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The B-Team: Underrated and Alternates from the '00s - Page 2

post #51 of 175
12/4/09 at 1:09am
Thread Starter 
I'll cop to never having watched ABRE LOS OJOS, even though I've had the DVD for a while. But I do like Amenabar quite a bit (his TESIS is tops), so I know what I'll be watching tonight.

Here's three more of my B-Team selections:

BLACK BOOK (2006, Paul Verhoeven): Verhoeven makes 'adult' movies in all sense of the word, and his WWII thriller, complete with tension, nudity and a sympathetic Nazi (!), saw him return to top form after a couple of Hollywood missteps.

GINGER SNAPS (2000, John Fawcett): Hey, who's down for a Canadian werewolf-girl movie chock-full of menstruation metaphors? I am, and you should be too! The sequel UNLEASHED is pretty awesome as well.

STANDER (2003, Bronwen Hughes): Nifty character study about a South African cop who became the country's most-wanted bank robber. Great showcase for Thomas Jane's charisma and acting chops - why this guy's not a bigger star is beyond me.
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post #52 of 175
12/4/09 at 1:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuchulain View Post
[I]
We Own the Night and Two Lovers. James Gray is a director I really liked seeing grow this decade. Little Odessa seems like what it is--a good first attempt from a promising new writer and director--but it's disjointed. I like Ebert's take ,that it seems like a patchwork of independent vignettes that Gray is struggling to weave into a whole. The Yards is where he demonstrates he can pull things together. We Own the Night, not too many people around here seem to like it, but it is easily my favorite thing Duvall did this decade and one of my favorite films in his entire body of work. In many other films, the "I love you too" ending may have not seemed earned or sappy but it packs a punch in this film. Two Lovers is just a beautiful film. You get a look at a Jewish family that seems both true and utterly divorced from stereotypes of Jewish families, one of the more moving and true portrayals of mental illness in recent film, and every character seems fully realized. The intense drama of whether the protagonist's illness will keep him from being happy or not is masterfully executed and beautifully resolved.
I like James Gray, but We Own The Night sucks. A huge step back after The Yards. And Duvall was simply awful.

Unpopular to say it, but I think Black Book is Verhoeven's best film.
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post #53 of 175
12/4/09 at 1:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Elvis View Post
Unpopular to say it, but I think Black Book is Verhoeven's best film.
I certainly am not going to dispute the status Starship Troopers and Robocop as excellent films.


But I think you're right. Black Book seems to be more....personal than the other two. That doesn't necessarily make one film better than another, but in this case it gives it some weight that the other two lack.
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post #54 of 175
12/4/09 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post
For those of you who are pimping Vanilla Sky, how many have seen Abre Los Ojos and how does it compare?


Just curious, since I seem to be one of the minority who think that the leaner, meaner Infernal Affairs was better than the more expansive The Departed, though both are really friggin' good.
I prefer Vanilla Sky, the story benefits from the presence of a real movie star and a bigger budget.
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post #55 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:00am
Stardust and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Family films better than the average American family deserves.
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post #56 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:04am
Big Fan is fading from radars wicked fast. Also not seeing Ghost World on a ton of lists yet.

And I always liked Scotland, PA.
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post #57 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:08am
I don't know if these are really great movies, but they're good, and forgotten:
Sky High
Over the Hedge
Scoop
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post #58 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark View Post
Stardust
Thoroughly seconded. I loved this film.
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post #59 of 175
12/4/09 at 3:06am
Narc: I cry everytime i see the ending for this movie and I've seen the movie 5-8 times.

About Schmidt: Sideways gets the love, but this was Alexander Paynes masterpiece from this decade.

Punch Drunk Love: A lot to love even with some of the faults.

Head-On: great film that has a scorsese feel to it. Fatih akin's great film about two lovers who were never meant to be.

Manic and Mysterious Skin: The two films that opened my eyes to Joseph Gordon-Levit
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post #60 of 175
12/4/09 at 3:22am
Hustle and Flow: I'll cry if I don't see this on any list. Great movie, feels like a hip hop version of Rocky. Terrence Howard hasn't been as good since.

Murderball: I was really angry when that fucking penguin doc beat this powerful documentary about a really hardcore sport that my people(Well, some of them, I'm a paraplegic and can't play it competitively) play. Honest, funny, exciting.
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post #61 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:13pm
Has GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK shown up anywhere yet? I know that the Best Actor battle that year was framed as Hoffman Vs. Ledger, but David Strathairn knocked the stuffing out of both of them.

Also, MEAN CREEK.
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post #62 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:19pm
Has anywhere mentioned IN THE LOOP yet? It may be too soon but that's surely a film that has to be listed as one of the funniest films this decade has offered.
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post #63 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:24pm
Agreed on Stardust, Sky High, The Mist, Speed Racer, Good Night and Good Luck and About Schmidt.

I'd also add:

Letters from Iwo Jima2006): Flags of Our Fathers got all the hype, but Letters is the far superior film.

Taken (2008): Just a cracker of an action film with a pretty unlikely Neeson kicking ass and taking names.

Finding Nemo (2003): All the love seems to be going to Wall-E, Up and The Incredibles, and deservedly so, but Nemo firmly belongs in that group. Not a thing in this film that doesn't work.
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post #64 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post
For those of you who are pimping Vanilla Sky, how many have seen Abre Los Ojos and how does it compare?


Just curious, since I seem to be one of the minority who think that the leaner, meaner Infernal Affairs was better than the more expansive The Departed, though both are really friggin' good.
Vanilla Sky is inferior to the original. More so than The Departed. Maybe because I saw the originals first, but even then. Tony Leung just eats DiCaprio and Damon alive, acting-wise.

Also, again: In Bruges. And again. Good call on The Devil's Backbone. And The Mist. Was pleasently surprised by Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Too bad it tanked. Finding Nemo is superior to Wall-E anyway.

We Own the Night was shit though.

And this thread reminds me to watch BLACK BOOK.
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post #65 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:34pm
Black Book is great.

And put me in the Infernal Affairs > Departed camp.
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post #66 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006): Flags of Our Fathers got all the hype, but Letters is the far superior film.
No one really liked Flags of Our Fathers when it came out. That is why Iwo Jima got the Best Picture nomination and not Flags.
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post #67 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:43pm
Flags got most of the hype pre-release, is what I meant. And even with the Best Picture nom, I don't think Letters really got enough credit.
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post #68 of 175
12/4/09 at 2:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post
Hustle and Flow: I'll cry if I don't see this on any list. Great movie, feels like a hip hop version of Rocky. Terrence Howard hasn't been as good since.
I really dig Hustle and Flow but your post reminded me of how much I love Black Snake Moan. Good lord was that movie a great combination of bizarre and awesome. Jackson and Ricci fucking bring it with no fear, the story is batshit nuts, and it has my favorite soundtrack of the last decade.

Also, Timberlake!
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post #69 of 175
12/4/09 at 5:34pm
I think Crank is the best action film of the decade. Not like there is great competition

Sugar is the best baseball movie of the decade. Again not a lot of competition. Although I liked the Dennis Quaid movie, The Rookie.

When it comes to War Documentaries, Operation Dreamland gives a great grunts-eyed view of Falliujah in 2004. I also liked the HBO documentary, Death in Gaza.
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post #70 of 175
12/4/09 at 5:50pm
Stander is a great suggestion.

Also, where is The King of Kong on any of theses lists? Or Billy Elliot? Or George Washington?
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post #71 of 175
12/4/09 at 6:01pm
Or for that matter Catch Me If You Can?
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post #72 of 175
12/4/09 at 9:44pm
Thread Starter 
Here's a few for kids of all ages:

PETER PAN (2003, P.J. Hogan): Like the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the HARRY POTTER movies from AZKABAN onwards, this had the feel of a much-loved storybook taken down from the shelf again and again: reverent, lived-in and real.

WALLACE AND GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (2005, Steve Box and Nick Park): Because if you don't love Wallace and Gromit, you're just a right prick.

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001, Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan): Two words: Du Jour. Two more: 'Backdoor Lover'.
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post #73 of 175
12/4/09 at 10:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post
Or for that matter Catch Me If You Can?
Again, just a wonderful flick. Don't know if it's capital-G great, though. Probably my personal favorite of Spielberg's films....maybe behind SPR.

"Nawk nawk."
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post #74 of 175
12/4/09 at 10:53pm
Its on Beaks's list, but I love Affleck's Gone, Baby, Gone, even though I read the book years ago and knew the ending.
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post #75 of 175
12/4/09 at 11:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy five-tone View Post

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS (2001, Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan): Two words: Du Jour. Two more: 'Backdoor Lover'.
I recently rewatched the movie simply to witness Du Jour again. Du Jour... means a lot of things.

The rest of the movie was forgettable back when I first saw it. Seeing it now, it was pretty lame. But Du Jour only got better for me.

As for Abre los Ojos... it's a much colder and bleaker film than Cameron Crowe's warm fuzzies take on the story. I'm sure the original works much better as an actual film, but I've always preferred the warm sentiment that Crowe's sensibilities brought to Vanilla Sky. At the same time, I don't think the film actually works.

Also, the Radiohead track doesn't score the empty Times Square sequence. It had "From Rusholme with Love" by Mint Royale playing during it.
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post #76 of 175
12/5/09 at 12:45am
Munich should be on these lists.

Devil's Rejects shouldn't, but it's still a great film of the last decade.

Also: Primer, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
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post #77 of 175
12/5/09 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin Savage View Post
Vanilla Sky is inferior to the original. More so than The Departed. Maybe because I saw the originals first, but even then. Tony Leung just eats DiCaprio and Damon alive, acting-wise.
Agreed on Abre Los Ojos. The Departed outclasses Infernal Affairs 8 ways from Sunday.

God bless whoever brought up Hogan's Peter Pan.

Someone at work reminded me how surprisingly good Alpha Dog was.
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post #78 of 175
12/5/09 at 12:56am
I want to mention Shotgun Stories but it's been so long since I watched it; all I remember is thinking it was great. And yeah, The Departed far surpasses its inspiration.
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post #79 of 175
12/5/09 at 12:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreary louse View Post
24 Hour Party People This is a GREAT movie! Argh! I better see it on some lists, because damn, just - I love this film. It's unique! There's great music. It's smart. Innovative in its technique. Everybody I've shown it to has quite enjoyed it. It depicts the music industry with the rigor of Scorsese depicting the mob in Goodfellas.
The bit in the bathroom was fun. Good little movie.

I'll chime in for Vanilla Sky and add in Auto Focus (2002) and Dogville (2003).
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post #80 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:05am
Auto Focus needs to be revisited by myself...I saw Adam Resurrected and I don't want to write Schrader off again...his failures are pretty epic failures, as Adam Resurrected nearly becomes a good bad movie like The Room. Except it's confusing as fuck. And it's about the Holocaust so uh, it's a bit awkward for a midnight movie choice!

The History Boys was enjoyed by many. I guess it's A Uniquely British Film. If its story was transposed to North America, I believe some of its characters would be locked up by the film's end. But this is actually a light comedy drama.

Dirty Pretty Things is the quintessential 'good little movie' you catch on cable and forget about.
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post #81 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:06am
Oh. Does Jesus Camp go on the B-list or the A-list?
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post #82 of 175
12/5/09 at 2:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
Also, the Radiohead track doesn't score the empty Times Square sequence. It had "From Rusholme with Love" by Mint Royale playing during it.
You are correct, sir. But I did love the way the film started off with the Radiohead track...nicely unsettling.

Many props for recognising DIRTY PRETTY THINGS.
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post #83 of 175
12/5/09 at 4:02am
You know what no one is mentioning? Quills. Which is unfortunate, because it's terrific, and oddly rewatchable. It's got a nice Dangerous Liasons/Amadeus vibe and a very legitimate modern day context to play with. Michael Caine is a remarkably shitty person in it. And it's probably my favorite Geoffrey Rush performance, and I like Geoffrey Rush.
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post #84 of 175
12/5/09 at 4:21am
Hallam Foe is an underseen and underappreciated little gem of a movie.
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post #85 of 175
12/5/09 at 5:31am
Good choices. Of what I've seen I only disagree on The Yards (which I found utterly boring) and Vanilla Sky (I prefer the original by a landslide). I'm prepping a list of movies only I loved in the last decade right now. I was gonna add Stardust, but I'll pull it off seeing folks like it.

I'll add Capturing the Friedmans to this list.

Edit: Oh, and JSA.
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post #86 of 175
12/5/09 at 7:36am
I'm certainly not putting it in a league with 'Pulp Fiction' or 'Citizen Kane' but '24 Hour Party People' works for me on a similar level. It's gleeful and alive and bursting at the seems with invention and it's way too much fun. Glad to see it getting some respect.
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post #87 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:06pm
After half a decade of snark and ridicule, it's easy to overlook and forget the achievement The Passion of the Christ was. At this point, it's underrated. Was there a bigger artistic gamble this decade? Maybe LOTR.
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post #88 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:13pm
SPARTAN: A very cool thriller. Great dialog, fun action, best work Kilmer has done this decade. Really under rated Mamet

PS: It has Kristen Bell. Now, I don't care for her personally (I just had to suffer through her work in Assassin's Creed 2. God she's awful in that), but I know alot of men folk like her, so the movie has that going for it.

Before Sunset, was also awesome.


PS Dark Blue


and Girl in the Cafe (really charming film)
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post #89 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arjen Rudd View Post
You know what no one is mentioning? Quills. Which is unfortunate, because it's terrific, and oddly rewatchable. It's got a nice Dangerous Liasons/Amadeus vibe and a very legitimate modern day context to play with. Michael Caine is a remarkably shitty person in it. And it's probably my favorite Geoffrey Rush performance, and I like Geoffrey Rush.
Wow, Quills didn't do anything for me. Different Strokes, I guess
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post #90 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Elvis View Post
Was there a bigger artistic gamble this decade? Maybe LOTR.
On an indie scale: THE BROWN BUNNY.
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post #91 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post

Before Sunset, was also awesome.
Before Sunset was stylish and fun, but as far as great flicks it's not even Brosnan's SECOND best of the decade (I prefer The Matador to Tailor of Panama but both are terrific). It didn't even have a great performance a la Sexy Beast to buoy it.
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post #92 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post
Before Sunset was stylish and fun, but as far as great flicks it's not even Brosnan's SECOND best of the decade (I prefer The Matador to Tailor of Panama but both are terrific). It didn't even have a great performance a la Sexy Beast to buoy it.
I'm talking about the lovely stroll/flirtation through Paris in real time:






PS When it comes to Brosnan films though, I saw TOP 3 times in theaters back in the day. The Matador is good, just not as good, IMO. I am a big Brosnan fan though. Serephim Falls also does not get enough love. He is bad ass in that movie
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post #93 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
I'm talking about the lovely stroll/flirtation through Paris in real time:
Oh shit, I'm a fucking idiot.
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post #94 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post
Oh shit, I'm a fucking idiot.
Why? Both have the same title (as I recall), easy enough mistake to make. No worries!
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post #95 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
Why? Both have the same title (as I recall), easy enough mistake to make. No worries!
The Brosnan film is actually After the Sunset. Close but no cigar.
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post #96 of 175
12/5/09 at 1:52pm
Also, I'm watching Tropic Thunder which is too flawed to be the best of anything, but Downey Jr is just so fucking brilliant in it.
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post #97 of 175
12/5/09 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chavez View Post
Also, I'm watching Tropic Thunder which is too flawed to be the best of anything, but Downey Jr is just so fucking brilliant in it.
I really didn't like that. I liked Downey Jr, and Cruise, but hte fact of the matter is I really dislike Stiller and his ilk (Will Ferell is the worst of the worst, IMO) and their constant mugging for the camera. The entire film suffers
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post #98 of 175
12/5/09 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
I liked Downey Jr, and Cruise, but hte fact of the matter is I really dislike Stiller and his ilk (Will Ferell is the worst of the worst, IMO) and their constant mugging for the camera. The entire film suffers
Oh, I totally agree that Stiller just isn't the right guy to play Speedman, and the film is lesser for it.

RDJ though - just fantastic.
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post #99 of 175
12/5/09 at 2:17pm
I heard that Stiller tried to get Keanu Reeves to play Tug, which is so much better it'll make you angry.
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post #100 of 175
12/5/09 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy five-tone View Post
WALLACE AND GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT (2005, Steve Box and Nick Park): Because if you don't love Wallace and Gromit, you're just a right prick.
If this makes it in, then Chicken Run has to be above it, because it's the superior film.
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