Underrated and underseen movies

Dogfight with River Phoenix and Lilly Taylor

"A Home Of Our Own", starring DL Kathy Bates. I don't even remember how I ever discovered it decades ago.

[quote] "DL Kathy Bates"

*DL FAVE Kathy Bates

When I'm Sixty-Four, a great gay film made by BBC.

Nobody watches The Apu Trilogy anymore. Also if you haven't watched Yasujirō Ozu give a couple of his films a look. These are recommendations especially if you are younger, OP.

If you are an OLD, then Studio Ghibli amine. Eldergays often missed the boat. Spirited Away is breathtaking and lovely.

"Not Love, Just Frenzy" is wildly over-the-top, and a lot of fun. A "fine film" it is not. But it's a favorite. I would've posted a trailer clip, but couldn't find one.

Walter Hill movie, "Streets of Fire". Great movie, great cast (Diane Lane, Willem Dafoe, Amy Madigan, Rick Moranis, Michael Paré), great soundtrack, one of the earliest victims of cancel culture for over the top violence.

R4. Just watched that a week ago on a friend’s recommendation. I liked it very much.

Sordid Lives

Housekeeping starring Christine Lahti

R9 that movie sucked. I really wanted to like it but it was a big turd.

Passion Fish

"I didn't ask for the anal probe. "I" didn't ask for the anal probe. I didn't ask for the ANAL probe. And that was it."

R9 Olivia Newton-John's best acting performance (for all it's worth).

R13 I love Olivia but no not Sordid Lives.

Dark City with Rufus Sewell and Jennifer Connelly. It was eclipsed by the Matrix which has a similar plot.

Cold Comfort Farm, also with R Sewell.

I saw something nasty in the woodshed!

The Spanish movie, The Orphanage

Michael Paré OUI!

NOTHING IN COMMON with Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason in his last role. Also with Eva Marie Saint.

Sing Street was a nice surprise. Playing for free on IMDb TV. Preview at link.

Dick, with Michelle Williams and Kristen Dunst.

The Rapture, with Mimi Rogers.

R20 I saw that at the theater when it came out. To this day, the foot scene in the dr's office has stayed with me; I remember I wanted to pass out when I saw that!

Choose Me (1984) with Geneviève Bujold, Leslie Ann Warren, and Keith Carradine

"Only the Lonely" is a really sweet underrated film with a very poignant performance by John Candy. Also features nice work from Ally Sheedy, Maureen O'Hara, and Anthony Quinn.

The Gong Show Movie -- "It's fun if you're spun"

There's a great little movie called GAYBY, about a single gay guy and his straight, single female BFF who decide to have a baby together the natural way. Lots of complications ensue, but the movie is often hilarious, clever, smart, and very sweet. Everyone I've shown it to has loved it, and I've never understood why it wasn't a bigger hit -- probably no money for proper marketing. But really, well worth checking out.

The Mighty. Sweet/sad kids movie with a young Kieran Culkin (“Succession”), Harry Dean Stanton, Gena Rowlands and Sharon Stone, who was pretty moving in her first “mother” role.

Mississippi Marsala

A strange film but compelling

Local Hero (1983)

Apartment Zero (1988)

Blood and Concrete. Billy Zane at peak hotness. You could see the influence this movie had on young Tarantino.

Split - James McAvoy

Miller’s Crossing.

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) Starring the always fantastic James Garner with Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan, Bruce Dern.

R31 One of my favorite films of all time!

R29 - that's Mississippi Masala (Indian reference) not Marsala (Italian).

And R5 - that's anime not amine.

I'm correcting you guys only because someone may want to look those movies up.

My pick - a touching Italian film from around 20 years ago called Keys to the House.

Little Murders (1971) directed by Alan Arkin Set in NY it's a black comedy about pervasive urban violence based on Jules Feiffer's play and it feels timelier than ever.

Rules of Attraction 2002 James Van Der Beek as Sean Bateman in an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's novel with Faye Dunaway as Ian Somerhalder's mom.

Staircase, with Richard Burton and Rex Harrison about two middle aged gay hairdressers living in London in the 60s dealing with death and growing tired of each other.

I enjoyed the humor but for most people it's a little depressing. I'm a fan of them both, so I liked it.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. So colorful & fun & RDJ is so hot!

In The Soup

Down and Out In Beverly Hills

Throw Momma From The Train

Divorce Italian Style

The Conformist

Ripleys Game

Enchanted April

Gallipoli

White Mischief

Shoot the moon

Drive a crooked road

Quartet (1981)

Greenberg

Cheri

Rupert is so watchable

R31, R37, Housekeeping was Bill Forsyth's follow-up to Local Hero, which I also loved.

R45 I always wondered how Kathy Bates felt about working with Michelle Pfeiffer since Michelle stole Frankie & Johnny from her. (another movie that is u/u).

I really wanted to hate Michelle in Frankie and Johnny; (I think the role was written for Bates who played it on stage, brilliantly), but I couldn't help it. I thought Pfeiffer was wonderful, as was Kate Nelligan in an against-type role.

R18 Truly haunting and beautiful film.

Clockwatchers - a very dry indie comedy with Toni Collette, Parker Posy, Alanna Ubach and Lisa Kudrow (that cast!)

Angel - trashy 80s teenage hooker drama with Rory Calhoun (!) and Susan Tyrell as a hilarious foul-mouthed dyke. Love this movie but many don't know of it or it's lousy sequels.

Die Mommie Die!

I always recommend Hope and Glory (1982), a coming of age movie that shows WWII from a young boy's perspective. For him, the London blitz is exciting, he collects shrapnel and gets to smash things up in bombed out houses with his friends. He also observes his older sister growing up faster than normal, and comes to realize how his mom and neighbor really felt about each other. It's full of sweet and funny moments, especially at school and a scene involving German jam.

[quote] "Staircase, with Richard Burton and Rex Harrison about two middle aged gay hairdressers living in London in the 60s dealing with death and growing tired of each other. I enjoyed the humor but for most people it's a little depressing. I'm a fan of them both, so I liked."

I just found it on Youtube, & am giving it a watch. I was aware Burton had made a film by that name, but never knew anything about it. Thanks, R41!

R41 I hated that movie. The lead characters were both horrible people. Dour, depressing, and a sad depiction of gay stereotypes in the 1960s.

Men Don't Leave. Wonderful film with Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and a beautiful, young Chris O'Donnell.

R55 I still remember being mesmerized by Chris in a crop top in that movie.

I would like to see Liquid Sky again, it was breathtaking and revolutionary when it came out, and the actress playing both male and female leads was fascinating.

The French movie from 1981, Diva.

"The Chase"...a movie with Robert Redford , Jane Fonda and Marlon Brando in the 60s. It's a wild movie with a crazy story line. I discovered it on TCM in the middle of the night, when I couldn't sleep. It's sleezy and tawdry.

HOLD ME THRILL ME KISS ME, an underrated and under-seen comedy from 1992 with hysterical performances.

The original 1947 "Nightmare Alley" is a great film - dark, subversive, way ahead of its time. It completely flopped when it was released, but is now considered a masterpiece.

Mon Oncle...another one I just watched (1958). It's funny and cute, and charming....loved the dogs running around, especially the Dachshund in his plaid coat. The house was surreal in mid century modern decor.

Nice Girls Don't Explode

Gidget Goes Hawaiian

The lengthy Italian film The Best of Youth - focusing on the relationship of two brothers over a period of about 25 years - is one of the most moving films I've seen.

The film won the [italic]Prize Un Certain Regard[/italic] at Cannes.

I like to watch it about every 5 years or so.

And the ending gets me each time.

And Then I Go

Kumiko: The Treasure Hunter

The World To Come

Vox Lux

It Comes At Night

The Incident (1967). It has a young Martin Sheen as one of the thugs harassing subway riders in NYC. It's quite disturbing. Really good movie..

Really great list, especially having run out of things to watch over COVID.

R66 I watched this a few months ago on TCM. Even 55 years later, it's 100% relevant today - especially near the ending with the cops and the black guy on the train.

It also features a very young Donna Mills, a rare dramatic acting turn for Ed McMahon, and DL fave Thelma Ritter.

Yes R68, it holds up well, even today.

Lewis & Clark & George starring DL hate icon, Rose McGowan. Loved this movie when it came out.

Eve’s Bayou. Made by the woman who played Jodie Foster’s FBI buddy in Silence of the Lambs.

Everybody in it looks good and there’s no end of witchery and bitchery in the bayou. Samuel Jackson is a womanizing doctor and his daughter gets onto his game. The pot doth boil!

I would like to go back and see Daughters of the Dust about the Gallah women off the coast of South Carolina. It was mesmerizing from what I remember. I would also like to go back and watch some of Rebecca Miller’s movies, there was one about two sisters at play with the specter of death hanging over them that really needed a rewatch.

Under the Cherry Moon

Come Back Little Sheba (1952)...Shirley Booth and Burt Lancaster. It's rarely shown on TCM, for some reason, but I did see it years ago. It needs to be shown more often. Booth's performance is wonderful.

R27, I Loved that film GAYBY. It is very funny with good performances.

I would recommend THE CALL with Halle Berry and MONEY MONSTER with Julia R. and George C. Both are terrible titles but they had me glued to my seat.

Go (1999) A teen comedy crossed with Pulp Fiction. Scott Wolf is adorable.

R64 yes!!! Brilliant and moving. Grateful to see it in a theater some years ago.

I'll add Call Me By Your Name to this list because....have you really seen it? Not just watched it.

Payday (1973) Rip Torn at his best as a pill-popping C&W singer in a film that shows the seamier side of show business that was left out of Nashville.

They Might Be Giants

R75 I really liked The Call up until the end when it became silly fantasy revenge schtick.

"Dear Heart," a 1964 movie with Glenn Ford and Geraldine Page.

It's so cute and quirky. Page plays a postmistress from the Midwest who comes to New York City for the annual postmaster convention and falls in love with the philandering Ford.

Her character is so endearing in this one, and there are some truly funny scenes, especially the one where Ford tries to sneak floosy gift shop cashier Barbara Nichols into his hotel room.

And don't miss DL fave Mary Wickes AND BOTH Gladys Kravitzes from Bewitched in this one.

R81 There's also a "blink and you'll miss it" cameo from a very, very young Doris Roberts as a Penn Station attendant.

Afraid of the Dark (1991) - a coming of age drama about a blind boy in London involving a serial murderer. Stick with it because things are not as they initially appear.

The Reflecting Skin - a coming of age film starring a young Viggo Mortensen. It has a sad ethereal quality to it that you don't see anymore.

R81, I've never seen "Dear Heart," but I know that Angela Lansbury is also in it. I really have to catch up with that movie sometime!

R85 Yes, although she doesn't show up until the end of the movie. She's great, as usual.

Dustin Hoffman's best performance as an ex-con in Straight Time (1978). It's one of the best American films of the 70s with an excellent supporting cast: Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, Theresa Russell, M Emmett Walsh and Kathy Bates.

R52 I thought of Hope and Glory when I saw Belfast in which the events of the Irish troubles circa 1969 are seen through the eyes of a young boy (Jude Hill)

I second, third, and fourth 'Shoot the Moon' with Diane Keaton, Albert Finney, and an award worthy performance by Dana Hill (RIP).

Two movies with Campbell Scott:

'The Spanish Prisoner'

'Roger Dodger' - He should have gotten a nomination for Best Actor

'The Daytrippers' - Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Anne Meara. Tucci has a scene in that movie (on the sidewalk with Hope Davis) that is one of my favorite scenes in any movie ever. If you want to see natural, outstanding acting.

'The Station Agent' - Patricia Clarkson, Peter Dinklage, and Bobby Cannavale

Who You Think I Am (2019). Claire, a 50-year-old divorced teacher, creates a fake Facebook profile of a 24-year-old woman. She finds a photo of a pretty young brunette online and uses it. She has created an entirely fictional character, but why? Originally she did it to spy on Jo, her on-and-off lover. But Jo only accepts friend requests from people he knows personally. To get to Jo, Claire sends his best-friend Chris a friend request and he accepts. in French with Juliette Binoche.

Trailer.

Valley of Love (2015). An estranged couple reunites in Death Valley, California, to answer an invitation sent to them by their son, Michael, who committed suicide six months ago. With Isabelle Huppert and Gerard Depardieu.

"The Truth About Cats and Dogs," with Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman. It's an overlooked 90s romcom with a twist. Garofalo plays a veterinarian with a radio show. Her neighbor is a fashion model played by Thurman. A cute English guy, Ben Chaplin, calls into the show and falls in love with Garofalo. He asks her out on a date, but Garofalo feels insecure, so she has Thurman pretend to be her.

Down With Love was a ton of fun. Cheeky, great cast (Jeri Ryan, Ewan McG, Renee Z, David Hyde P, Sarah P) and beautifully styled.

I really like “the arrangement” by Elia Kazan with Faye dunaway looking stylish and beautiful

“Pandora and the Flying Dutchman” is like a vacation to an exotic country.

The "rumbera" films of Ninon Sevilla. These late 40s, early 50s Mexican musical noirs are totally insane and the ultimate in camp. You can seen them on Amazon Prime and Youtube.

L'Enfant d'en haut - one of those movies about class conflict that is devastating without being bombastic. One of those movies built on a fascinating, natural and heart-wrenching performance by a kid. "Universally acclaimed" by critics. Bonus: Gillian Anderson.

The chic understatement of Catherine Deneuve in Place Vendome.

The extremely perverse Isabelle Huppert in The Piano Teacher as well as in Merci pour le chocolat.

Green Card (1990). Andie MacDowell and Gerard Depardieu (sp) getting married only for his green card...then divorce. I think my favorite part of the film is her apartment with the gorgeous atrium. That was the star of the film, IMO. Cute story...but loved the setting.

Two movies with Sigourney Weaver:

'A Map of the World'

'The Ice Storm' (Not sure if this one counts as underrated and underseen. I think so, but consensus may be otherwise.)

Empire Of The Sun. One of my favorite Spielberg movies, but no one seems to remember it anymore. It also features what I think is Christian Bale's best performance. He was 13 at the time.

Oh, and Baghdad Cafe.

Death and the Maiden - adaptation of the play. Probably Sigourney Weaver's best dramatic performance on film.

[bold]The Rocking Horse Winner[/bold] (1949) - British film, based on the D.H. Lawrence short story, about a young boy who discovers the ability to pick horserace winners while riding his rocking horse. Equal to the post-war films of David Lean or Carol Reed, it should be much better known than it is.

I've Loved You So Long - French film with Kristin Scott Thomas at her chilly best.

Copycat - very entertaining pulpy serial killer film with Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter and a sexy Dermot Mulroney. are out not long after Se7en.

"Living in Oblivion," with Steve Buscemi and Catherine Keener. Hilarious movie about a director trying to make an independent film on a shoestring budget.

Let the Right One In (2008) - the original Swedish adaptation is beautiful, sad, scary and sweet. And that ending is unforgettable. The US remake is good but has less impact than the original.

You guys listed Under a Cherry Moon, The Arrangement, Down with Love, and Green Card? Those movies are sheeeeeeeeeeeeet. 💩💩💩

Les Dames du bois de Boulogne

I Shot Andy Warhol - Lili Taylor is great in this.

God's Own Country - one of the best gay films of the last decade or so. Plus very hot actors.

The Big Tease

Titanic

Agree that The Arrangement (1969) is shit like Staircase (1969) and in both cases I couldn't make it to the end.

I feel many people don’t know the work of Gay director Stephen Cone who always has an interesting mix of sexuality and spirituality/religion in his films that is rarely addressed. His first real breakout film was Wise Kids and the last two features- Henry Gamble’s Birthday and Princess Cyd focused on a teen gay protagonist in the first and a young Lesbian woman in the second.

This is Indie movie making almost like back in the 1990s, they aren’t super polished, but they are very earnest and he’s creating stories not really told anywhere else. Henry Gamble in particular I think most of you would find interesting as it begins with best friends jerking off in the morning after a sleep over, one Gay and one straight who is played by that actor who broke out in the series Stranger Things with the pompadour hair. It’s definitely sexy, but overall his movies are more about sweetness then erotic.

Doctor Sleep - the "sequel" to The Shining (both the book and movie versions). It came and went in theaters but it is worth checking out. Watch the director's cut for more fleshed out characters.

Abel Ferrara's Ms. 45 (1981) a feminist Death Wish somewhat comparable to Polanski's Repulsion (1965). I saw it years ago at a midnight screening in NY where it is set. It had a cult following.

The Weather Man with Nicolas Cage. Awesome dark comedy I can watch over and over again solely for its soundtrack. And the daughter: "I'm not a football jocker!" Shelly.

HottieBoombaLottie (available to watch free on YouTube):

R59 this looks like hot trash. Might watch it this summer in boxer shorts and wifebeater, drinking in my boiling overlit kitchen late at night, fans moving hot air, trying to bake one last special birthday cake for my dying brother.

Never heard of this gem!

R57 We all found it extremely campy when it came out. Not revolutionary at all, but fun.

Green Card because I loved Andie MacDowell

Peter Lorre directed "Der Verlorene" for the post-war German movie industry, it was not widely seen but grew in reputation, like Charles Laughton's "Night of the Hunter", in the following decades. Lorre reprises his role as a serial killer in wartime and post-war Berlin. Free with subtitles on Youtube.

Into the Night (1985) starring Jeff Goldblum & Michele Pfeiffer

R112, Mary Harron has made some good films besides American Psycho; I Shot Andy Warhol, The Notorious Bettie Page, and Charlie Says. I Shot Andy Warhol and American Psycho would make a good double feature.

I think it may be familiar to the DL, but Mysterious Skin is a great film.

A Different Story (1978), starring gay Perry King and lez Meg Foster

R1929 That movie really made me angry. Two gay people who ended up getting married and turning straight.

"After Hours," an absolutely hysterical rare Scorsese comedy with a great cast that includes Teri Garr and Catherine O'Hara.

Griffin Dunne plays a mild-mannered accountant who decides to shake up his routine and go into New York City one night, and it's one comical nightmare after another for him.

A Distant Place, Korean movie on Amazon.

R122....It's a guilty pleasure trashiest of trash movies...lol.

Babette's Feast (1987)....Lovely movie that would appeal to the culinary chefs out there. It's not shown too often. It draws you in, watching the feast being prepared.... and the diners' introduction and appreciation of the sumptuous food, with their simple lifestyle.

Wild Orchid Ii: Two Shades of Blue

Searching (2018). David Kim files a police complaint in order to find his missing daughter, Margot. However, a string of hidden truths unravels when he checks her laptop.

'Lawn Dogs' with a young, somewhat unknown, very hot and sexy Sam Rockwell.

R137 I watched that because it was recommended in one of these threads previously.

R136 The trailer looks good.

I’m sorry, but films that won Academy Awards for best foreign film or directed by Martin Scorsese can’t really be deemed underrated or underseen.

Leprechaun

R140 If no one has seen them, they can.

[quote] "[R41] I hated that movie. The lead characters were both horrible people. Dour, depressing, and a sad depiction of gay stereotypes in the 1960s."

Okay. Now that I've seen it, I have to agree, R41. However, I'll give Burton credit for being the better of the two. Harrison's portrayal was far too affected. So much so, it was hard to watch. If he'd just played it more or less as himself, the performance would've been more convincing. But I'm sure that's not something Rex would've wanted to hear.

I'm glad to have seen it though. But I won't be watching it again.

Babette's Feast is so NOT underrated or forgotten. It won the 1987 Foreign Language Film Oscar. Foreign film buffs remember it well.

Well...it's not shown often, so...it's underseen.^^

Part of the “not show so often argument” is basically moot since the collapse of the revival movie theater houses. Really the only place now like that are the film museums and centers.

R52 Love this movie so much. I have the DVD.

Forget The Chase which is overblown. boring and artificial with escaped convict on the run Robert Redford's hair perfectly coiffed throughout and watch Sam Fuller's small town expose The Naked Kiss (1964) instead. A reformed prostitute moves to a small suburban town and uncovers the perversity below the wholesome surface. More Blue Velvet than Peyton Place.

Fun movie

Another favorite

Two Michael Parks movies: Bus Riley's Back In Town (1965) with Ann Margret...it's about an ex-serviceman returning home, with sultry Ann Margret, easy to watch escapism. The second one is Wild Seed (1965) about a teen runaway girl, meeting up with a drifter. These aren't "intellectual" movies...but are entertaining. I like Michael Parks.

Creepy underappreciated (IMO) Almodovar with the added bonus of the lead being a lesbian IRL. But no, it's not a lesbian movie. And it has an interesting and truly weird twist at the end that you'll remember for a long time.

R140 After Hours is very different from Scorsese's other films and it came out during his 80s career downturn, so I think it's underseen.

I agree with you about movies that are nominated (or win!) Oscars though.

"I Am Curious (Yellow)"

“Victoria”.

I’m not posting the other trailers because they are so heavy with spoilers.

But this movie was shot in one take.

Shattered Glass, great suspense/politics movie about 90s political magazine journalism

I Am Curious (Blue) 🇸🇪

I’ve mentioned this one on another similar thread- “The Dreamlife of Angels” a French film from the late 90s. It’s about the formation of a friendship between two young working-class women and its eventual unraveling. The two young women share similar life circumstances but have very different characters and personalities.

If you like Isabelle Huppert, Ingmar Bergman, or John Cassavetes-type movies I think you will like this one.

Control, starring Sam Riley and Samantha Morton, telling the story of Ian Curtis of Joy Division. It's directed by Anton Corbijn, who directed all of Depeche Mode's videos.

Seconds (1966) a middle aged man gets to start life over in the body of handsome rock Hudson. They should remake this as an elder gay man’s dream.

[quote] Shattered Glass, great suspense/politics movie about 90s political magazine journalism

Also fascinating in that it features a genuinely fantastic performance by Hayden Christensen. Who knew?

Shattered Glass was a good film. Peter Saarsgard, Chloe Sevigny and Melanie Lynskey gave good performances as well.Not to derail the thread but I can't help but wonder how many Glass types in journalism simply never got caught. His stories seemed so fantastical from the beginning I don't understand why more people didn't question them. I guess it's harder in the age of the internet to get away with something like that.

A TV film, not a movie, but I enjoyed it.

R162 Everyone liked him.

My brother-in-law went to law school with Glass, and said that when he was exposed it shocked them because he was so nice that they couldn't imagine him doing something like that.

My Life as a Dog

Miracle Mile

R130 I can forgive the movie for the antiquated sexual politics because Perry King is SO FUCKING HOT in it.

R130 I was a young gay 12-year old when I saw this movie on HBO, and I was so excited to see a movie about gay people! Then when the characters turned straight, it made me sad, because it made me feel like gayness wasn't really a thing and that everybody is basically straight. They're just waiting for the right heterosexual partner to come along and bring out their straightness.

Fat City - Great 70's movie starring Stacey Keach. Let Him Have It - A very young Christopher Eccleston plays a teenager who ends up taking his dreams of being a gangster too far. Rififi - Fantastic French noir with a bank robbery scene that is absolutely classic. The Fallen Idol - Carol Reed directs this film based on a Graham Green story. A young boy looks up to Baines, the family butler who spends more time with him than his own mother and father. But something happens that leads the boy to see Baines in a different light. The Young Poisoner's Handbook.

I second the recommendation up thread for the Italian movie Best of Youth. It really is a worthwhile experience and the 6 hour run time is completely justified. I haven't seen this movie in about five years but some of the scenes are still very fresh in my memory.

Let's try this again.

Fat City - Great 70's movie starring Stacey Keach.

Let Him Have It - A very young Christopher Eccleston plays a teenager who ends up taking his dreams of being a gangster too far.

Rififi - Fantastic French noir with a bank robbery scene that is absolutely classic.

The Fallen Idol - Carol Reed directs this film based on a Graham Green story. A young boy looks up to Baines, the family butler who spends more time with him than his own mother and father. But something happens that leads the boy to see Baines in a different light.

The Young Poisoner's Handbook.

I second the recommendation up thread for the Italian movie Best of Youth. It really is a worthwhile experience and the 6 hour run time is completely justified. I haven't seen this movie in about five years but some of the scenes are still very fresh in my memory.

The razors edge - both versions are actually pretty good 1946 with Tyrone power and 1984 with bill murray playing a disillusioned guy.

this made me laugh

Dan Gilroy's directorial debut Nightcrawler (2014) with terrific performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo who reteamed with in Gilroy's Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) Despite strong reviews Nightcrawler disappeared.

Dark Shadows (2012)

Dark Blood (1993)...but 20% unfinished and unreleased until 2013ish. River Phoenix's last movie, also with Jonathan Pryce (who was excellent in 2019's The Two Popes), Judy Davis, and DL fave Karen Black! From the Dutch director of The Vanishing, a great (Dutch) film that had an American remake starring a very hot Jeff Bridges.

THE HOUSE OF MIRTH. Gillian Anderson’s performance is great.

“The Killing of Sister George,” a bizarre 1960’s train wreck of a film with Beryl Reid and Susanna York as lesbian lovers.

Though not all thee films are at all obscure (Easter Parade? Really??) there are many that are.

Clockwatchers (1997)

Another vote for Cheri.

Mental (Australia)

Winter of Our Dreams (Australia)

Little Fish (Australia)

Starred Up (Australia)

The Commitments (Ireland)

Mona Lisa (England)

The Grey Fox (Canada)

XXY (Argentina)

Canibal (Spain)

He's My Girl (1987)

I have deep memories of this movie that I only saw once, Careful, He Might Hear You about an Australian little boy caught in a custody battle. I always lump it with My Life As a Dog, being movies that work so well because of phenomenal performances by child actors.

The indie black comedy movie Pumpkin with Christina Ricci is underrated.

Outlaws…Australian film about biker gangs.

"Blow Out," with John Travolta and Nancy Allen. A rare Brian DePalma box office failure, but in my opinion, one of his best. Also one of Travolta's best performances.

I was watching the Robin Willams documentary last night, and after that they showed World’s Greatest Dad, which I had heard about but never seen. I only watched about 30/40 min because it was around 3am in but I liked what I saw so far - very dark and very funny. I basically watched right up until the main plot set up (which in itself is a little weird considering) and then went to bed. But plan to watch the rest.

Anyone else seen?

World's Greatest Dad is one of my favorite black comedies.

R187 oh good. A lot of movies like that have a great first half and then go off the rails. Glad to hear that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Troll

Series 7: The Contenders (2001) a devastating spoof of reality TV in this case murder for entertainment it feels too real for comfort

Lifeguard (1976), now on Hulu. Filmed at Torrance (CA) beach! Sam Elliott at his hottest...and hairiest...and way before his douche comments about The Power of the Dog.

One of Joan Crawford's less known films, The Damned Don't Cry (1950), directed by her lover Vincent Sherman. It's like Nightmare Alley but with a female protagonist. It was actually much more successful than Nightmare Alley then but much less remembered now.

And a Swedish film also from 1950, Girl with Hyacinths, directed by Hasse Ekman. It's one of the earliest gay films. Bergman called it "an absolute masterpiece. 24 carats."

[quote]“The Killing of Sister George,” a bizarre 1960’s train wreck of a film with Beryl Reid and Susanna York as lesbian lovers.

Although June/George was an unlikable asshole, she became more sympathetic as the film went on. Coral Browne was pitch perfect as the treacherous Mercy Croft.

Manhunter, 1986. The original 'Silence of the Lambs' with William Petersen as the detective and Brian Cox as Lecter. Creepy, spooky, and thoughtful. Directed by Michael Mann.

Born to Kill. A film noir with a twist on the femme fetale. This time Lawrence Tierney is the sexy, can't-be-denied character while Claire Trevor tries to control him. They are both gorgeous and lack any more boundaries. Also starring Elisha Cook, Jr and the wonderful Esther Howard.

Salton Sea - a beautiful moral film.

Death to Smoochy - 'My stepdads not mean, he's just adjusting'.

Passion Fish (again, so good)

Kissed - the best necrophiliac film

The Sweet Hereafter is a film I have never been able to shake. Ian Holm is incredible.

Lade Beware, a 1980s slasher thriller starring Diane Lane. I saw it once back then but can't find it anywhere now.

R196 The Sweet Hereafter is amazing. It's one of the only films that I felt like I had been changed after watching it.

The Sweet Hereafter...I wasn't paying attention when I first saw it and then it grabbed me. I had to watch it again from the beginning and, yes, it was amazing.

Tenderness - based on the Robert Cormier novel about a detective (Russell Crowe) who believes a teenager is a potential serial killer.