Both of these are masterpieces. The first is one of my favorite films of all time. It has to be one of the most underappreciated strokes of genius ever put to film.
This one isn't really underrated because everyone who sees it loves it (7.9 on IMDb), but it didn't get the admiration it deserved. It was almost entirely ignored during the awards season, and few people have ever even heard about it. Frankly, I enjoyed it more than
Pan's Labyrinth or
The English Patient, and if you watch it, you'll understand why I mention those films. It's shares the spirit of my favorite Tim Burton film, but I won't mention which that is.
Somewhat genderized mirrors of each other by Neil Labute, I promise that you will NEVER forget either if you watch them:
This one got more visibility than most I'll list, but it only grossed $21m domestically, and few appreciated how deep it was. Simply a crime that it didn't get a Best Picture nomination when
War Horse and
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close did. Christians, in particular, slept on it. I don't think they realize it is one of the most quintessentially Christian films ever made-- but hey, maybe that's why it didn't get nominations:
Yet another that is north of 7.0 on IMDb, but the Bronte sisters have been done to death on film, and this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Mia Wasikowska is fire. Directed by Cary Fukunaga who three years later directed 8/10 of what is perhaps the finest season of television ever made in
True Detective season 1. If you've never understood why girls are so crazy for the literature of the late 19th century's Victorian era...watch this, then watch
Pride and Prejudice from 2005 with Keira Knightley based on the Austen novel. The stories are eternal. Those crooked-toothed bitches could
write:
A coming-of-age tour de force for young men:
The movie that put Amy Adams on the map. One of the greatest acting performances ever given:
I'll probably come back with more, later. I best magazine in American film criticism is
Film Comment, hands down. Their end-of-the-year Critic's Poll stands head and shoulders above shit like RottenTomatoes or Metacritic, and they don't look anything alike. Most of their movies aren't the type to be festooned during awards season, either. This is a magazine ran by people who know how to curate their
reviewers, not just the films they feature for articles. It's humbling to look back and see how their lists have stood up from the late 90's and early 2000's. It's resisting the hyper-lliberal SJW agenda better than most stewards of high art, too. This is art:
https://www.filmcomment.com/