Films You've Discovered, Hidden Gems

My sister recommended that I watch Street Scene today, she said it was really great but I couldn't do it. I hope they show it again. Sylvia Sidney was really beautiful, IMO, but she's rarely mentioned when Hollywood Golden Age beauties are discussed.

[italic]A Colt Is My Passport[/italic] - a Japanese gangster movie from the 60s. It was on the counter at my library, and I picked it up because it was a Criterion Collection release. It has some great photography. And I got a kick out of the music, some of which could've have come from a spaghetti western.

Two movies I enjoyed that I had not even known about til this last year:

Thank God It's Friday- I started a thread about this a month or so ago.

The Facts of Life starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball. It was streaming on Netflix, Total fun. I want to find more movies like this.

Sylvia Sidney, like Ann Harding, Kay Francis and Ruth Chatterton were some of the biggest female stars of the early talkies but ALL are forgotten today....I guess because none of their films are considered classics by today's standards. And that's a shame.

Milos Forman's "Loves of a Blonde" and "Fireman's Ball."

Thomas Vinterberg's "The Celebration."

"I Love You Alice B Toklas" starring Peter Sellers.

The Trip (2010)

Viaggio in Italia (1954)

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

"She" with Helen Gahagan (Douglas).

Ballad of a Soldier, a 1959 Russian film about a soldier who gets a ten day leave to see his mother, and the people he encounters during his travels.

It's a Criterion release, and I put it at the top of my queue a few years back when I was taking a class on the Soviet Union. It's an absolutely overpowering film, stunningly photographed in black & white, that had me crying buckets at the end.

"Sayonara" starring Marlon Brando

Just caught "Wild Target" on Netflix streaming. It's a crime caper rom-com with Emily Blunt, Bill Nighy, Eileen Atkins, Rupert Grint, and Rupert Everett. It was far, far more entertaining that I expected - this sort of movie is not usually my thing. But it was great fun, and of course, an unequaled cast. Well, except for Ron Weasley.

The Bishop's Wife-- watch it every Christmas.

The Man in the Moon with a young Reese Witherspoon.

"PaperHouse"

Impossible to find. A nearly perfect movie.

Lisa.

Delores Hart as a displaced refugee from the concentration camps who wants to go the Palestine and Stephen Boyd as a guilt ridden Dutch police officer who decides to help get her there. A supporting cast of great British character actors. Riveting and heart breaking.

A Chinese movie called "To Live". Loved it.

Agreed, R4 -- and don't forget Dorothy Mackaill.

When Cher was TCM's guest programer earlier this month, she showed a movie named "Hobson's Choice" It starred Charles Laughton and John Mills. I wasn't going to watch it but Cher was so effusive in describing it, I gave it a chance and I'm glad I did.

The Constant Nymph

Letter From An Unknown Woman

Sonatine - another Japanese gangster movie. Quiet, slow moving, emotional roller coaster.

Voyage to Italy 1953, Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders are terrific together in this drama of a bored married couple rediscovering each other.

Senso - Visconti's sumptuous drama from 1954, Alida Valli is astonished as the countess giving up everything for love of wastrel Farley Granger. Visconti sure knew how to pick them.

Brother Sun Sister Moon - Zeffirelli's lovely film about St Francis of Assisi, risible in parts like when he strips off naked, but its very emotional with that flower power soundtrack by Donovan, very 1973, Valentina Cortese is marvellous as his mother, and Alec Guinness as the Pope.

When I was in college in the late 70s I saw a witty sexy French film called Por Quois Pas?

Sorry, I've probably mispelled it...but it translated to Why Not? and was about a male/male/female menage a trois and the 2 men were impossibly hot!

I've never heard it mentioned since then. Who were those 2 actors?!

I saw West World and Future World. They were amazing!

Gone With The Wind

Star Wars

Titanic

Avatar

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows 2

R20, it's actually Journey to Italy, but it sounds great. The only place I have found it so far is amazon on dvd

R21--the film was "Pourquoi Pas". Superb film about sexuality and WAY ahead of anything produced today. The male/male part really looked like they loved each other.

A great Japanese film from 1996 called "Bounce Ko Girls", about a ring of teenage high school girl grifters and hookers in Tokyo. Well done naturalistic acting by all the (then) young actors.

The Bad sleep well, this is a Japanese movie from the 50s.

The Butcher Boy (1997). When I stumbled on this movie, it was like someone was filming my own life. It gave me such courage to know my own gay young self was not alone.

Not as esoteric as some but I have liked these two recently:

Europa - early 90's directed by Lars van Trier. I think it was called Zentropa in Europe. Interesting and slightly hallucinogenic.

A Very Long Engagement -- Early 00's. I thought this was gorgeous movie with a sweet, quirky, brutal and beautiful story.

'Clockwatchers' with Parker Posey, Toni Collette & Lisa Kudrow. It's a rare gem, imo.

Loved Clockwatchers r29?

High Art -- Ally Sheedy as an addict living at the Chelsea, and Exotica -- Bruce Davison in weird doings between a pet store and a strip club were great too.

Jesus of Montreal. Lothaire Bluteau as an actor restaging a passion play whose life starts to parallel that of Jesus.

8 Women. A French movie that came out a few years ago. Very fun & campy, amazing colors.

"The Baby" (1974), with Anjanette Comer and Ruth Roman, which was sold as a traditional horror movie but is an incredibly fucked-up psychological thriller.

It was released to drive-ins and grindhouses, but looking at it today the director obviously made it as a fetish film (infantilism, dominatrices, Lolita fantasies and more). But the acting is incredible and the twists up to the end are genuinely surprising.

In this scene Ruth Roman is dressed like Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar. God only knows why.

R21, are you thinking of "Three?" It was on TMC a year ago and starred Charlotte Rampling, Sam Waterston, and a very handsome blonde man.

The phrase "Why Not?" was included in the movie poster.

"The Life of Reilly", a filmed performance of Charles Nelson Reilly's one man show. It's wonderful, and the last time he was ever on stage.

I didn't know Ruth Roman was still working in the 1970's. Weird to see her looking so rough and swearing. I'm so accustomed to her as a younger, elegant woman in Strangers On A Train. The Baby looks interesting.

Naked Prey faacinated me as a child. It was always on late, late at night and it was years before I discovered its title and saw the film in its entirety.

Sands of the Kalahari was another that was utterly fascinating, as the survivors devolve into the baboon society that threatens them.

There's another that I still don't know the name of. It was from the late '60s or earliest of the '70s and had an EST group of swingers who become demystified by sex concluding that ears would be taboo were they covered like genitalia.

r13, Paperhouse is all over the web and it's really pretty mediocre.

"Pourquoi Pas" starred Sami Frey, one of France's sexiest actors. He was "discovered" by Brigitte Bardot, or some other big star at the time - could have been Catherine Deneuve or Dalida or Edith Fucking Piaf for all I know. Anyway he parlayed his schtuping into a co-starring and eventually acting career of his own. Then he dumped his original meal-ticket. Good actor, and hot from head to toe but not exactly the nicest man on the planet from what I heard.

"Wild Target" is another French comedy remake. The original, the hilarious "Cible Emouvante" starred two second-generation (but first rate) stars: Guillaume Depardieu, son of Gerard, and Marie Trintignant, daughter of Jean-Louis. Both of them were talented in their own right and both met early and tragic ends.

If you like French movies and/or are not put off by subtitles, you should look up "La Fille sur le Pont" (The Girl on the Bridge) an overlooked gem featuring a performance that's nothing short of luminous by Vanessa Paradis aka Mrs Johnny Depp, as a suicidal woman hooking up with a down-on-his-luck knife thrower - who uses suicidal women as target practice. It's a wonderful mix of comedy and drama, a romantic fantasy shot like a film noir. or you could just click on the link below for one of the most beautiful scenes in the history of French cinema. (sorry for what may sound like over-hype but that's really how I feel about this movie).

What R27 said. LOVE that film. Also, LOCAL HERO. It's like a two hour vacation.

r36: Do you not remember Ruth Roman in my late 1960s Lana Turner schlockfest Love Has Many Faces?

"Funeral Parade of Roses" - a japanese film from 1969 about transvestites. Look it up!

Wong Kar-Wai's "In The Mood For Love" is fairly well known, as is its sequel "2046", but much less known is the first film in that trilogy called "Days Of Being Wild" (1991) with the late, great Leslie Cheung.

Maggie Cheung appears as a younger version of her character from "In The Mood For Love," and Carina Lau originates the role she reprises briefly in "2046"; in fact, her role in the latter doesn't make complete sense unless you see "Days Of Being Wild."

I would love to see "Love has Many Faces" with hunky Hugh O'Brian in a skimpy swimsuit. Was he into men or women?

I recently saw an Australian claymation film called "Mary and Max." It opened the Sundance Film Festival a couple of years ago, but was never nationally released in the U.S.

It's the story of a homely 8 year old girl named Mary in Australia with a distant, dull father and an alcoholic compulsive shoplifter for a mother. She's friendless and bullied at school. She picks a name at random from an American phone book and writes to a Max Jerry Horowitz from N.Y. city. Max Horowitz is Jewish, an atheist, obese and as friendless as Mary. He also has Asperger's Symdrome. The film spans 20 something years and depicts the relationship between these two unusual people.

It's been a long time since I've liked a movie this much. It really is something special. The claymation effects are outstanding and the characters are more real and sympathetic than most characters you'll see in movies with actual actors. And Philip Seymour Hoffman's vocal performance as Max should have won an Oscar.

Housekeeping - saw a reference to it here and rented it. Just a wonderful movie on life after loss.

The Attic Expeditions - low budget horror with great paranoid plot twists.

The Bleeding House - more of a filmed thriller play with kickass action sequences in the last half of the movie.

Eating Raul - a Mary Hartmanesque look at thriving in a down economy.

Crimes of Passion - impossible to find under $30, it features Kathleen Turner vs. Anthony Perkins as well as a killer dildo.

No one will be adding Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close to this list.

[quote] I would love to see "Love has Many Faces" with hunky Hugh O'Brian in a skimpy swimsuit. Was he into men or women?

About a year ago, this movie was on TCM. Sure it will come back around. As for his sexual preferance, have no idea. He married late in his 80's but I have always wondered about that too. He is hunkalicious in Where Love Has Gone. Tiny bathing suit, hairy hot looking guy.

Of course not R47, with th talent behind that it is sure to be THE Oscar favorite this year.

The wonderful Britsih film A PRIVATE FUNCTION.

Maggie Smith is a brilliant actress.

Polanski's "The Ninth Gate".

Melissa Sue Anderson in "Happy Birthday to Me"

Curtis Harrington's "What's the Matter with Helen?" and "The Killing Kind"

"Klute" Alan J. Pakula, Jane Fonda

"Mike's Murder" Debra Winger

Many years ago I saw a TV Guide listing for a Burt Reynolds/Goldie Hawn movie called "Best Friends" (made in 1982). My immediate thought was "oh that's probably a piece of trash". But, there was nothing much on that night so I watched it. I absolutely loved it! It certainly made me appreciate Reynolds' and Hawn's talents much more.

r51- I HATED The Ninth Gate. I tried but it made no sense to me at all.

I really loved The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford.

"My sister recommended that I watch Street Scene today, she said it was really great but I couldn't do it. I hope they show it again. Sylvia Sidney was really beautiful, IMO, but she's rarely mentioned when Hollywood Golden Age beauties are discussed."

Great, gorgeous actress.

And btw often left out when we have our perennial name the Jewesses threads.

I liked Best Friends too.

True Romance, a great film even though QT didn't direct it.

"The Princess and the Warrior" (German: "Der Krieger und die Kaiserin:), 2000, by the director of "Run, Lola, Run". Centering on questions of fate involving the intersection of a nurse with a failed bank robber, it's interesting, and gorgeously filmed. Benno Furmann isn't half bad to look at, either.

I saw BEST FRIENDS when it was first released and all I remember was that in the last 15 minutes or so, there was a boom mike in every shot. I think it was supposed to be a "meta" sort of thing. (As they were both supposed to be in the business of making movies, romantic comedies in particular if my memory serves.) It was really obvious and, when you stopped to think about, rather clever. Anyway, I saw it on TV a few years ago and there were no boom mikes to be seen in that sequence. Does anyone know if this was just a cropping issue? Or did I assume they were there on purpose and it just got corrected when it went to video?

It was a cropping issue, nothing more.

"AKA", 2002, an autobiographical film by Duncan Roy, the only gay film that made much of an impression on me in the last decade or so. It concerns a working class gay boy in 1978 England who falls in with high society in London, oversteps, and flees to Paris assuming the identity of the son of his former benefactor. There he falls in with some idle rich wandering gays and their hangers-on, continuing his uneasy posh pretense and runs into a bit of trouble.

The film was made at little expense, and is riddled with faults, but is interesting and excellent all the same. It's the only recent gay film to raise any fundamental questions without shoving the answers into the viewer's skull.

R59, often boom mikes used to be visible at the edge of the print when the film was shown in cinemas, but the way the image was projected onto the screen was supposed to obscure it. (I assume they just CGI it out now.) Maybe it was being projected wrong when you saw it.

"Dodsworth" with Walter Huston and Mary Astor. Amazing acting and great story.

"The Four Seasons" with Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno. Love this movie.

Thanks R60 & R62. It was so insistent (and only for that one ten minute sequence) that it felt intended. Like we were watching the film of the protagonists' lives that they would eventually make.

MEN WITH GUNS, a John Sayles film in Spanish set in an unnamed Latin American country, about a politically naive city doctor who goes searching in the countryside for some former students who disappeared.

Not fast paced, but very well done.

An odd but engrossing British film from the 60's called OUR MOTHER'S HOUSE, with Dirk Bogarde, Pamela Franklin, and a very young Mark Lester (before OLIVER!). About a group of children whose mother dies and their attempts to cover it up and avoid going to an orphanage. The director was Jack Clayton who did THE INNOCENTS and ROOM AT THE TOP.

A Spanish film called "The Maid" about a repressed nanny's relationhip with her family. A small, insightful film that could only come from a foreign country; in the U.S. it would star Katherine Heigl, cost $100 million and all they'd be concerned about is what her hi-lites looked like.

There's a great Lana Turner movie where she stars as a broadway actress and her delinquent daughter in the film hooks up with a drug dealer who laces Lana's medication with LSD. I've only seen it once and it remains in the haze of memory. I have no idea of the title.

Another great one I have no title for has Ida Lupino as the Queen of a subterranean realm who captures David Hartman from 'Good Morning, America' in a device that rips his clothes off of him.

I think "Desert Bloom" with Annabeth Gish, Jon Voigt, JoBeth Williams, and Ellen Barkin is one of the most touching, well-acted movies I've ever seen. Why it is not considered a classic, I don't know.

Z by Costa Gravas - very rivetting.

Not a hidden gem, but not mentioned much any more - The Conformist.

And, of course, Les Enfants Terribles - (spelling?)

[quote] A Spanish film called "The Maid" about a repressed nanny's relationhip with her family.

I caught this on HBO Latino and agree, very interesting film. I think it was Chilean.

Lana film is "The Big Cube" and it used to show at Film Forum before it was on dvd. The Forum paired it with "Skidoo" because of the LSD element.

Has anyone mentioned:

WANDA (1971) directed by Barbara Loden

After a string of abusive relationships, Wanda abandons her family and seeks solace in the company of a petty criminal.

Stylistically the film is improvisational and meditative in nature, similar to the works of European directors like Robert Bresson. It is seldom seen, but strongly admired. Loden, the wife of director Elia Kazan, died from cancer before she had an opportunity to make another film.

Love this thread. I'm taking notes.

r73, "Wanda" is fantastic, super depressing, but fantastic.

I never ever wanted to see MARTY but it was on recently and I loved it.

The Baxter

[quote]Do you not remember Ruth Roman in my late 1960s Lana Turner schlockfest Love Has Many Faces?

R41, I've never seen this movie before but I love a good schlockfest, so I'll look for it.

"Rain" - Fantastic NZ film from 2001 about a family vacationing on the beach in the early 70s. Very atmospheric and great soundtrack by Neil Finn. The parents relationship is coming to an end and the mom takes up with the beautiful Marton Csokas.

r79, is Csokas pronounced Choke Us?

[quote]A Spanish film called "The Maid" about a repressed nanny's relationhip with her family. A small, insightful film that could only come from a foreign country; in the U.S. it would star Katherine Heigl, cost $100 million and all they'd be concerned about is what her hi-lites looked like.

I agree. The Maid was worth seeing. Very good.

I agree, R63. "Dodsworth" is one of the best movies ever made & Walter Huston was brilliant (always, but this material was worthy of his talent).

The Game is Over (La Curee) a film by Roger Vadim with Jane Fonda and Peter McEnery. Updated from a novel by Emile Zola. In French with subtitles. A wife, married to an older very wealthy man has an affair with her studly younger stepson. It's on DVD. Fonda sued Playboy after the magazine published nude photos of her swimming in the swimming grotto set. The grotto was where Fonda and McEnery's characters conducted their affair. Apparently, a photographer snuck onto the set and snapped photos from the rafters of Fonda au natural.

Sucker Punch--- not the fantasy flick from earlier this year. This one from the UK came out several years ago. A 'no holds barred' violent murder gone wrong flick. Guys and girls on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Shades of that Nicole Kidman flick, Dead Calm but much more lurid. Not for everyone.

Dinner Rush

R84 here- sorry, the title of that movie is Donkey Punch not Sucker Punch.

Donkey Punch 2008 UR 95 minutes In a coastal Mediterranean paradise, seven people (Sian Breckin, Jaime Winstone, Nichola Burley, Tom Burke, Julian Morris, Robert Boulter and Jay Taylor) take their nonstop party out to sea on a luxury yacht. But when one of them mysteriously dies in a freak accident, the others come to blows over how to deal with the situation. As tensions rise, betrayal and anger emerge, and the survivors turn against one another in a desperate battle of wills.

Robert Altman movie called Three Women (1977) with Shelley Duvall, Janice Rule and Sissy whats-her-name. I saw it at the movies in NYC when it first came out. VERY starnge and engrossing,

r87, I think Brewster McCloud is even weirder

Higher Ground.

r89, that movie is not good and Vera Farmiga is a religious whackjob.

r90, have you seen it? She actually questions her religious beliefs. Sorry, I thought it was really insightful.

To Forget Venice

A marvelous Italian film about two gay couples, one male couple and a Lesbian couple, all reuniting at the home of a dying aunt - incredibly deep story of mourning and two couples coming to terms with the flaws and saving graces of their relationships.

Stars Erland Josephson as half of the gay couple - he was often featured in Ingmar Bergman's films.

Big seconds on Dodsworth and 3 Women--both deserve recognition as classics.

Speaking of Big...

Big Night with Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Campbell Scott, Isabella Rosselini. Lovely little movie.

And most of John Sayles' films. Lone Star my fave.

I saw "Donkey Punch." It's just an average, run-of-the-mill thriller with explicit sex and violence. The only thing unusual about it is the "donkey punch." That's the only reason I saw it; I was just curious about the "donkey punch."

r91, yes, I've seen it and Vera did a Q&A afterward during she visibly shrank in her seat as the moderator described it as "another movie about a cult," a description which fit the majority reaction of the audience to the film. Her character may have questioned her beliefs, but she stayed in what amounted to an abusive relationship with "god" through to the last frame.

A not very successful (at the time) film from Bette Davis late Warner Brothers years:

Winter Meeting

I found it a very mature, adult film about being lonely and single.

I think that, because of American cinema, Australia has become a source of excellent films. The gift that America gave Australia is the idea that, in order to be successful, a film must follow a formula and be predictable. The gift that Australia gave the world was the idea that a film can look like it follows the conventions, and then rewards the viewer by breaking those conventions.

My suggestion for a great piece of relatively unknown cinema is the film "Proof," starring Hugo Weaving and an ingenue Russell Crowe.

"Being There" Peter Sellers/ Shirley MacClaine

Birdy. Stunning, understated performances by Matt Modine and Nic Cage. That movie also gave me a lifelong appreciation for Peter Gabriel's music.

Lantana

And of course R97, MY BRILLIANT CAREER

Hogfather.Can't read terry pratchet but I love his film adaptions.

LOVED Lantana! THanks for mentioning it and reminding me r100.

Apartment Zero. Set in paranoid junta Argentina, features sexual tension between prissy Colin Firth and sexy murderer Hart Bochner.

Twist and Shout. Moving Scandinavian movie about family secrets and two boys' friendship.

The Sweet Hereafter. The repercussions in families/communities after an accidental death. Immaculately structured, deeply sad reflection on memory and love.

I friggin' LOVE "Rudy" with Sean Astin! And the fact that it is a true story makes it even better. I am a sucker for inspirational sports movies- "Miracle", "We Are Marshall", "The Final Season" (also with Sean Astin). "The Blind Side", and "The Mighty Macs" which is finally being released in the U.S.

Could someone recommend any good documentaries? The last ones I saw, and liked, were 'Capturing the Friedmans' and 'Crazy in Love'.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a great docmentary...

Thanks to the poster who mentioned John Sayles. My favorite of his is THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET. Sweet, gentle, with touches of pure genius. The late Gene Siskel used to rave about this film; I say it only recently and I understand why.

I love all French New Wave, but CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 by the great Agnes Varda is fabulous.

Keep these coming; I too am taking notes!

[quote]My favorite of his is THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET.

I haven't seen that in years, but I still remember bits of it. I loved the aliens' visit to the government office. They're pressuring the bureaucrat to answer questions and he responds by handing them stacks of forms to fill out to obtain assistance.

[quote]Could someone recommend any good documentaries? The last ones I saw, and liked, were 'Capturing the Friedmans' and 'Crazy in Love'.

I really liked "Young at Heart" about a choir made up of elderly men and women. They sing rock music. Very heart-warming and fun.

Chilly Scenes of Winter, directed by Joan Silver. Mary Beth Hurt and John Heard at their finest.

Indiscreet with Cary Grant and Ingrid Berman. Sophisticated comedy at its finest.

A couple documentaries:

Love her or hate her, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work makes for a good documentary.

51 Birch Street, an intimate, not at all sensational, moving look at the filmmaker's parents.

Haiku Tunnel - I lived this.

"Our Sons"

Dawson's One Load Weekend.

The forgotten dewy 'Is this gonna hurt much, mister?' debut.

The original chink in the dam.

The first misty watercolored dewy droplets of a semen tsunami.

It just leaves you wanting more.

Monsieur Klein/Mr. Klein with Alain Delon. Delicious Alain in a Kafkaesque nightmare. Yummm.

Quick question.

I was going to see The Lion King in 3D today, but I just want to see the movie normally without the 3D glasses. There was also a 2D showing last week that is now gone. My question is, if I watch the 3D version without the glasses, is it the same as the 2D version, or are there inbuilt alterations made to the 3d print that will make it look unusual without the 3D glasses?

I'm hoping it looks just like the normal version if I don't wear the 3D glasses.

r117, it will look unfocused to you.

Thank you, R118.

Can anyone recommend any indie movies or documentaries? The last doc I liked was Capturing the Friedmans.

And what about foreign language movies from the last 10 years?

[quote]And what about foreign language movies from the last 10 years?

The Lives of Others - One of the best movies I've seen in the past ten years.

Jodha Akbar - This is a big, historical spectacle, a bit long, but lots to look at.

Persepolis - Animated, in French, by an Iranian woman who grew up in Iran after the revolution. Voiced by Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve.

There's an adventure film called Dark of the Sun (or The Mercenaries) and it's so terrific. Rod Taylor, Jim Brown and Yvette Mimieux in the jungle fighting off Nazis and revolutionaries. Terrific score, great location photography and just generally captivating. Hardly anyone knows about it.

As for Hugh O'Brian, he was a bachelor his entire life until his marriage at 80-something! He was allegedly a real player with the ladies, but gentlemanly and discreet about it. He used to be tight with Hugh Hefner, who some folks thought he resembled and who he played a variation of on at least one occasion. I think he must have been at least bi. Just my own take on him.

R122- DARK OF THE SUN is shown on TCM.

Portrait of Jennie: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotton, Ethel Barrymore, Cecil Kellaway. Superb, moody and beautiful

"i've heard the mermaids singing"- a canadian film from '87, about the fantasy world of a temp worker;

"an angel at my table"- jane campion directs a biopic about author janet frame, from 1990.

"prick up your ears"- one of my all-time favorites, stars a YOUNG gary oldman as playwright joe orton, and alfred molina as his murderous boyfriend.

hmm, these are all from about the same time. i saw them all at the inwood theater in dallas, texas.

Mary & Max (2009) with Toni Collette and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Had never heard of it before and wanted something 'light' to watch on a plane. It's an animated film but ended up being an excellent movie, and possibly one of the only films I've ever cried in.

There's a French documentary from about ten years ago called "The Gleaners and I" by new wave director Agnes Varda.

It's about scavenging the unwanted- particularly food, but the meaning extends much farther than that in the movie. It's quite emotionally moving and really makes you think about the values of our post-agricultural global economy.

"Nothing But a Man," with Abbey Lincoln and Ivan Dixon. It's wonderful film about a black guy experiencing prejudice from white and black people in the 60s Deep South. I fell in love with this a few years ago when PBS aired it, and I've viewed it several times since. Totally riveting in every way. Its small budget gave it a very atmospheric feel. I highly suggest it.

"Could someone recommend any good documentaries? The last ones I saw, and liked, were 'Capturing the Friedmans' and 'Crazy in Love'."

Here are a few I would recommend:

"A Lion In The House". A film about children with cancer. Very sad, but very affecting and moving.

"So Much So Fast" The story of Stephen and Jamie Heywood. Stephen is afflicted with ALS; his brother Jamie quites his job and starts a scientific research team to ferret out new treatments for the disease (given the small number of people who deal with ALS, few drug companies have stepped forward with medicines to ease its symptoms, believing that they could not turn a profit on the drugs).

"Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father" The filmmaker's dear friend Andrew Bagby was murdered by a nutso former girlfriend; later the nutso girlfriend gives birth to Andrew's baby. Andrew's parents have to make nice with their son's killer in order to see their grandson. The filmmaker thought his film about Andrew would be a gift to his son, but events take an unbelieveably horrible turn.

"Streetwise" A film about street kids in Seattle.

"Marlene" Documentary about Marlene Dietrich, directed by Maximilian Schnell.

"Sex Positive" Here's a brief synopsis of this movie: "a revolutionary gay S&M hustler turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited. Mr. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epidemic demanding a solution to the problem before the outside world would take heed. Now destitute and alone, Mr. Berkowitz tells his story to a world who never wanted to listen."

Nothing in Common. Tom Hanks is a self-absorbed yuppie son dealing with aging parents, played by Eva Marie Saint and Jackie Gleason in his last film role.

Until a third act which falls under the weight of what up until that was an ingenious script, I'd say Otto Preminger's "Until the Sidewalk Ends," with Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney.

The premise - a brutal cop on probation who accidentally and in self defense kills an out of control drunk he is questioning, covers it up and falls in love with the daughter of the man suspected of the murder - is great. Preminger's direction is superb and it begins looking like another great movie from the director and stars of "Laura." But it too soon becomes clear that Andrews' character is not smart enough and the story doesn't know how to build on its strong core. And Gary Merrill doesn't quite make it as the heavy.

Another movie that is worth seeing which I caught last night on on demand is Lars von Trier's upcoming Melancholia. I don't want to oversell it except to say that Kirsten Dunst who won best actress at Cannes is superb as is Charlotte Gainsbourg as her sister. Unfortunately, the film has gotten more attention for Von Trier's idiotic Nazi comments than for it's intriguing portrayal of depression as juxtaposed with the cosmos. Pretentious but irresistible and Dunst's work shows an intelligence and maturity that will surprise a lot of people.

"Mother, May I Sleep With Danger." Of course, I would've altered the ending, but I'm not one to quibble.

In what universe is the highly acclaimed, oscar winning "The Lives of Others" a "hidden gem"?

Natural Born Killers. Fasten your seat belt before the first scene gets under way.

'You Can Count On Me' (2000) - Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo. 'nuff said.

'Shattered Glass' (2003) - Hayden Christensen (he's actually good in it), Peter Saarsgard (also 'nuff said).

Pigs and Battleships - new wave Japanese crime thriller about a teenager who enters into the Yakuza as a way to a better life for him and his prostitute girlfriend. Poignant, stylish with a heap of social commentary.

Taking Off - Milos Forman's first American movie starring Buck Henry as an uptight suburbanite looking for his daughter in the counter-culture wastelands of the east village circa 1971. Absurdist humor at its best, with some truly hysterical moments - and with an AMAZING cast: Audra Lindley, Paul Benedict, Vincent Schiavelli.

Jack Be Nimble - gothic horror movie out of New Zealand starring a young Alexis Arquette as an orphan adopted by an evil family who tortures him until he builds a device that hypnotizes people to do his bidding. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Dusty and Sweets McGee - gripping, quasi-verite melodrama about a bunch of heroin addicts in Los Angeles in the 70s. The cinematography is just ravishing, and perfectly captures the schizophrenic sun-drenched beauty of southern california...set to a truly amazing soundtrack. Harrowing, but exhilarating - starring Billy Gray from Father Knows Best.

Istvan Szabo's "Meeting Venus" (1991): a Hungarian conductor (Niels Arestrup) attempts to mount an ambitious, multinational production of "Tannhauser" during the "new Europe". He must deal with singers' egos, unionized musicians and stagehands, wishy-washy front office management, and a temperamental Swedish diva (Glenn Close), with whom the married conductor unwisely enters into an affair.

Opera fans will immediately recognize Kiri Te Kanawa standing in for Glenn's singing voice.

Not completely hidden but not many have seen it...I really REALLY love the movie "Bobby" written and directed by Emilio Estevez. It's set at the Ambassador Hotel during the 1968 California primary when RFK was assassinated. It has an all-star cast and, in my opinion, the best work some of the stars have done. I think Sharon Stone should have won the supporting actress Oscar for this.

"Something For Everyone"

Konrad, a handsome country boy in post-war Austria, charms his way into a butler position at the castle of a widowed countess that lost her fortune. Before long the opportunistic boy is running the entire household. As he starts affairs with both the countess son and the daughter of a wealthy businessman, the idea grows to get his two lovers to marry each other and make the house rich again.

A farcical and hilarious movie!

My newest:

Dean Spanley, 2008, Toa Fraser's (who?) drolly directed adaptation of Lord Dunsany's novella.

Jeremy Northam, as always, adorable Bryan Browne is a hoot Peter O'Toole is outrageously funny Sam Neil is brilliant

A hilarious madcap script

instantly watchable on netflix

A find.

[italic]What About Bob[/italic] -- The 1991 comedy stars Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss as patient and doctor. During a trip to New Hampshire, we find just which is which. Frank Oz directed the comedy, and it is somewhat hidden (and a gem). Co-stars Julie Haggerty.

'The Furies' starring Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson. A psychologically complex western with great black & white cinematography and some knockout performances by Stanwyck and Huston. Directed by Anthony Mann from 1950.

Another vote for "The Maid' a Chilean film with a superb performance from Catalina Saavedra as Raquel, the family maid. Feeling she is overworked, her employers hire a series of assistants for her all of which are sabotaged by Raquel. A wonderful dark comedy.

r142, it was also Walter Huston's last film before he died. And it is a great film, one of Stanwyck's better 50s vehicles. The scene between her and Judith Anderson with the scissors is one of my favorites.

TCM played one yesterday, The Devil by the Tail, a French farce about a batty family with a name, but no money, who turns their country estate into a bed and breakfast. Yves Montand in a rare comic role as a bankrobber who ends up there. Maria Schell, looking luminous. Marthe Keller, all legs in the very short skirts of the day (1969.) Music by the gifted Georges Delerue. It was very charming and quite amusing, too!

I love "The Celebration". Highly recommended Danish dark comedy drama about family Get together for the partriarch's birthday that goes horribly wrong. Can't say much without giving a lot away.

Perhaps qualifies as "hidden" in the U.S., Claude Chabrol's La Ceremonie, with Isabelle Huppert, Sandrine Bonnaire and Jackie Bisset, riveting thriller with Huppert and Bonnaire as misfits is drag out class warfare.

"The Maid" with Saavedra, also a great film, reminded me of this one.

The Korean film "Mother" from last year is superb.

Anyone know why Miramax's "Dean Spanley" with it's stellar cast was so low profile? It's a sweet, hilarious and touching film with a perfectly light touch. Was it released in the U.S.?

Finally, "Weekend" currently playing is perhaps the best gay romance in years.

Is "Pourquoi Pas" different than the German movie "Maybe...Maybe not?" because I liked that one but it isn't any menage a trois. It is a gay guy who successfully seduces a straight guy.

This thread is a goldmine. I hope it will go on forever.

"I'm watching as fast as I can."

Yes, a treasure trove here, my queue is back up now!

"The Nights of Cabiria" (1957 Fellini) this is the original Sweet Charity. Italian

And speaking of Italian neo-realism, "The Bicycle Thief" is on TCM Saturday night at 8pm Eastern.

I don't think I can watch it again but I certainly recommend it.

Ginger Snaps

APARTMENT FOR PEGGY (1948), Edmund Gwenn's forgotten follow-up to MIRACLE ON 34th STREET.

A completely beguiling film of young college kids (William Holden at his prettiest and Jeanne Crain's best and most animated performance EVER) and an elderly professor.

When it was released, Bosley Crowther of the Times creamed over it. He thought it superior to MIRACLE.

I love that movie...a gem! "the bicycle theives"

Another vote for Dean Spanley. Worth it just for Sam O'Neill's monologues alone.

Goofy, bad-made movie: "In the Spirit." It's entertaining because Marlo Thomas (!) and Elaine May work together so well in it.

[quote]'The Furies' starring Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson. A psychologically complex western with great black & white cinematography and some knockout performances by Stanwyck and Huston. Directed by Anthony Mann from 1950

I LOVE this movie. Stanwyck is fantastic. Gilbert Roland also has a great turn as her childhood friend.

Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus

This is the French movie from 1979 "Pourquoi Pas" The German movie is from 1994.

Just the ads for "Pourquoi pas" when it played at the Prytania Theater in New Orleans made my little gay heart flutter back in '78.

THE RAPTURE starring Mimi Rogers

So true, so scary, so rivetting. Mimi Rogers plays a woman who goes from aimless, depressed atheist to Christian fundie waiting for the Rapture to arrive, back to losing her faith.

Her performance is spectacular and wonderful, and unlike most movies, her character has an arc. She's a completely different person at the end as at the beginning.

She's also better in it than about 90 percent of Academy Award winners.

[quote]Just the ads for "Pourquoi pas" when it played at the Prytania Theater in New Orleans made my little gay heart flutter back in '78

I used to keep the big poster of coming attractions at the Prytania on my refrigerator.

Kind Hearts and Coronets.

"The Curse of the Cat People." When I was in 3rd grade, my mother and I saw this film on Creature Features. We thought it was going to be a horror film, but it turned out to be a beautiful look into the mind of a lonely child. Very moody and atmospheric. I read it was somewhat of a sequel to "Cat People," with some of the same actors playing the same characters--but I've never seen the first. I just ordered the DVD, which has both films, plus commentary.

Laugh all you want but..... Titanic.

Finally got around to watching it (all over the TV of late) and it really hit a nerve....

especially at the end when the old lady is dreaming and the Titanic is restored to its former glory.

And, after the movie, I jumped on the internet and read all about the sinking of the titanic.

One thing I know for certain--- men of today would definitely not follow the policy of women and children first.

On a side note, Clint Eastwood's ex was perfect as the ice cold mother.

So, r164, you think "Titanic" is an undiscovered "hidden gem" of a movie, is that what you are saying?

The ruling class. Just watched it. Peter otoole is amazing. The satire is the best.

For me, yes r165

"Thieves" starring Marlo Thomas and Charles Grodin, made in 1977. A true gem of a film.

"Fearless" starring Jeff Bridges and Rosie Perez. Although Perez was nominated for an Oscar for this (it's the only time I've ever been able to watch her), it disappeared from the theaters very quickly, despite its strong reviews.

"Angie" starring Geena Davis in one of her early roles. I know the reviews weren't that good, but I really loved this film.

Other than r164, I like the spirit of this thread.

Don't be mean, R165. Maybe R164 has been in a coma for 14 years.

I remember Pourgois Pas? as a wonderful film, it presented life and love the way it out to be. I think Three was a remake of it, but not as good, but never saw it, so....

Another vote for Local Hero, which is just pure magic-and a great score as well, by Mark Knopfler.

I am also a huge fan of Bedrooms and Hallways, with Kevin McKidd, James Purefoy, Simon Callow, Harriet Walter, Jennifer Ehle, Hugo Weaving, and the ubersexy Con O'Neill. Another wonderful examination of "fluid" sexuality.

THE RAPTURE starring Mimi Rogers. One of the eeriest movies I have ever seen and Mimi is spectacular in it. An unforgettable movie.

Another joy of "Dean Spanley" is Judy Parfitt. What a cast!

I never liked Local Hero even though an unrequited love of mine adored it. That whiny lead actor was just so annoying....

The Station Agent

Rodger Dodger

The Spanish Prisoner

The ApriL Fools

Save the Tiger

The Daytrippers

Falling in Love

Love with the Proper Stranger

(second) The Sweet Hereafter

Truly, Madly, Deeply

The Winter Guest

Nobody's Fool

Lawndogs

Priest

For a Lost Soldier

That's a start...

Two underrated Barbara Stanwyck holiday gems - NOT "Christmas in Connecticut" either. "Remember the Night" (1940) with Fred MacMurray and "My Reputation" with George Brent from 1944, which she made right after "Double Indemity". Both films take place during the Christmas holiday season and feature Babs at her best.

R172, I mentioned THE RAPTURE upthread, I had pretty much the same reaction as you. Mimi *was* spectacular, wasn't she?

Of course it's not surprising it wasn't a hit -- way too irreverent in its treatment of religion - I'm just grateful it even got made at all.

According to dl, "Titanic" has always been 1 of the worst movies ever made.

Don't even get them started on Celine Dion and the theme song.

I'm going to second a few listed here:

To Live - Chinese melodrama that tells the story of a family, using China's history as a backdrop (Revolution, Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution). Somewhat sappy, but a gem nonetheless.

Princess and the Warrior - Just really well done, and beautifully shot, as mentioned above

The Maid - Chilean gem

Voy a explotar: I don't even know if you can find this around, but it's a Mexican movie from 2009 about two very young lovers in Guanajuato who do very stupid things in order to be together. I didn't like it upon watching it, but it really stuck with me. The title means "I'm going to explode," and it really transmits that feeling of urgency and end-of-the-worldness about young love.

Come and See: Russian movie from 1986 about the German invasion of Belarus. Many incredibly, incredibly intense scenes, but also extremely artistic. One of the best movies I've seen, and the BEST war movie I've ever seen.

Sweet Hereafter: Beautiful film.

I second [bold]The Daytrippers[/bold] (I love these kinds of dysfunctional families) and [bold]The Station Agent[/bold] (also quirky loners like these). You might also like:

[bold]Unhook the Stars[/bold] - Gena Rowlands as an older woman at a loss when her kids move out and she has no one to care for like she's used to all her life, so she becomes involved in the troubled life of a younger neighbour among others. Marisa Tomei is good in this.

[bold]Italian for Beginners[/bold] - Charming Danish film about the lives of a group attending the same Italian language class.

In the same spirit, small, charming and funny, [bold]Waking Ned Devine[/bold]. Film about the inhabitants of a remote Irish village who win the lottery.

[bold]The Best of Youth[/bold] - With the turbulent backdrop of Italian history the 60's to the present, this epic revolves around two brothers and the radically different paths their lives take following a single incident. It does flirt with cheesy at some points but, overall, a major triumph. Almost 8 hours of your life, but well spent.

Spanish films [bold]Bad Education[/bold] and [bold]Talk to Her[/bold] - Viva Pedro Almadovar. Enough said.

[bold]La Haine[/bold] - Gritty French film from the nineties predating the riots from a few years ago.

Again, [bold]The Celebration[/bold], - This Danish film about a family reunion that turns ugly manages to tackle a serious subject yet remain strangely funny. One of my favourite films ever.

Is [bold]High Fidelity[/bold] with John Cussack and Jack Black(I know) a "hidden gem"? - I so identified with Cussack's character and liked it better than [bold]About a Boy[/bold] also adapted from a Nick Hornby book.

[bold]Depatures[/bold] - Japanese film about a man who is forced to return to his small home town and unexpectedly gets into the business of preparing dead bodies for funerals.

[bold]Crazy in Love[/bold] - Documentary about the really strange and scary love story of an elderly New York jewish couple (people really are weird).

I've mentioned [bold]Capturing the Friedmans[/bold] - which really isn't that "hidden" but, for me, the best documentary of it's kind.

[bold]The Class[/bold] - French gem set in a school in one of Paris' rougher districts.

Two French masterpieces: [bold]The Piano Teacher[/bold] and [bold]The School of Flesh[/bold] - Isabelle Hupert, not Meryl Streep, is truly the greatest actress of our time.

[bold]Mysterious Skin[/bold] - Greg Araki's only palatable film, if you ask me. And what a masterpiece it is. Difficult subject handled expertly. Joseph Gordon-Levitt didn't get the accolades he deserves.

and finally,

"The Son's Room" - Touching Italian gem about a Genovese upper middle class family and how they deal with the loss of their son.

These, I saw within the last year and I could go on and on, but have to accept we all have varied tastes and people might even think these are crap. But I really liked them. and honestly think they should more like these.

And thanks for the suggestions, I'm hearing very good things about [bold]The Maid[/bold] and [bold]Weekend[/bold] and can't wait to see them.

House Of Games. Best thing Joe Mantegna ever did this side of Fat Tony. God I hate it that David Mamet is such a douche in real life.

Me too, r181. I can't stand Mamet's right wing poltics but he's a great writer. "Glengary Glen Ross" is a great play and film and "The Winslow Boy" is a beautiful film also.

Babette's Feast - always reminds me of Christmas.

I recently watched a movie called Tadpole about a 15 year old who falls in love with his step mother.

It is a VERY low budget indie, coming-of-age movie starring a guy called Aaron Stanford, and also Sigourney Weaver, John Ritter and Bebe Neuwirth. Weaver gave a great performance as the mother.

I LOVE "Tadpole", r184. Aaron Stanford, Sigourney Weaver and Bebe Neuwirth were all awesome.

It wasn't hidden in its day, but I haven't met anyone else in their 20s who's seen The Quiet Man.

Two British films that may count as 'hidden gems' are:

'Withnail & I' (starring Richard E Grant). This film gained notoriety among students in the 1990s, and was a big sleeper hit. It remains one of my favourite films thanks to Uncle Monty.

'Brazil' by Terry Gilliam (also made Time Bandits). This is dystopian, bleak satire (strangely featuring Robert De Niro). It kicks most dystopian movies out of the water. (Currently on BBC iplayer for UK posters).

Another hidden gem - 'The Wave' - a German movie.

This was based on a real-life, classroom experiment conducted in the US about how dictatorships emerge.

MANY will disagree here, but I loved "Stepping Out" with Liza and Shelley Winters". I thought is was very sweet and charming.

A few months ago I had insomnia. I turned on Turner, and this interesting move had just began, " The Loved One". The black and white cinematography is great fun and it was hilarious, it is John waters meets Hitchcock for a quick description. Robert Morse,Jonathan Winters,Anjanette Comer,Dana Andrews,Milton Berle,James Coburn,John Gielgud,Tab Hunter,Margaret Leighton,Liberace,Roddy McDowall,Robert Morleyt

"Cartouche" (1964), a French swashbuckler starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale, that I added to my Netflix queue on a lark. It's very entertaining, with some great visual comedy (such as the scene in which an entire room is wiped clean by thieves) and Belmondo and Cardinale are a joy to watch.

PARTING GLANCES -- maybe the best movie ever about gay NY in the time of AIDS. A PERFECT WORLD -- small Clint Eastwood movie with an ending that'll knock you out. LAST SUMMER -- Loved it as an adolescent and it holds up -- despite the always irritating Barbara Hershey. IT ALWAYS RAINS ON SUNDAY -- great English noir about East London. Great thread.

Alexander Sokurov's "Russian Ark"; also "Father and Son" with its amazing homoeroticism (vehemently denied by Sokurov). I would watch all of Sokurov but that's all Netflix had of him back when I had Netflix.

X Y & Zee (1971)

Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Susannah York

The venomous and amoral wife of a wealthy architect tries, any way she can, to break up the blossoming romance between her husband and his new mistress; a good-natured young widow who holds a dark past.

Fun stuff, great early seventies sets.

"Nobody Knows": A Japanese film that won the young boy who potrays the oldest brother the best actor award at the Cannes film festival. He remains the youngest winner in the history of Cannes. One of the most haunting films I have ever seen, and the ending was shattering.

"The Story of Adele H.": Imho, this is the best film Truffaut ever directed. The acting, the screenplay, the cinematography are all pitch perfect. Based on the true story of Victor Hugo's daughter.

"Bunny Lake is Missing": An Otto Preminger film that deserves more than it has received. Eerie, and for its time, more than a bit shocking in terms of what is suggested by Preminger. I have never understood why this film never has taken on cult status.

"Five Corners": Produced by George Harrison of the Beatles for his Hand Made Productions and starring Jodie Foster. Weird, funny, and also dark and unsettling. All of the pieces do not quite fit together, but how anyone can resist the strange charms of this one is beyond me.

[quote]"Cartouche" (1964), a French swashbuckler starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale,

You might take a look at [italic]Fanfan La Tulipe[/italic], another French swashbuckler with Gerard Philippe. He's adorable and so is Gina Lollabrigida.

3 films;

Blonde Venus (1932): Marlene Dietrich redeeming soap opera nonsense; Notable for Dietrich's cabaret songs, especially one number that was done just to pi$$ off Hitler (Hot Voodoo), depending on what source you believe. Has Dietrich entering a nightclub, then taking off a gorilla suit. Features a very young, absolutely gorgeous Cary Grant. Strong lesbian undercurrents to the plot.

Baby Face (1933):Young Barbara Stanwyck kills her father who pimps her out to anyone who will pay, then comes to New York City and sleeps her way to the top (of an extremely tall skyscraper), starting in the mail room. Notable for a handsome, early John Wayne before he found his niche in westerns, and she is rewarded for her behavior. Got censors in an tizzy, and a moralistic voiceover ending is slapped on the end of the film;the stars were all unavailable for retakes.

Captain Blood (1935): Ignore the romance and just enjoy the beefcake on display in Errol Flynns' first starring movie. Everyone seems to be having a great time on this tongue-in-cheek pirate swashbuckler that has very definite homoerotic overtones.

Ranger @ R195, thanks for reminding me about 'Five Corners', a great movie, though a little disturbing.

I'd like to sing the praises of a couple of Cronenburg films: hardly obscure but if you haven't seen HIS 'Crash' or 'eXistenZ' you really ought to rectify that.

I don't remember the name of it but it was a movie about sabre-tooth vampires from the stone age.

The Hurt Locker

I know I know it is not a gem per se, but I hadn't seen it in the cinemas when it came out, and just recently caught it on the tele, and it is a mangnificent film

You want hidden gems? Watch THE MUDGE BOY or EYE OF GOD or BORSTAL BOY or I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER or TWIN FALLS, IDAHO or SOMERS TOWN and you will be sobbing into your pillow for nights to come.

"See It My Way". It's a little-known Helen Lawson movie in which her character goes blind and she tries to save a local stray dog from being gassed by volunteering to train it as a seeing-eye dog.

It's sort of "Dark Victory" meets "the Miracle Worker" meets "Old Yeller". Very moving.

Ah, The Mudge Boy! Who doesn't like to see Emile Hirsch get raped?

LOVE Twin Falls, Idaho. Really moving.

Did anybody else see "The Black Book" (aka "Reign of Terror," 1949) the other night on TCM? Basically, the French Revolution meets film noir, as Robert Cummings and Arlene Dahl frantically search Paris for Robespierre's list of names for the guillotine (a classic McGuffin); the plot is a bit silly, but Anthony Mann directs the hell out of the material and John Alton's b&w cinematography is simply jaw-dropping.

The Small Back Room a/k/a Hour of Glory - a Powell/Pressburger WWII movie, not as glorious as the Red Shoes or Black Narcissus, but worth seeing. It stars David Farrar and Kathleen Byron, who were also in Black Narcissus (Sister Ruth). It's about a weapons developer with girlfriend problems and drinking problems.

Five Corners

THE DRVER'S SEAT (1974)

Elizabeth Taylor / Ian Bannen

"Affliction." This movie was nominated for several Oscars (and won one; James Coburn won best supporting actor for his role in this), but I don't think many people saw it. It starred Nick Nolte; it's VERY depressing but very worthwhile. Nolte's performance was riveting and was nominated for an Oscar. But he (and Ian McKellen and Ed Norton, all of whom gave outstanding performances that year) lost to that yammering idiot Roberto Benigni. Benigni winning the Best Actor Oscar that year is one of the major travesties of the Academy Awards.

Speaking of depressing movies, there's one that comes immediately to mind: "Testament." Released in 1983, it starred Jane Alexander (she was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Shirley MacLaine) and told the story of a woman and her children and neighbors after a nuclear attack on the U.S. by an unnamed enemy. It's wonderfully acted and moving, but oh my God, so sad! One of the saddest movies I've ever seen.

I agree, r208, Affliction is wonderful.

R 180 - you have amazing taste in movies. I want to marry you!

Maybe not hidden but indeed a gem is The Crying Game. Wonderful love story, well written, well-photographed and great acting especially from Stephen Rey, Forest Whittaker and the amazing Jaye Davidson, whose acting career seemed to end all too soon.

Oh my fucking god R138 you think that steaming pile is a gem? Jesus fucking Christ that "film" eats cock. WORST movie I have ever seen. Lawrence fucking Fishburne calling Freddy fucking Rodriguez a king because he gave him some baseball tickets? Give me a fucking break.

[quote]"Bunny Lake is Missing": An Otto Preminger film that deserves more than it has received. Eerie, and for its time, more than a bit shocking in terms of what is suggested by Preminger. I have never understood why this film never has taken on cult status.

I watch it whenever it's on TCM, it's very creepy and weird.

"Jeopardy" starring Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan and Ralph Meeker from 1953. It's a good suspense movie that you don't hear much about.

[quote]The Stilwins are on vacation to an isolated beach in Mexico. Walking on a deserted jetty, Doug Stilwin gets his leg trapped under one of the logs. All attempts to move the log are futile and Helen Stilwin takes the car to get help. However, an escaped criminal kidnaps her. Will she be able to return to her husband before he drowns?

'Young Soul Rebels' (1991) is a great little british movie with a gay theme and a killer soundtrack. Set in London in the late '70s it explores the west indian soul subculture at the time of Punk Rock. That soul scene later gave birth to Massive Attack and the whole trip hop scene (which was big at the time the movie was made). It has a killer soundtrack - Parliament's 'Mothership Connection' is the first thing you hear.

The film is a bit like a half-brother to 'My Beautiful Laundrette'.

Wiki says:

Kiss Me Deadly (1955); Starring Ralph Meeker, this film is the ultimate low budget film noir. The object the characters seek is their own destruction. To give away any more details would spoil the film. Film was directed by Robert Aldrich, whose rough, tough macho style was perfect for this script. Film is also notable for the debut of Cloris Leachman, whose character in this movie is too delicate and fine to thrive.

[R212]Not to mention the horrible Ashton Kutcher in a completely throw-away role that he only got because Demi twisted director/ex-fiance Emilio Estevez's arm.

An Australian film called IN HER SKIN. It's based on a true and is very disturbing. Ruth Bradley gives and chilling performance.

Two more. Lured (1947): A British film noir, directed by Douglas Sirk before he reached America, film features Lucille Ball as an endangered chorine in Victorian London, and Boris Karloff as the probable villain, film is a quirky mix of thriller and comedy. A must see for film buffs.

The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968): Rough sledding, I know, but this is a little seen camp classic. Film theme is all of Hollywood is rotting; it uses the idea of reincarnation to carry it out. Kim Novak is cast as the innocent who turns into the 1920's(?) sex goddess Lylah Clare. Coral Browne does a marvelously funny take on Hedda Hopper; the rest of the film is pure camp. Ending must be seen to be believed.

Angel's Egg, a very flawed but interesting anime movie from 1985. The entire movie is on youtube.

Red State. Yes, Kevin Smith is a jerk whose ego doomed this movie to minimal distribution. But he's pro-gay and, with this movie, proves he can truly be a brilliant filmmaker. Funny, terrifying, constantly unpredictable film. Stunning direction, editing and cinematography. Fantastic performances from Michael Parks and John Goodman.

[quote]Oh my fucking god [R138] you think that steaming pile is a gem? Jesus fucking Christ that "film" eats cock. WORST movie I have ever seen. Lawrence fucking Fishburne calling Freddy fucking Rodriguez a king because he gave him some baseball tickets? Give me a fucking break.

Wow, because I love this movie you have to get like that? I certainly didn't intend to piss you off with my choice but I guess I did.

Per r193, I just watched "Father and Son." So, Sukurov vehemently denies the homoeroticism in this film??? Is it normal in Russia for fathers and sons to embrace each other naked, to stare longingly into each other's eyes, their lips close enough to touch, to marvel over each other's muscles, to get jealous when another young man appears on the scene? This is a daily occurance in Russia? If so, I want to move there.

Body Heat great film with Mickey Rourke when he was young and cute.

William Hurts best performance.

I liked Bobby also.

"Careful, He Might Hear You": disturbing and very powerful Australia film from the early 1980s about two sisters in Sydney in the 1930s vying for the guardianship of their dead other sister's son. Wendy Hughes turns in a genuinely classic performance

"Contraband": Rarely seen but extremely fun British thriller by Powell and Pressberger (who also made "The Red Shoes," "Black Narcissus," etc.) made at the beginning of the 2nd World War--it out-Hitchcock's Hitchcock's 30s British films. Also an excellent film by them that few people have seen is "One of Our Aircraft is Missing," from about the same time

Another vote for "The Rapture," which indeed has a genuinely great performance by Mimi Rogers and one of the most memorable endings to a film I've ever seen

R223, it was actually filmed in Portugal.

Scaramouche (1952)

Andre-Louis Moreau is a nobleman's bastard in the days of the French revolution. Noel, the Marquis de Mayne, a nobleman in love with the Queen, is ordered to seek the hand of a young ingenue, Aline, in marriage. Andre also meets Aline, and forms an interest in her. But when the marquis kills his best friend Andre declares himself the Marquis's enemy and vows to avenge his friend. He hides out, a wanted man, as an actor in a commedia troupe, and spends his days learning how to handle a sword. ....

Quite funny and great sets.

r227, my impression was that, though filmed in Portugal, the setting was still Russia -- why would all the locals, including the trolley operator, speak Russian?

Of course, it was hard to determine what was dream and what was reality in the film, which is perhaps why the Lisbon location was chosen -- it looked otherworldly.

But it was worth a look. And that Daddy was eminently fuckable. Not so much the kid.

r230, oh, I agree, it's definitely worth watching. And, yes, daddy was HOT.

I love The Opposite of Sex just for Cristina Ricci's narration...

I have one: THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER (1938), with Tommy Kelly in the title role and a supporting cast that includes May Robson, Victor Jory, Walter Brennan, and Margaret Hamilton. Very well done in terms of script adaptation, acting, and direction, plus the movie is in gorgeous early three-strip Technicolor.

It used to be broadcast on TV frequently when I was a kid, but now I think it's in the public domain now. (It's a Seznick Studios film.) I had a laserdisc of it that was apparently made from a 16-mm print, but someone made me a copy of a gorgeous restoration from a 35mm print; not sure of the source.

Apparently, the movie is available on DVD as an import; I can't vouch for the quality of that transfer, but the movie itself is definitely worth tracking down. Very well done, straightforward film version of the book.

"No One Will Talk About Us When We're Dead" - a Spanish movie with the great Vicoria Abril as a tough hooker on the run - anybody ever see this?

"The Human Comedy" a 1943 film with Mickey Rooney. I can't stand him but he was terrific in this movie set in a small CA town during the war. He plays a messenger boy who delivers the 'We regret to inform you...' telegrams. The movie is a set of vignettes. I just love it.

I loved two little-known British films that I saw on cable a year or so ago.

LADIES IN LAVENDER with Maggie Smith and Judi Dench and a gorgeous Daniel Bruhl. The Dames play two spinster sisters whose quiet lives are changed when an injured young man washes up on the beach near their cottage. His presence in their house brings out the maternal instinct in one and causes the other to "long for a life not lived."

MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT with Joan Plowright and Rupert Friend (gorgeous too). A widow moves into a London hotel to live out her years hoping to meet new friends and be closer to her grandson. Neither the hotel nor her grandson are what she expected but she begins a tentative friendship with a young man quite by accident that brings new (non-romantic!) changes to her lonely life.

The acting in both films is just brilliant and Judi Dench will break your heart in LIL.

I think both pop up on cable now and then. I ended up buying the DVDs (used) at my cable store.

Make that "at my video store."

I watched 'Dr. Cyclops' last night, and checked in and out on a film titled 'East of Eden'.

r236, I totally agree about Ladies in Lavender. I think part of what makes Judi Dench's performance so fantastic is that she's playing outside her usual role of the imperious grande dame; here, she's fragile, wounded, flighty. An exquisite performance.

I just watched "Another Year" ... wonderful observations on happiness and subtle, understated acting ... superb

.

I loved Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont.

I watched a little of a movie called 'By Love Possessed' and saw a scene from some movie where Patty Duke flushed Susan Hayward's wig down the toilet.

My House in Umbria-Maggie Smith

Page 8--Bill Nighy last night on Masterpiece

An obscure South Korean film I saw on BBC2 some years ago called "Take Care of My Cat" about a bunch of highschool girls dealing with life after highschool and friendships and so on.

It was very good.

All Fall Down (1962)

I watched the end of a children's film titled 'Blizzard' about one of Santa's reindeer gone astray.

I also watched 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man' this past weekend.

NIGHTS of CABIRIA 1957 (Italian) Le notti di Cabiria (original title)

Artistically and emotionally wrought movie, beautiful!

The original "sweet charity", despite an endless string of heartbreaks and scamming boyfriends, Cabiria (Gulietta Masina) a small time prostitute in Rome, continues on a quest to find true love.

Fredrico Fellini , director

Thanks to all the great posts here, I have discovered many new favorites.

"Delicatessen" is a 1991 French black comedy film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, starring Dominique Pinon and Karin Viard. It is set in an apartment building in a post-apocalyptic France of an ambiguous time period. The story focuses on the tenants of the building and their desperate bids to survive. Among these characters is the newly arrived Louison, who arrives to replace a tenant whose reason for departure is initially unclear. The butcher, Clapet, is the leader of the group which strives to keep control and balance in the apartment building.

It is largely a character-based film, with much of the interest being gained from each tenant's own particular idiosyncrasies and their relationship to each other.

I watched 'Her Name is Ellie, His Name is Lyle', a progressive look at the treatment of syphilis in the '60s. 'The Green Slime', a foreign film about an invasion in space, 'The Equinox' about young people encountering a demon from another dimension while picknicking, 'The Ghost and Mr. Chicken', a comedy concerning spiritualism.

Ye Ma Ma, a Chinese film from the 1980s about an unmarried peasant girl who raises the child of a revolutionary who's sent to prison.

Shakespeare In Love starring Gwyneth Paltrow

A movie called "Burning Palms" by gay director Christopher Landon (Michael's son). About 4 offbeat vignettes, expertly directed. I expect big things from him.

Home Alone. A kid gets left home alone, and it's funny.

'Once Around' - came out in 91-92. Great cast. Holly Hunter, Gena Rowlands, Richard Dreyfuss, Danny Aiello, Laura San Giacomo,etc. Family conflicts. All done beautifully. Excellent performances. Kind of what that bomb from a couple years ago, 'The Family Stone', wanted to be.Set in Boston . Rent it- you won't be sorry. Excellent. Directed by Lasse Halstrom.

New Waterford Girl, a Canadian film about a girl who dreams of leaving her small, northern Nova Scotia town.

t

I know we all hate Mel Gibson, but I was intrigued by "Apocalypto," probably one of the few films that feature the Mayan language.

He captures a sense of what it might have been like to live in pre-Columbian Central America that seems authentic and terrifying.

Gibson's grisly and sadistic side is well suited to a world where life is brutish, nasty, and short.

[italic]Dance, Girl, Dance[/italic] starring Maureen O'Hara and Lucille Ball, directed by Dorothy Arzner. First off, I'm not telling you it's a great movie. The story meanders too much. However, it's fun watching because you get to see Lucy playing a not-completely-bad girl, a burlesque dancer, who does a favor for her old co-chorine, Maureen O'Hara, who dances [italic]en pointe[/italic] between burlesque acts. Truly silly, and towards the end there's a cat fight between the two with them ending up in night court.

I'm in the process of watching 'Equinox', a horror film recently given the Criterion treatment.

"Straight Time" starring Dustin Hoffman with Harry Dean Stanton and the late great M. Emmet Walsh as Hoffman's parole officer.

"Three on a Match" (1932).

Delightful film that got me started on the "Pre-code" movies of the 30s.

"Something the Lord Made" with Moss Def and Alan Rickman. Rickman plays a surgeon/med school professor who, with the assistance of his black student/employee, makes great strides in treating cardiac issues of newborns. It is a true story set in the 40s I think.

Black Christmas. Scary and very underrated. (Wonder if they ever show it on a double-bill with It's a Wonderful Life?)

R263 --

Another fellow, more recent, whose gifts were recognized in defiance of institutional racism --

Roller Boogie

Titanic Star Wars Wizard of Oz

Mirage. From 1965. A brilliant thriller. From Netflix:

Gregory Peck stars as David Stillwell, an accountant who loses his memory and discovers that those who try to help him regain it keep turning up dead. As Stillwell fights to remember who he is, he must also unravel the conspiracy that surrounds him.

R269, I remember renting that on VHS about 20 years ago. A Hitchcock film not directed by Alfred Hitchcock!

I watched 'Island of Lost Souls' this past Saturday.

'Green Slime' aired several weeks ago. The sets and performances were stellar.

The Fantastic Adventures of Unico. Extremely beautiful and haunting movie that aired on the Disney channel back in the second half of the 80's and apparently also in the early 90's. This movie had an enormous emotional and imaginative impact on me:

Saw one tonite: New York City Serenade, with Freddie Prinze, Jr and Chris Klein. It's about the troubled friendship b/w two regular guys. Years after falling out, they meet again in a scene that doesn't QUITE scale the heights of the famous closer in The Way We Were but, damn, if it doesn't come close. Chris Klein is gorgeous, hilarious and nothing short of brilliant as the drunken ne'er-do-well pal of Prinze's. Definitely worth a look.

Has anyone seen North Sea Texas? It's screening as part of the ongoing Belgian Film Series at American Cinematheque and sounds like an interesting gay coming of age story.

The Reflecting Skin, with Viggo Mortensen. It's a kind of weird movie, a bit like The Night of The Hunter in that it's somewhat dreamlike, but it's one of my favorites.

I also really like Werner Herzog's Incident at Loch Ness - very unHerzog like but really funny.

"Big Eden"... gay themed comedy. Complete fantasy but very sweet. Arye Gross, Louise Fletcher, and Eric Schweig star.

Caught this excellent, well-acted film about a man in love with a bi-polar woman.

'Penny Sernade' - directed by George Stevens. Stars Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Edgar Buchanan, Beliuah Bondi. Great film.Will break your hearft.

.

'The Man In The White Suit' (1951), british classic starring Alec Guiness. Simply brilliant.

'The Sweet Hereafter' (1997) directed by Atom Egoyan - not mentioned very often these days. Truly heart wrenching.

'Sunday Too Far Away' (1975), one of my favourite australian films. A slice-of-life drama centred around sheep shearers in the outback during the 1950s.

P.S. 'Sunday Too Far Away' at R281 stars Jack Thompson at his sexiest.

Another neglected comedy classic is 'Bedtime Story' (1964), the original (and funnier) film later remade as 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (though I like both). The film stars Marlon Brando (in the role Steve Martin played), David Niven (Michael Caine later) and Shirley Jones. Almost forgotten now - certainly no-one mentioned it when 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' came out.

"Hang the Red Lantern"

"The Bubble"

"The Garden of the Finzi-Continis"

"The Wedding Banquet"

"Ararat"

"The Magnificent Ambersons"

Some of these are second/third mentions I agree with:

High Tide

Dogfight

The Rapture

Safe

Cutter’s Way

Last Exit to Brooklyn

The Sweet Hereafter

Exotica

Georgia

Lantana

Limbo

Lone Star

3 Women

Crimes of Passion

For animation lovers.

Finding Nemo

Twilight of the Cockroaches

Watership Down

The Poisoner's Handbook and another vote for The Rapture

Loving this thread.

So many intriguing recommendations.

And a lot of bad ones too, R287.

Three Wishes with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Patrick Swayze....I know, I know. But it is a very sweet movie.

r11 The Bishop's Wife was my sister's favorite movie. After she passed on, my mother would watch it all the time. It brought her a little semblance of comfort for the loss of her daughter.

Thanks for mentioning it.

The Last Wave w/ Richard Chamberlain, directed by Peter Weir (eerie and unsettling)

Snow Cake w/ Alan Rickman & Sigourney Weaver

Summertime w/ Katharine Hepburn & Rossano Brazzi (not great acting, but the locations are fantastic)

Sneakers w/ Robt Redford, Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix, David Strathairn (just a fun caper movie)

Breakfast on Pluto w/ Cillian Murphy (Murphy's character is charming, maddening and poignant by turns)

Peter's Friends w/ Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson & Imelda Staunton

Additional votes here for: - Local Hero - My House in Umbria - Lantana - Apartment Zero - Rapture

I've only seen some YT clips from Mysterious Skin, but there seem to be some very good performances there.

Ken Russell's "song of summer" about the composer Delius. Russian Ark Local hero They might be giants The gallant hours

Smilla's Sense of Snow w/ Julia Ormond & Gabriel Byrne The book was better, but then that's usually the case.

Siesta w/ Ellen Barkin & Gabriel Byrne w/ a cameo by Jodie Foster

Courtesy of TCM:

"The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1942) - featuring a deliciously supercilious Monty Woolley, a sentimental Bette Davis, and ravishing Ann Sheridan; marred only by a loud and obnoxious Jimmy Durante doing his tiresome vaudevillian schtick.

"A Majority of One" (1961) - you'd think a blandly uninspired and non-descriptively titled movie, starring Rosalind Russell as a Brooklyn Jewish widow who awakens the romantic yearnings of a disciplined Japanese widower (Sir Alec Guinness!) would be beyond awful, but surprisingly it works! Russell is charming and Guinness isn't nearly as offensive as other Anglo-in-Asian-drag portrayals.

The Last of Sheila - A great thriller in the South of France.

Three Days of the Condor - Anything Robert Redford (Another thriller)

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken - Don Knotts (Always good for a laugh)

Blindfold - Rock Hudson (Another cool thriller)

Have you guys seen any of the Twilight movies? They're, like, the best! You should definitely go - fuck the Hunger Game shit. Bella+Edward 4evah!! LOLZ!!!!1!!1!

A French film. The title translates to "He loves me...he loves me not." Really riviting film where the first half is the woman's perception of their relationship and the second half is the man's version. I'm wording this carefully because the film has a major twist and is in no way a chick flick or comedy in spite of the title. Well worth a watch...and popcorn.

Tipping the velvet. It was a bbc miniseries on DVD.

I second R297's suggestion of "He loves me...he loves me not". Really great, happened to catch one night when it was on the french cable channel TV% Monde. I thought it would be a romantic comedy, but it's much darker.

"When the Cat's Away"

Really sweet french film about a woman searching for her lost cat. Not available on DVD, unfortunately.

I saw "He Love Me...He Loves Me Not."

It was okay, but I can't think it something one would watch again.

Seconding R152's vote for "Apartment for Peggy".

Edmund Gwenn was apparently gay and lived his latter years with a young male partner/houseboy.

I've just seen [bold]Undertow(Contracorriente)[/bold] and I can't believe its been around for more than a year without me hearing about it. Absolutely stunning, breathtakingly beautiful, compelling and well-acted film from Peru that puts 'Brokeback Mountain' in the shade.

Set in a traditional Peruvian fishing village, it's about a love triangle involving a local fisherman, his wife and free-spirited artist(painter/photographer). Even the positive reviews can't do it justice, you just have to see it for yourself.

Has 'Greenberg' been mentioned? Loved it.

Wanda directed by and starring Barbara Loden

Ghost World Thora Birch, a young Scarlet Johanson and Steve Bucemi.

My personal favorite is a relatively unknown gem with Jane Fonda, Raul Julia, and Beau Bridges, "The Morning After". I LOVE this film. Jane's character would be the ultimate hag if she was 100 pounds heavier. She is very witty and hard bitten. My other favorite is "Lust in the Dust" with Divine and Lainie Kazan.

Totally agree, r303. I happened to catch Undertow at a film festival, didn't know anything about it other than it was a gay romance from Peru. It was an incredibly overwhelming film.

r196, thank you for the recommendation of Fanfan la Tulipe. Totally enjoyed it, pure fun! And Gerard Philippe was so devastatingly handsome!

After reading Robert K. Massie's biography of Catherine the Great, I added The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934) to my Netflix queue. It's pretty good, though decidedly romanticized and not nearly as cinematically glorious as von Sternberg's The Scarlet Empress, which covers the same period and was released the same year. But I think that Elizabeth Bergner is a bit better than Marlene Dietrich in the role.

Also finally got around to seeing Raging Sun, Raging Sky (2008), directed by Julian Hernandez, who has a fetish for young, hunky men going through the torture of a romantic triangle without much dialogue. This worked extremely well in 2005's Broken Sky, which was a straight-forward love story, but Raging Sun, Raging Sky adds some mystical, magical realism into the stew, making it seem a bit twee at times. But, if hot Mexicans spending most of the movie naked is your thing, you'll enjoy it, even at nearly 3 hours.

Speaking of Edmund Gwenn (R302), I'd like to add The Trouble with Harry to the list. Directed by Hitchcock, starring Shirley McLaine in her first movie role; John Forsythe,later to be known for To Rome with Love, Charlie's Angels & Dynasty, Edmund Gwenn and a pre-Beav Jerry Mathers. Silly fun.

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Hardly any of these are obscure or hidden.

I'm pleased that two of my favorites, "The Rapture" and "The Maid" were praised so often here.

Others on my list are:

"Dance With a Stranger"

"Once Were Warriors"

"Duel in the Sun"

"Black Orpheus"

"Last Night"

"The Lost Weekend"

"White Palace"

"The Crazy Quilt"--an experimental film I saw on what was then called education TV in the 1960s when I was a child--haunting fable of the life stories of a man and a woman from marriage to death. Have never been able to find it since.

r311 Unlike your penis, under all that belly fat.

R300 I saw that film on BBC2 (or rather the last 3/4 of it) about 10 years ago and had forgotten almost instantly what the title was. Thanks for reminding me, it was a lovely film as you said.

A similarly titled film which doesn't have much to do with cats actually is this Korean one "Take Care of My Cat". Also was on BBC2, about 8 years ago. The characters are very well drawn and I found it an engaging watch.

More recently, I saw the anime "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (2006). Very enjoyable.

Sweetie

r306 I stumbled upon 'Ghost World' and loved it. Love that kind of humour that, sadly, is non-existent in mainstream films. Recently saw, and liked, 'Tiny Furniture' which I thought comparable and equally good.

R317 = moron

I'm in love with this thread! I've seen quite a few of the films mentioned but there are many I haven't.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone!

Carry on the great work.....

Just about anything by Jean-Pierre Melville. My favorites are Le Samourai, Army of Shadows, Le Cercle rouge, Un flic (Dirty Money), Le Doulos and Bob le flambeur.

Why, r318? Did you not like Ghost World or Tiny Furniture?

This thread is probably mostly for arty-farty movies, but anyone interested in a fun comedy, try Retroactive. It was straight to video and stars Jim Belushi, so right away everyone assumes it'd suck. But not so, Jim is perfectly cast as an Elvis-type douchebag. It's a time-travel comedy. Just check the reviews, they are mostly favorable. It's a really fun movie.

[R40] Local Hero was immense and a pure joy to watch! Made me want to visit that part of Scotland and the soundtrack is Heaven. Mark Knopfler at his best.

MOMENT TO MOMENT with Jean Seberg, Honor Blackman and 'exciting new screen personality' Sean Garrison. 60's melodrama mystery in the style of Ross Hunter from Mervyn LeRoy with a lovely title song by Henry Mancini. Pure escapism but fun.

[quote]This thread is probably mostly for arty-farty movies,

Oh gosh no! I'm the OP of this thread and have some crap movies that I think are gems and unknown. "Dirty Love" is one of them. I happen to think it is almost brilliant and Carmen Electra is amazingly funny in it.

Wise Blood is great.

Daddy's Gone a Hunting -- predictable thriller from 1969 with British actress Carol White, Paul Burke and Scott Hylands.. Hylands was hunky as I recall. Only out on VHS, not on DVD.

For horror lovers- tourist trap starting chuckle Connors and a porn star looking Tanya Roberts!! It's a very creative slasher film!!!

Buster and Billie --- for Jan Michael Vincent and his full frontal cock. Such a beautiful man until he destroyed it all with booze and drugs.

I recently read William J. Mann's "Behind the Screen," about gay men and women in old Hollywood, and it led me to discover Laird Cregar; I got "Hangover Square" (1945) from Netflix and was overwhelmed, a fantastic thriller with a brilliant performance by Cregar, excellent support from Linda Darnell and George Sanders, a marvelous score by Bernard Hermann and magnificently atmospheric black & white cinematography.

That Cold Day in the Park, a Robert Altman film with Sandy Dennis and former actor turned college professor Michael Burns. Burns has some nude scenes and showed his fine ass... fine back in 1969.

"Fighting Father Dunne" with Pat O'Brien.

"East Side Story" a terrific documentary on musical of the Eastern Bloc- East Germany, Soviet Union, etc.

bump

"Fighting Father Dunne" with Pat O' Brien.

Thanks to r128, "Nothing But a Man," with Abbey Lincoln and Ivan Dixon was really good, it finally came up in the netflix queue.

Poignant and realistic. Wow.

DOGPOUND SHUFFLE with Ron Moody & David Soul (1975) A man who has lost his beloved pet dog enlists the help of a young drifter in finding the animal. This leads to a series of misadventures, including a confrontation with a hulking dog-pound worker and a stint providing the entertainment at a millionaire's party...Saw it once on TV at 3am...my kinda movie...never saw it again.

DOGPOUND SHUFFLE on YouTube.

bronson

Not so hidden, but recently saw French film "Farewell, My Queen" about the last days of Marie Antoinette. Very well done, and makes that Sofia Coppola bio look amateurish.

Peyton Place

Carrie

Charlotte Gray

Interiors The Sweet Hereafter Babettes feast Romeo Is Bleeding Gloria W/Gena Rowlands Grand Canyon All about My Mother The Lovely Bones Klute Millers Crossing Basquiat The 39 steps

[quote] Interiors The Sweet Hereafter Babettes feast Romeo Is Bleeding Gloria W/Gena Rowlands Grand Canyon All about My Mother The Lovely Bones Klute Millers Crossing Basquiat The 39 steps

oh, oh dear

Once Upon A Time in Anatolia

Las Acacias

Carnage

I've noticed the French no longer make very good films. What happened? Are they all trying to pander to Hollywood hoping to make it big?

R343, yes, Babette's Feast, wonderful movie. There was a 'sequel' as I remember, can't remember the name.

Wild Boys of the Road (1933)

[quote]I love all French New Wave, but CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 by the great Agnes Varda is fabulous.

thanks for this, it is fantastic!

R346, I don't know what happened, but this is indeed true. The Belgians make better films nowadays. If you want a good film today, I'd say look to Latin America

NO was terrific

Saw a German film last night called "Breathing" (2011), about a young man trying to find his way after murdering another kid at age 14. Really well-acted (and gratuitous weiner shots as a bonus).

At one point I was afraid the film would turn into "he finds the love of a nice girl and everything changes for him" (ugh, I hate those). But luckily it took another path.

the silent "Greed"...really amazing story wise and cinematically

The Last of Sheila. 1973 murder mystery starring Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, Joan Hackett, James Mason, Iam McShane and Raquel Welch. Brilliant script, great acting and directing. This film keeps you guessing until the very end. The commentary by Benjamin, Cannon and Welch on the 2004 DVD was charming and very intelligent.

agree with previously mentioned Babette's Feast.

Some other ones: The Innocents, Onibaba

Is 'Santa Sangre' a watchable film?

bump

Any good ones from the festival circuit?

JonBenet's snuff film

Middle of the Night (1959)

Betty Preisser (Kim Novak), an attractive 24 year old divorcee, works as a secretary in the hard-boiled atmosphere of Manhattan's garment district. Her workaholic boss Jerry (Frederick March) is feeling his own mortality. He's overworked and lonely. He's a 56 year old widower, but still enmeshed in his family obligations. His bossy older sister Evelyn has moved in with him and he has a married daughter Lillian and grandchild who live nearby.

I've seen bits and pieces of this and finally, recently watched the whole movie on TCM. It was an amazing performance that sucked me in like a great play.

Great thread! How about Sandcastles - Jan Michael Vincent--( Lovestory featuring a Ghost...) The Sure Thing-John Cusack (A young man goes on a road trip to met up with a '10' sure piece of ass) Seeking a Friend for the End of The World- Steve Carell ( How would life be if we knew we had only a few weeks more to live?) All of these movies are VERY ROMANTIC---check 'em out!! Gems!!!

Who's seen 'Safety Not Guaranteed'? I really liked it.

Y Tu Mama Tambien

The Station Agent

Mary and Max

Hard Eight

Mondays in the Sun

Confessions of a dangerous Mind

some are not that obscure I guess, but they are all amazing IMHO

[all posts by tedious troll removed.]

Dead Snow there must be 100s of zombie movies but this one is good. Netflix streaming has it...

M. Hire. Beautiful and tragic, and very French.

Another Ninth Gate fan. Silly but also very atmospheric.

All my faves are already mentioned: Baby Face, Z, Les Efants Terribles, Adele H, Prick Up Your Ears, X,Y & Z, The Conformist, Kiss Me Deadly ...

Birth - with Nicole Kidman - it shows how love is an internal thing; basically, Nic's husband dies and a little boy claims to be his reincarnation. He is very convincing and he believes her.

Eventually, we find out he is faking because he read love letters written by Nic to her husband. (The husband had never opened them and given them to his mistress; the boy found them.) He had just regurgitated Nic's own feelings, not those of the husband at all who did not love her.

The whole film is very good.

"Paradise Road" with Glenn Close. It's about a group of women who are interred in a prison camp during WWII. They form a vocal orchestra. It is very very good.

"She's On All Fours" with Helen Lawson and Danny Thomas.

Classic.

Should be on Netflix.

A Glenn film called "Maxie." It was on cable almost 24/7 about 20 years ago and then just disappeared.

Co-starring Mandy Patinkin and the late, great Ruth Gordon. There is even an appearance by a long ago fave of mine, Valerie Curtin.

Ruth will break your heart in the scene shown below. Glenn got to emote all over the screen and sing and dance and it is a very nice performance.

Mandy didn't get on my nerves that much and he looks kind of hot. Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

I just watched "Bernie" with Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey. Directed by Richard Linklater. Pretty darn good movie. Based on a true story.

Datalounge.

Raggedy Man, with Sissy Spacek and Eric Roberts

Always thought that Bogey's "In a Lonely Place" was outstanding & very underrated.

Man of the Century-a contemporary newspaper reporter lives, talks and acts as if he is in the 1920s. One of a kind and a hoot if you don't expect any explanation of the character and just go with it.

Heroes for Sale-1933 Warner Bros. social relevance Pre Code with Richard Barthelmess and Loretta Young (at her most beautiful). When else did movie heroes and heroines work in a laundry?

American Heart (1994)-Jeff Bridges as a recently released ex-con trying to go straight, survive, and raise a son. The one that should have gotten him an Oscar and that he claims as his own favorite. Plus, he's very muscled, hot and frequently shirtless in it (DL criterion for a film gem!)

Dark Passage (1947) -Odd film noir with Bogart, Bacall, a supremely bitchy and nasty Agnes Moorehead and great location filming of 1940s San Francisco

Ex Lady (1933)-Bette Davis in her first star billing in a Pre Code about free love and open marriage among artsy New Yorkers. Some of "Baby Jane's" movie scenes came from this film.

Champagne for Caesar (1950)-Ronald Colman, Celeste Holm and Vincent Price in a comedy that satirizes game shows, advertising and fame. Surprisingly relevant to modern media. Price is hilarious. Also features Art Linkletter!

Black Legion (1937)-Bogart in an early lead role as a factory worker who joins a Klan like terror group. Dated in some ways but Bogart, Erin O'Brien-Moore as his wife, Dick Foran and Ann Sheridan are all very good.

Open Range (2004)-I know we're supposed to hate Kevin Costner here but I love this western that he directed that seemed to come and go without much notice. He has great chemistry with Annette Bening and Robert Duvall and there is the gunfight to end all western gunfights.

"The Enchanted Cottage" Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young. It's a beautifully acted film about two lonely misfits who fall in love. Cher actually owns the screen rights to it.

"The Shining Hour" which stars Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullivan.

"Back Street" starring Margaret Sullivan and Charles Boyer.

"Mr. Skeffington" starring Bette Davis and Claude Raines.

"Tea and Sympathy" starring Deborah Kerr and John Kerr. I found this movie so deeply moving.

"Come to the Stable" starring Loretta Young and Celeste Holm

Middle of the Night with Frederic March and Kim Novak

"Dinner at Eight" "The Flim Flam Man" "Scarlet Street" "The Maltese Falcon"

The Butcher's Wife. Demi Moore got a lot of flack for her outer banks accent but I found the movie charming.

[There is nothing more tedious than a race baiting troll. Except the people that talk to it.]

No Man of Her Own-another great Stanwyck movie. Pregnant and rejected by her married lover she meets a honeymooning couple on a train. A train wreck occurs and the couple is killed and Barb is mistaken for the dead woman by the dead mans wealthy family. Tasty flick. It was on YouTube.

I just bought "No Man of Her Own" on DVD. It's very good.

"Lawn Dogs", Mischa Barton's debut alongside Sam Rockwell, is this 100%.

Just, everybody watch it. Beautiful, heartbreaking, spellbinding movie.

"Law of Desire" by Almodovar. Antonio Banderas first big film role, where he plays a jealous, vindictive gay man.

"Personal Services" a British film starring Julia Walters, as a middle class slum lord who accidental becomes a madam and an outspoken supporter of kinky people. Really, really funny.

Another odd gem, I saw only half of.

"The Landlord" from 1970. Stars Beau Bridges when he was young and hot. He's a rich white guy who buys a brownstone in Harlem. Pearl Bailey is in it and Lee Grant plays his wacky mom.

Wish I could see it in its entirety.

Tension - good film noir few people have heard of

Girl of the Night - early 60s drama with Anne Francis as a call girl. She's very good in it.

'Les Demoiselles de Rochefort', a musical with Catherine Deneuve and her sister, who died shortly after in a terrible accident. I'm not really into musicals, but this one stood out for its dreamlike quality.

[italic]Amy[/italic] (1981): Jenny Agutter is a strong lead in this touching drama about a widow who goes to work at a school for deaf children.

I thought of this from another thread about John Gavin.

"Midnight Lace" starring Doris Day and Rex Harrison. It's exceptionally acted and a great thriller. The high gloss production values and supporting cast were first class.

"Born to be Bad" starring Joan Fontaine. It's quite entertaining.

"Rain" starring Joan Crawford. It was made in 1932, and she portrayed Sadie Thompson. It was panned by the critics and the public did not like seeing Crawford, at the time, as a brazen tramp. Crawford was marvelous and the film gained respect over time.

"Stolen Hours" with Susan Hayward

"A Rage to Live" with Suzanne Pleshette.

The Russia House, with Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer. Very good movie, great performances esp SC, and a stunning music score by Jerry Goldsmith.

I kinda liked Leaves of Grass with Ed Norton. It has a few character actors and Susan Sarandon. It's quirky and dark.

There is another movie, you guys wouldn't like it, but it turns up on IFC late night. Called The Last Mistress. It's a film about control and physical and emotional addictive behavior. It's really dark and the sex scenes (between man and woman) are brutal.

A sweet movie with Earl Flynn, Rosalind Russell and Olivia De Haviland called Four's a Crowd.

Sorry, Errol Flynn.

Does Titanic 2 count?

"Hesher"(2010). Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a drifter who is either going to help a family in their time of grief or murder all of them.

"Wristcutters: A Love Story"(2006). Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon: "Beetlejuice" meets "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

"Grand Theft Parsons"(2003) Johnny Knoxville, Michael Shannon, Christina Applegate. Sort of true story of the death and amateur cremation of cult musician Gram Parsons. Hilarious gay cop scene at the end. Pop-lar!

Another vote for "Ghost World"(2001). One of my favorite movies of all time. I still have a huge crush on Enid (Thora Birch).

BTW, is it normal to have crushes on fictional characters? How about animated ones? Kim Possible?

More fun with Flynn-R391 sparked this post...

Desperate Journey (1942) WWII adventure with a bomber crew shot down behind enemy lines making their way across Europe to the Dutch coast one step ahead of the Nazis. Thrills, action, laughs and a surprisingly charming and funny Ronald Reagan as second lead.

Never Say Goodbye (1946) Flynn and Eleanor Parker are a divorced couple whose daughter schemes to reunite them with a little help from well endowed DL fave Forrest Tucker. You haven't lived until you've seen Flynn as Santa Claus do the Marx Bros. mirror bit. All this and Hattie McDaniel, too!

The Adventures of Don Juan (1948) Flynn's last good swashbuckler puts his off screen reputation and beginning-to-fade looks to good use. A great climactic sword fight...and costumes by...TRAVILLA!

That Forsyte Woman (1949) Flynn goes dramatic as cold hearted and controlling Soames Forsyte in an partial adaptation of "The Forsyte Saga". Greer Garson and Robert Young have more screen time but Flynn shows what he could do given a chance.

Too Much, Too Soon (1958) Flynn gets to play his friend and idol, John Barrymore in the bio of Diana Barrymore, daughter of John and aunt of Drew.

Has anyone seen The Perfect Specimen (1937) with Flynn and Joan Blondell? Does it ever turn up on TCM?

reflections in a golden eye with elizabeth taylor and marlon brando. no one of my generation seems to have discovered its campy perfection as of yet

"The Day of the Beast" by Álex de la Iglesia.

A Spanish priest discovers that the anti-Christ is soon to be born and initially decides that there is no point in being good...

He later tries to discover and kill the child.

It's quite scary, but also laugh-out-loud funny,

"Too Much, Too Soon (1958) Flynn gets to play his friend and idol, John Barrymore in the bio of Diana Barrymore, daughter of John and aunt of Drew."

This movie is mentioned in Bad Movies We Love. It's a scream.

Lady in a Cage with Olivia De Havilland.

I've never seen Lady in a Cage but I have seen the trailer....as a preview of coming attractions at a movie outing with my mom and her best friend to see The Thrill of it All back in 1964. My sister and I REALLY wanted to go see it. I wonder if she's ever seen it.

I need to find copies of the Bad Movies We Love books. I love most of those movies. I forgot that Too Much, Too Soon was included.

[italic]Hot Stuff[/italic], from 1979, starring three wonderfully comic actors.

Has anyone mentioned I START COUNTING (1969) with the lovely Jenny Agutter? It was streaming on Netflix a couple years ago. Pan and scan, unfortunately. It's never had a proper DVD release. British drama/thriller about a 15-year-old girl who has a crush on her older brother (she was adopted into the family), who may or may not be responsible for a series of sex killings in the area. Really interesting, occasionally funny, well-acted, honest portrayal of teenage sexuality.

Alice (2005)

Directed and written by Marco Martins. Actors: Nuno Lopes, Beatriz Batarda

In the wake of his daughter's disappearance, a father wallowing in grief feeds his desire to find her with unusual methods.

Faubourg Saint-Denis (2004)

Directed by Tom Tykwer

A short film. a segment from a movie called Paris, je t'aime including short films from different directors.

This and Quartier des Enfants Rouges directed by Assayas are best segments from that film. Assayas segment is worth watching it's good and stars Maggie Gyllenhaal.

link to Tykwer's segment. find the other one by yourself.

The Princess & the Warrior (2000)

Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (original title)

Directed by Tom Tykwer and starring Franka Potente

Young nurse Sissi lives a secluded life, seemingly entirely devoted to her patients at Birkenhof asylum. Her first encounter with ex-soldier and drifter Bodo has a lasting impact.

bump

Storm Warning (1951)

Ginger Rogers

Ronald Reagan

Doris Day

Steve Cochran

Ginger Rogers is horsewhipped by the KKK after discovering that her younger sister is married to a klan member.

Dean Spanley. A surprisingly heartfelt movie about love redeemed, reincarnation, and dogs.

Make the Yuletide Gay

VERY low budget comedy about a college guy coming out to his parents during Christmas break. Cute and charming. Has Alison Arngrim in it.

I love my Kids In The Hall.

“The Wrong Guy” - A Dave Foley Classic! This is an all around well done movie that has a bit of a cult following for it.

“Dave Foleys The True Meaning Of Christmas Specials” originally on CBC. Dammit, I wish it would rebroadcast more often. I would love to make this an annual ritual on bluray instead of a vhs recording.

“Ham And Cheese” - Scott Thompson, Dave Foley. Other Canadian talent. Canada indy. Hilarious.

“The Kids In The Hall - Death Comes To Town.” Their most recent collaboration. Originally a mini series on CBC. Available on DVD. *Just when you think all boundaries have been crossed already, watch this series. They really get outrageous and it kicks ass.

“Falling Angels” - Mark McKinney. A Canadian indy that got raves at festivals when it came out. One of McKinneys best contributions.

The Beguiled 1971 Starring Clint Eastwood

Morvern Callart2002

Hilary and Jackie 1998

Les Innocentes (The Innocents), 2016 French film directed by Anne Fontaine, which features Lou de Laâge.

In 1945 Poland, a young French Red Cross doctor who is sent to assist the survivors of the German camps discovers several nuns in advanced states of pregnancy during a visit to a nearby convent.

An overlooked gem. Les Innocentes was nominated for 4 César: screenplay, cinematography, director and best film

Hey Guys. Don't know where to ask. I want to watch this short film called Thrive (2019) But can't find it on Amazon, Apple's TV (formerly iTunes) or YouTube. Does anyone know where I can watch it? TIA.

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga - I found this on some streaming service and watched because it's a Werner Herzog documentary. It follows a Siberian fur trapper for a year. It's worth watching when you're in the mood for something different.

I love this one. Saw it in the theater when I was 6.

I found DL via this thread link in March 2014. Been quite a 5 year slice.

For those not subtitle-challenged:

Denmark: Anklaget (Accused); Fear Me Not; Long Story Short; Blinkende Lygter (Flickering Lights)

Japan: My Dad and Mr. Ito; Shoplifters

Germany: Das letzte Schweigen (The Silence); Hot Dog

Italy: Non Ti Movere (Don't Move); Perfetti sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers)

Spain: Cannibal; Contratiempo (The Invisible Guest)

France: La Vie Devant Soi (Madame Rosa)

Russia: 12 (2007)

India: Te3n (Teen); Photograph; The Lunchbox

China: Black Coal, Thin Ice

I watched City Streets just for some young Gary Cooper (which was good), but Sylvia Sidney was the standout, and the movie was surprisingly good too, for an unknown early talkie.

R10 Of course you liked WILD TARGET. Its from Jonathan Lynn, the brilliant director of CLUE and MY COUSIN VINNY. Need to watch it again.