Underappreciated flicks

[Killick]

So, had a discussion with another board member yesterday that ended when I realized "The Thomas Crown Affair" was on the tube. One of my all-time faves, though not many share my sentiment. It started me thinking -- SportsJournalists.comers, what flicks are some of your faves that you seem to be alone in cherishing?
Mine?
Crown Affair -- Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo version. Original was okay, but I really dig the remake. Denis Leary, too. Great soundtrack.

Sabrina -- Again, the remake. Hate Bogart in the original. Remake with Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear was so cool. Julia Ormond was good in the titular role. But Ford was just so great in it. Critics panned it, and I think I'm the only one of the planet that owns the DVD.

The Italian Job -- Breaking tradition, I go with the original here. Just quirky, fun British flick. Michael Caine is great in it, and it also stars -- hold onto your caps -- Benny Hill.

... and though it's not high on my list, borrowing from the "Clerks" discussion on the board, I'll go on record as admitting that I might be the only cat around that liked his "Jersey Girl." It was out the vein of his regular fare, which is why Smith fans probably rag on it so much, but I thought it was a sweet little movie. Carlin was great in it, as were his two sidekicks (Stephen Root and ????). Affleck was Affleck, and I could go a lifetime without seeing JHo on screen, but the little girl was cute, it was a sentimental flick, and I took it for what it was. (Even liked the "Sweeney Todd" number).

So, anyone else wanna kick in and proclaim their minority opinions?

 

[Trey Beamon]

I watch "40 Days and 40 Nights" whenever it's on Comedy Central.

Then again, that may have more to do with my lack of a social life than actually liking the movie.

 

[mike311gd]

I loved Jersey Girl in the theater and each time I've watched it on DVD. Raquel Castro was phenomenal in every way. What a cute and talented little girl. If she doesn't hit Broadway and stick there for years when she's older, I'd be shocked.

Carlin is very good in the dramatic role, and he nails the comedic parts -- but that goes without saying.

I've got a little thing for Affleck, so I could watch a tape Damon took of Ben pinching a loaf and probably give you a sparkling review, but I was a fan. His scene with Castro, where he yelled at her in front of her room was fantastic.

Smith is a brilliant, brilliant man. He can do whatever he ****ing wants. And he'll do it better than most.

 

[pallister]

Diggstown. Great con/boxing movie with James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr., Bruce Dern, Randall "Tex" Cobb and Oliver Platt.

 

[dooley_womack1]

The new Thomas Crown Affair was a perfectly fine film. And Rene Russo's love scene...skfsjkldfjassdfkljds.

 

[bigpern23]

The only redeeming quality to the Thomas Crown Affair was Rene Russo's cans. Absolutely phenomenal when you consider she was 45 when that was filmed.

I've owned Jersey girl for three or four years and still haven't seen it.

On these kinds of threads I'm always quick to point out "True Romance," written by Tarantino (he sold it so that he could make "Pulp Fiction") and starring a boatload of big names.
I'll throw these out there (a few are appreciated by this board but not by the public at large):
Boondock Saints
Hard Candy
Suicide Kings
The Virgin Suicides
Return to Paradise
Matchstick Men
Brokedown Palace
King of New York
Poolhall Junkies
Empire of the Sun
In America

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

The scene where the limbless guy lights the cigarette is one of the most extraordinary things ever filmed.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

 

[Diabeetus]

October Sky, Donnie Darko, Mean Girls, Saved, Road To Perdition

 

[Killick]

Just saw "Boondock Saints" recently for the first time -- I was bored, it was on, so I caught it. Liked it enough to rent it and see it unedited. Tremendous flick. "I do believe the monsignor's finally got the point." Tremendous.

 

[DemoChristian]

Jersey Girl is pretty good if you don't expect a Jay and Silent Bob movie.

 

[Boobie Miles]

I'll never understand why Heat doesn't get wider acclaim.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Road. House. End of thread.

*****

I'll also throw a vote out there for Nobody's Fool, with Paul Newman and a fantastic supporting cast ... even an understated Bruce Willis.

*****

I really like both flavors of the T.C. Affair. The scene in the gallery with all the guys dressed like the guy in the Magritte ... priceless.

I'll watch anything wih George Carlin in it, even Bill & Ted. I especially liked him in Prince of Tides and, yes, Jersey Girl.

*****

Out on the road today I saw a "Boondocks Saints" sticker on a Cadillac.

No joke ... and I did not look back. You can never look back.

 

[Killick]

... also, how 'bout...
"Ronin" -- with Booby D and the french dude (looked it up: Jean Reno), doing the shady weapons deal that goes awry. Great stuff.
"Sleepers" -- '96 flick with De Niro and a great cast: Kevin Bacon, Ron Eldard, Minnie Driver, Jason Patric. For those who haven't caught it, two badasses in a group of friends off a former guard at the orphanage they grew up in. Guard (Bacon) was sexually assaulting them. Other friends in group try to help badasses avoid jail time. De Niro is a priest that they all see as father-figure, who helps, too. Solid stuff.

 

[Appgrad05]

Without Limits. Story of Steve Prefontaine, starring Billy Crudup and Donald Sutherland.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

The scene where the limbless guy lights the cigarette is one of the most extraordinary things ever filmed.

It's been years since I saw that - he rolls it first, doesn't he?

I saw "Freaks" at an art-house theater in SoCal when I was a teenager. It was on a double bill with "Eraserhead." That was a seriously strange night.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The original "Point Blank" with Lee Marvin.

 

[EmbassyRow]

Hell yes on Road House and Poolhall Junkies. Mars Callahan should get more work.

I'll add PCU, Kentucky Fried Movie, Glory Daze and Dirty Work.

 

[DanOregon]

To me the list should be topped by Midnight Run.

 

[Diabeetus]

I watched Boondock Saints recently, too. Thought it was a good movie, but it was a bit overhyped to me. My expectations might have been too big going in, though.