Prosaic Paradise

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Top Ten Underrated Movies I Love

Filed under movies by at 12:00 am on Apr 14 2009

I tend to be a little militant about going off the beaten path and liking movies that no one else likes. (The Ice Storm, About Schmidt) I also tend to be turned off of movies that everyone else likes, which is really reactionary and dumb. But as faults go, that’s pretty small right? Well for once let me say some nice things about movies instead of being one giant parade-rainer-onner. (See: My feelings about The Matrix, Batman, Snatch, etc.) (I just said to Jack “What are some good movies I’ve been a jerk about?” to get that list.)

Some movies I don’t much hear about that I think are awesome in no particular order:

Beautiful Thing (1996) It’s just an incredibly cute coming out story. Of course, there are tears… there always are. This actually has an 89% Rotten Tomatoes, but if it’s so critically acclaimed, how come no one’s ever seen it?

The Faculty (1998) You can’t go wrong with Bebe Neuwirth and Jon Stewart. Most friends of mine know of this awesome tongue-in-cheek horror flick but I’m putting it out there in case you don’t.

Guarding Tess (1994) Pre-Face/Off Nic Cage. Totally heartwarming and interesting and features a smart lady.

Streets of Fire (1984) A slightly surreal 80s noir B movie… I don’t even know where to begin, I only know I love it. Amy Madigan appeals so much to my little tomboy heart, and Michael Pare has just the right retro understated cool going on. He’s like a premonition of the Winchester brothers.

The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) Don’t laugh at me or look away immediately. This movie is totally what you expect and not at all what you expect at the same time. Have you been patiently waiting for Gary Cole to come to your door ever since that kid said “Someone’s at the door” back in 1995? Then if nothing else, watch this movie just for Gary. And maybe don’t root for Greg and Marcia?

Corrina, Corrina (1994) Oh. So you thought Ray Liotta could only play mobsters and psycho killers. And that Whoopi Goldberg could only play nuns and the center square. Well. You were wrong.

House of Fools (2002) I got this on a whim, I think it was one of my first netflix rentals. I was so surprised to be transported into a vibrant story and well, obviously more surprised to see Bryan Adams actually show up. The taglins says a true story – so, maybe someone did summon a very vivid hallucination of Bryan Adams to Chechnya. I don’t know but it makes a great film.

Rat Race (2001) I have Paul to thank for this one. I laughed so hard I had a brain aneurysm and had to go to the hospital where someone comically botched my heart transplant by letting Rowan Atkinson get his hands on said organ. Alright, no, but I have to say after seeing this movie I rented It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and it was not half as funny. Maybe it’s a generational thing.

Stealing Harvard (2002) My first notice of John C. McGinley. “I was hungry, so I heated up a brick of cheese.” The reason my beloved calls me “m’lady” that has nothing to do with a renfaire. So many things to recommend it, yet an 8% on the tomatometer. Whatever, haters. Your Tom Green backlash is comforting, I’m sure.

Cursed (2005) Bound to be a classic of the tongue-in-cheek horror genre. Obviously smart casting – Milo Ventimiglia before his Heroes debut, Christina Ricci at any point in her career, Josh Jackson… well, OK, we all know I have a totally biased opinion there. Watch for some fun cameos and stop taking everything so seriously.

This post was inspired by Average Jane who in turn was inspired by Think Lynsen. That’s a whole mess o’ underrated movies!

6 Responses to “Top Ten Underrated Movies I Love”

  1. 1 heatheron 14 Apr 2009 at 9:34 am

    My sister and I loved Corrina, Corrina so much when we were younger. Maybe I should watch it again.

    I remember seeing Tina Majorino on “Veronica Mars” and thinking, “Where is that girl from?” before it finally dawned on me that she was from Corrina, Corrina and Andre, haha.

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    Kim Reply:

    Exactly! I had the same experience watching Veronica Mars.

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  2. 2 TAOon 14 Apr 2009 at 10:20 am

    I loved The Brady Bunch Movie. Thought they did a perfect job with it. John C. McGinley is always great no matter if the role is comedy or drama. I can’t forget him in Office Space as one of the Bobs: “I’ll be honest with you, I love his music, I do, I’m a Michael Bolton fan. For my money, I don’t know if it gets any better than when he sings ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’. ”

    Thanks for the movie post. Some in there I’ve not seen and I might give them a chance.

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    Kim Reply:

    I really need to go out and find John C. Mcginley’s drama output because I have never seen any of it!!

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    TAO Reply:

    I can’t remember him in too many big drama roles but he turns up in small supporting parts. He’s the best thing about this awful movie: “On Deadly Ground”. He hams it up great in an evil role. He was in “Identity” as well.

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  3. 3 Angela @ Lost In Splendoron 15 Apr 2009 at 6:09 pm

    Interesting list. The only ones from this I have seen are Rat Race and Beautiful Thing. Perhaps I need to check into some of the others.

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