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After celebrating this month’s rare 11/11/11 date, wanted to share with you some choices of vastly underrated films that desperately deserve your second (or in this case) first look.
Films here include made for television fare, vastly overlooked box office gems, or flicks just simply ahead of their time leading to more modern appreciation.
Listed in no particular order. They all worthy of catching sometime.
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Home Box Office
1. The Second Civil War (1997)
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This film resonates incredibly well in the modern political climate. A delicious cast featuring the talents of Jason Coburn, Dan Hedaya, Joanne Cassidy, James Earl Jones, and even Denis Leary. It gets extra points for having the much missed Phil Hartman play the President of the United States. Beau Bridges plays Governor Jim Farley as a simple immigration issue spirals into a national crisis in an over sensationalized media climate.
What makes the film great is its ability to navigate between serious and comedic events, setting itself apart from modern day dramedies that focus entirely on message. Second Civil War focuses on its characters and paints a much broader brush in its whimsical, yet memorable journey for all involved.
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© Universal Pictures
2. Brotherhood Of The Wolf (2001)
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Given attention by various action venues but unknown to most, this French film conjured images of over-stylized action set pieces in its clips and marketing. First impressions usually dismissed it as yet another Matrix genre mixing rip-off. Watching the film quickly dissolved these notions as the action serves as a foundation for what’s best described as “epic storytelling.” American influence, yet French mechanics make this an event you can’t stop watching. It helps to have have the beauty of Monica Bellucci and an actor willing to travel across the pond to star in such a foreign experience. In this case, Mark Dacascos.
On a special side note, some remember this film for the incredible film montage that plays in the background of the its DVD Menu. The music playing during … this time is actually a track from the film Dark City called “Sleep Now” by Hughes Hall.
Film’s full trailer below…
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© Lions Gate Entertainment
3. The Last Unicorn (1982)
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Outside of a few select animation enthusiasts and the occasional Robot Chicken parody, this film still remains highly unknown in animation lure. Don’t chalk it up to lack of trying as various celebrations and even the release of a 25th Anniversary Special Edition tried reversing this course. The story revolves around the journey of a Unicorn who believes it is the last of its kind. Set upon a journey by a riddle speaking butterfly, the Unicorn navigates a realm of magical danger while relying on friends seeking just as solemn resolutions.
Still, the film’s legacy seems to be its ability to work incredibly well as both serious animation fare and as modern satire. This rare combination may haunt it, but its important not to forget the timeless aspects the film represented when first released.
Click on the picture below to see one its most classic scenes…
© Lions Gate Entertainment
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Miramax © 2002
4. City Of God (2002)
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A film with 4 Oscar nominations and a current spot on the IMDB Top 250 is unheard of? Sadly to the vast film going public, yes. This is due to the fact it was a foreign release which never found an effective release platform. Film has built acclaim over the years, but has had to do so entirely underground.
A shocking mixture of youth and violence, the film unfolds in a twisted tale of youthful ambition that’s anything but coming of age. Two boys embark on separate paths. One to become a photographer and the other a drug dealer. Used to constant youthful odysseys that revolve around life’s celebrations, domestic audiences will get nothing of the sort in City Of God. The film works best when it makes you uncomfortable, but also resonate when it’s surprisingly sweet. Even today the film remains unique in this aspect and deserving of wider, more public acclaim.
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Challenge Film Corporation – © 1992
5. Split Second (1992)
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The way this film navigates its low budget would make Roger Corman proud. Rutger Hauer stars as cop Harley Stone who faces a strange creature terrorizing a futuristic, flooded London. In pure pulp and action circumstance we watch Harley break in a new partner, romance Michelle (Kim Cattrall), and face off with what’s described as a “sci-fi Lucifer.” Yes, it’s that much fun. Whether you’re in the mood for action extravagance or B-level guilty pleasure, this one will hit your mark.
This trailer captures it perfectly…
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
6. Shattered (1991)
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Not afraid to say it. This one remains of my favorite all time mystery films. Tom Berenger stars as Dan Merrick who emerges from a frightening car crash with amnesia. He begins to suspect inconsistency in his returned life and hires a private detective (Bob Hoskins) to help fill in the blanks. What follows is a suspenseful tale that dares you to try and think ahead, only to debase you with an incredible film twist. For those who complain about generic thrillers and too easy of characters to solve in mystery films, this one will greatly surprise you.
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Warner Home Video
7. Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm (1993)
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Riding the wave of the enormously successful Batman: The Animated Series television series, a theatrical film was easily seen as the next step. Entitled Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, the film received very high critical acclaim leading to its opening. Sadly, the film was released around Christmas in 1993 to mostly confined afternoon matinees. The film found its reach limited and never reached its primary audience. Years have passed and much more successful Batman film adaptations now dominate film-goer memories. That doesn’t make Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm any less effective. In fact: it emboldens it.
Actor Kevin Conroy is already seen by many fans as the voice … of all things Batman. In Phantasm, he voices Bruce Wayne who faces a new adversary while coming to terms with the return of the love of his life. What makes the film essential is its structure. The story unfolds in an organic way. Past events woven with present day revelations to mirror Batman’s internal struggle. A structure that worked considerably well in future rainmaker Batman Begins.
In fact, you’ll even find some influence from Phantasm in story elements for the newest Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm may have been overshadowed, but it continued to highly influence the future of the franchise.
For those apprehensive because it’s animated, this should put your doubts to rest…
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Home Box Office
8. Citizen X (1995)
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HBO Films makes another appearance. Serial killers usually find themselves as targets in films more concerned with the “thriller” tag than procedural investigation. Citizen X concentrates entirely on Lt. Victor Burakov (Stephen Rea) and his efforts in tracking down history’s most notorious serial killer in Communist Russia. Not focusing on hyped up set pieces, the film plays out as a pure psychological cat and mouse. One hampered by bureaucratic interference. Genuinely engaging, this film offers a unique look into the pursuit of evil.
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IMDB
9. Drive (1997)
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Mark Dacascos makes his second appearance on this list. Starring as Toby Wong, a prototype enhanced human with enhanced fighting skills. Toby partners up with bystanders Malik Brody (Kadeem Hardison) and Deliverence Bodine (the much missed Brittany Murphy) to elude Chinese hired hit men. The basic action set-up gives way to jaw dropping fighting scenes very quickly, so much so the film takes on an energy all unto itself. For those just seeking pure action escapism, plug in.
Here’s one of those aforementioned fight scenes. This one the film’s most “subtle” of the bunch.
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© Sony Pictures Entertainment
10. The Assignment (1997)
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Aidan Quinn stars as an American naval officer who looks exactly like the notorious terrorist Carlos the Jackal. So much so that he’s enlisted to train and impersonate him in hopes of having the Russian KGB believe Carlos has turned traitor and hence, quicken his demise. Helping with this incredible task is handlers played by Ben Kingsley and Donald Sutherland.
The real fun here is Aidan Quinn’s very effective performance as both the naval officer and Carlos. For those of us who’ve suffered through various other attempts (Jean Claude Van Damme in Double Impact comes to mind), Mr. Quinn’s performance is a proven relief. That and the film’s action is very well done. Highly recommended.
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Warner Home Video
11. Purgatory (1999)
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Don’t be fooled by the “made for TV” tag, this one could have easily translated to the big screen. Eric Roberts stars a Blackjack Britton who leads an outlaw band into a old west town called Refuge. They soon discover the town is really a version of “purgatory” and the inhabitants are past dead outlaws who must redeem themselves before entrance to Heaven. Included in these outlaws are the likes of Billy the Kid (Donnie Wahlberg), Doc Holliday (Randy Quaid), and even Wild Bill Hickock (Sam Shepard).
The premise is great and the profound morality involved translates into a great western story with mythical elements. A definite must see.
Here’s a fan made trailer featuring music from Tron Legacy… Courtesy of Masongoliver
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Thanks for dropping in,
Sensei White Lotus
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I know that I’ve never been able to make it through Last Unicorn myself. But Shattered is a nice piece of work. I’ll have to check out some of the other pieces on this list like Purgatory.
I have to wholeheartedly agree on Shattered. It had one of the best twist endings only rivaled by the original Diabolique and The Usual Suspects.
BTW, I wonder why Diabolique is NOT on this list? The original that is, not the abominable American remake.
“Diabolique,” is a great movie and like you said – the original version is easily better than the remake. Thanks for dropping in.
The Last Unicorn is unheard of? I thought everyone knew that film.
Thanks for the list. Of all of them, I’ve only ever seen The Last Unicorn, and that only because I was dating a girl obsessed with it. I’ve passed over a lot of these movies because their back-panel synopses didn’t sound nearly as interesting as what you’ve got here. I’ll have to give these a look now.
Women do love that film… Agree that the “back level” descriptions on some of these films should have been a lot better.
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Great List. I had seen City of God and BrotherHood of the Wolf, but the rest are unknown. I shall remedy that situation in short order.
And there you have it.
The reason we must all respect the Sensei: because he’s willing to take the bullet when it comes to sitting all the way through a foreign film.
Iguess if one is a true connoisseur of film, then you have the ability to weather this stuff with dignity.
OTOH, if you’re more a member of the A.D.H.D. like me (which explains a lot when you think about it) you wonder if anything happened in some of these movies.
Most I have never heard of. I admit it. But some of these I have seen and if watching people talk and moralize about how right they are and how wrong everyone esle is, then, brother, you’ve come to the mother-lode.
Not that they are all bad visually. I actually bought (as in: spent money) on “Brotherhood of the Wolf” because it had such spectacular execution of production.
Sticking it in the DVD player with much anticipation, 40 minutes later I ejected it because NOTHING HAPPENED!! It was like a chik-flik, but without the long, painful, boring death that makes girls so happy that they cry.
Okay, more true confession.
I also admit that I am Otaku (which explains even more. Except that I live in the basement of my own house…not my mom’s. But that’s only because my loser-gamer brother already lives there.) So animation is something I actually have a nodding acquaintence with.
And “The Last Unicorn”? It fails because there’s nothing but MORE tallking…and bad artwork. Really, really bad artwork.
I know, I know; I simply don’t understand. The art work is simply stylized.
No….It simply sucks.
“Starblazers” was stylized. “Galaxy 999″ is stylized. “Unicorm” is what you get when you pay 40 cents an hour for animators in some third-wold country.
I dunno. I usually like anime features. Maybe some chemical enhancement is called for.
Likewise, I saw “Purgatory” whe it ran on TV. What was it?…a grand total of one gunfight? Maybe two. The rest of the effort was taken up by…you guessed it MORE talking. Yet another is-anything-going-to-happen-in-this-movie movie.
People walk around. People give each other menacing looks. Throw the chiks a bone with a love interest…blah, blah blah.
I guess this is what they call ‘charater developement’…but couldn’t they develope some character while doing something besides arguing the finer points of Zen?
See “Batman: Phantasm” for the way it should be done.
Beyond the fact it was an animated feature, that was some class ‘A’ writing. No wonder they make movies out of comic books. They actually have a story that goes somewhere.
So hits and misses for the A.D.D. set. However, the Sensei’s review of “Shattered” has me curious now. I like Berenger. He was great in “Platoon” and with the exception of “Stripped to Kill” (which, in all honesty, I watched because Sandahl Bergman was in it) Berenger has brought solid performances to the screen (the mini-series “Rough Riders” comes to mind).
All of which makes “Shattered” appear to be a worthy gamble.
Quickly! Off to Amazon!! Before they start taxing internet sales!!
Thanks Preist. You won’t be disappointed with “Shattered.” Great film.