHugh JackmanJake GyllenhaalViola DavisWhen Keller Dover's daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts.An thoroughly gripping and emotionally fraught psychological thriller. The suspense and paranoia are brilliantly set up, and you never know quite how it is all going to play out.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonRobin WrightA man learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.Yes, I know it's M. Night Shyamalan, however, this is his one good film. Understated yet mesmerizing, it showcases all his talent with almost none of his propensity for ridiculousness. A testament to the filmmaker he could have been.
- DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsPhilip Seymour HoffmanSamantha MortonMichelle WilliamsA theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play.Okay, so this one is pretty artsy - considerably further from mainstream cinema than most on this list. However, it is absolutely phenomenal, and I just couldn't leave it off. Charlie Kaufmann is perhaps the most original and sophisticated screenwriter working today. His directorial debut is strange and wonderful and cathartic like nothing else.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyA chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.An all-encompassing masterpiece tackling the issues of life, death, and everything in between. At times side-splittingly hilarious, at others, deeply profound, this show captures humanity like no other.
- CreatorSteve ConradStarsMichael DormanKurtwood SmithMichael ChernusFollows the complicated life of intelligence officer John Tavner, whose latest assignment--to prevent Iran from going nuclear--requires him to forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous, non-official cover.If Shane Black and the Coen Brothers adapted a John Le Carre novel together, this would be the result. Stylish and confident, absurd and yet deeply melancholy, it is unlike anything else you might encounter on TV today.
- CreatorNoah HawleyStarsBilly Bob ThorntonMartin FreemanAllison TolmanVarious chronicles of deception, intrigue, and murder in and around frozen Minnesota. All of these tales mysteriously lead back one way or another to Fargo, North Dakota.Following up the Coens' masterpiece would seem like a daunting task, and yet the Fargo TV series does the job admirably. The resemblance to the Coens' style is uncanny given their limited involvement and yet the show quickly develops its own identity without losing that which made the film that inspired it great. Every bit as dark, atmospheric, and tongue in cheek as its source material.
- DirectorCharlie McDowellStarsRobert RedfordMary SteenburgenBrian McCarthyTwo years after the afterlife is scientifically proven, a man attempts to help a young woman break away from her dark past.Emotionally fraught and built on an excellent premise. Almost willfully imperfect, it does well to raise some fascinating philosophical questions even if it stumbles when actually addressing them. Despite its flaws, the desperate loneliness and melancholy at its heart never really loses its power.
- CreatorRay McKinnonStarsAden YoungAbigail SpencerJ. Smith-CameronDaniel Holden must put his life back together after serving 19 years on Georgia's Death Row before DNA evidence calls his conviction into question.This show could easily have been just another mystery or police-procedural (see "Life" starring Damian Lewis) but instead it shines by letting those central plot devices take a back seat in service of character. Like its lead performance, it is quiet and contemplative, but beneath the surface, it seethes with emotion. It can get a bit soapy at times, but the excellent characterizations hold it together. Aden Young's brilliantly restrained performance is worth the watch all on its own.