Underrated films (REVISED)
As I sit here and try to compose a readable blog, I have my Nomad MP3 player (oh, fuck Apple*) delivering musical information into the eardrums. The musical bit which set bells and whistles going off insidemy melon is The Art of Noise's "Dragnet 1987" from the soundtrack of Dragnet. This set me thinking on movies which are, quite unjustifiably, underrated.
Some films are underrated because they require something from the viewer; a base of knowledge (cinematic or otherwise), an IQ favorably comparable to a jacuzzi's temperature or a willingness to be imaginative, etc.
Most of the great "underrateds" are comedies. This is because comedy gets no respect. The reason comedy gets no respect is that being funny is something most critics are not and, therefore, something they resent, trivialize and marginalize. Bugger the lot of them, say I. Comedy is murderously difficult, but the result--peals of laughter--seems somehow flighty and silly. [Shrug]
Here is my by-no-means-complete list of underrated films, in no order whatever, some with silly comments by me:
Enchanted April - Dame Joan Plowright delivers a delicious, nuanced performance clearly above anything else released that year. (Marisa Tomei...gets the Oscar? For...My Cousin Vinny???)
Zelig - This film, and not Spinal Tap, is the ne plus ultra of mockumentaries. IMO, the very best work Woody Allen has ever done, and is likely to do.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid - A comedy so inventive, brilliant and clearly difficult to do it renders any sentient viewer speechless. Look for the uncut version.
My Favorite Year - Oddly enough a feel-good movie, with great verbal jabs and quips and a truly wonderful performance by Peter O'Toole, as well as the rest of the semi-famous cast (Lainie Kazan, Mark Linn-Baker, Bill Macy, Joseph Bologna), the uncut version is clearer and funnier.
Dragnet - An excellent comedic riff on the original TV show. Dan Ackroyd is a spot-on Joe Friday Jr., and I absolutely LIVE for hearing Tom Hanks deliver the rescue-scene line "Thank God it's Friday!" It was cool to see Harry Morgan reprise his role as Frank Gannon, no inspector. It helps to have loved the original series.
Robin Hood: Men In Tights - The film itself is merely hey-it's-not-bad-at-all, but the Mel Brooks commentary track lifts it to the realm of the ethereal. Helps to have a working knowledge of Yiddish.
Rustler's Rhapsody - The ultimate in western (musical AND spaghetti) parodies.
Buckaroo Banzai - The quintessential cult comedy. The situations are gloriously absurd, the dialogue crackles with life and wit even if the plot is amazingly unfathomable.
Top Secret! - An excellent sophomore effort by the Airplane! guys.
No Small Affair - A brilliant little comedy even if it stars Demi Moore, albeit in a non augmented way.
Mr. Belvedere Goes To College - Actually any film with Clifton Webb as the brilliant-yet-acerbic Lynn Belvedere is a must-have.
Empire of the Sun - OK, the very end is kind of sappy and worthy of a 3rd year film student, but the performance by John Malkovich is stunning.
The Natural - The perfect combination of period piece and sports drama. Check out the lighting.
Hanoi Hilton - Buried by the earlier release of Platoon but a far better, clearer film.
My Name Is Trinity/Trinity Is Still My Name/My Name Is Nobody - Spaghetti western comedies with clever, sharp characterizations and a rather drawing-room comedy effect.
Volunteers - A cross between a farce, social commentary and nihilistic comedy. Overlook the fact Tom Hanks can't keep an accent--in this case a Boston Brahmin one--straight, the dialogue and characterizations are razor-sharp. Besides, any comedy mocking Peace Corps volunteers and folk music deserves instant elevation to this Pantheon. Easily the most quotable of the underrateds.
More later.
-J.
* "Apple be buggered" if you're Poppy
Some films are underrated because they require something from the viewer; a base of knowledge (cinematic or otherwise), an IQ favorably comparable to a jacuzzi's temperature or a willingness to be imaginative, etc.
Most of the great "underrateds" are comedies. This is because comedy gets no respect. The reason comedy gets no respect is that being funny is something most critics are not and, therefore, something they resent, trivialize and marginalize. Bugger the lot of them, say I. Comedy is murderously difficult, but the result--peals of laughter--seems somehow flighty and silly. [Shrug]
Here is my by-no-means-complete list of underrated films, in no order whatever, some with silly comments by me:
Enchanted April - Dame Joan Plowright delivers a delicious, nuanced performance clearly above anything else released that year. (Marisa Tomei...gets the Oscar? For...My Cousin Vinny???)
Zelig - This film, and not Spinal Tap, is the ne plus ultra of mockumentaries. IMO, the very best work Woody Allen has ever done, and is likely to do.
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid - A comedy so inventive, brilliant and clearly difficult to do it renders any sentient viewer speechless. Look for the uncut version.
My Favorite Year - Oddly enough a feel-good movie, with great verbal jabs and quips and a truly wonderful performance by Peter O'Toole, as well as the rest of the semi-famous cast (Lainie Kazan, Mark Linn-Baker, Bill Macy, Joseph Bologna), the uncut version is clearer and funnier.
Dragnet - An excellent comedic riff on the original TV show. Dan Ackroyd is a spot-on Joe Friday Jr., and I absolutely LIVE for hearing Tom Hanks deliver the rescue-scene line "Thank God it's Friday!" It was cool to see Harry Morgan reprise his role as Frank Gannon, no inspector. It helps to have loved the original series.
Robin Hood: Men In Tights - The film itself is merely hey-it's-not-bad-at-all, but the Mel Brooks commentary track lifts it to the realm of the ethereal. Helps to have a working knowledge of Yiddish.
Rustler's Rhapsody - The ultimate in western (musical AND spaghetti) parodies.
Buckaroo Banzai - The quintessential cult comedy. The situations are gloriously absurd, the dialogue crackles with life and wit even if the plot is amazingly unfathomable.
Top Secret! - An excellent sophomore effort by the Airplane! guys.
No Small Affair - A brilliant little comedy even if it stars Demi Moore, albeit in a non augmented way.
Mr. Belvedere Goes To College - Actually any film with Clifton Webb as the brilliant-yet-acerbic Lynn Belvedere is a must-have.
Empire of the Sun - OK, the very end is kind of sappy and worthy of a 3rd year film student, but the performance by John Malkovich is stunning.
The Natural - The perfect combination of period piece and sports drama. Check out the lighting.
Hanoi Hilton - Buried by the earlier release of Platoon but a far better, clearer film.
My Name Is Trinity/Trinity Is Still My Name/My Name Is Nobody - Spaghetti western comedies with clever, sharp characterizations and a rather drawing-room comedy effect.
Volunteers - A cross between a farce, social commentary and nihilistic comedy. Overlook the fact Tom Hanks can't keep an accent--in this case a Boston Brahmin one--straight, the dialogue and characterizations are razor-sharp. Besides, any comedy mocking Peace Corps volunteers and folk music deserves instant elevation to this Pantheon. Easily the most quotable of the underrateds.
More later.
-J.
* "Apple be buggered" if you're Poppy
Comments
The thing is, I was going to do it, anyway. You don't need to get all bossy about it.
--P.