Great Directors most underrated movies.

[Buck Turgidson]

Unless your oeuvre is tiny, like Terrence Malick, you've probably got both high and low points on your resume. I want to give some attention to films that go unnoticed in the Director's larger body of work. I'll name some Directors and my pick for their most underrated movie. Please follow suit if the sprit moves you.


Martin Scorsese: The Last Temptation of Christ

Francis Coppola: Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'

Stanley Kubrick: Barry Lyndon

Steven Spielberg: Amistad

Spike Lee: Crooklyn

Ignore those you want, add some if you'd like, but try to get someone w/ a longer track record than (say) Paul Thomas Anderson. Let's say 5 films or more, as a ballpark figure.

[Hannibal21]

Stanley Kubrick - The Shining/Spartacus

Martin Scorsese - Almost every movie that he's made is underrated

Steven Spielberg - Amistad

Peter Jackson - Heavenly Creatures

Barry Levinson - Avalon

[VicVega]

Originally posted by Hannibal21
Stanley Kubrick - The Shining/Spartacus

Martin Scorsese - Almost every movie that he's made is underrated


Agreed.

[Cosimo]

Martin Scorsese: After Hours
John Carpenter:The Thing and Escape From New York
Walter Hill:The Warriors
Terrence Malick:Thin Red Line
Steven Soderbergh:The Limey
Spike Lee:Summer Of Sam
Ridley Scott:Black Rain

[Grebdron]

Steven Spielberg-Empire of the Sun

[SIREN30]

Peter Weir-The Year of Living Dangerously (pretty much forgotten since the oscars)
Steven Speilberg-EMpire of the Sun (my favorite of his films)
Kenneth Brannagh-Much Ado About Nothing
Alfred Hitchcock- The Lodger (his silent films need to be SEEN)


I can't really think of any others. I definitely don't agree that all of Martin Scorcese's films are underrated...he's been recognized as a great director many many times. Also, Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus was oscar nominated and is still a huge film. Most people acknowledge that. Maybe I just don't know what is meant by 'underrated'?

[notchreturns]

Martin Scorsese - AFTER HOURS
Steven Spielberg - A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Joel & Ethan Coen - MILLER'S CROSSING
Francis Ford Coppola - THE CONVERSATION
Spike Lee- JUNGLE FEVER
Stanley Kubrick - EYES WIDE SHUT

[Sparrow]

John Singleton - Poetic Justice

Ang Lee - The Wedding Banquet

Woody Allen - Husbands and Wives

Spike Lee - Get on the Bus

Ed Burns - Sidewalks of NY

[Voodoodoll]

Coen's - The Hudsucker Proxy

Raimi - A Simple Plan

:cool:

[Puck Bond]

Stanley Kubrick-The Killing, Paths of Glory

Steven Spielberg-Duel, The Color Purple, Empire of the Sun

Alfred Hitchcock-Marnie, Rope

Martin Scorsese-The Age of Innocence, The Last Temptation of Christ

Oliver Stone-Salvador, Talk Radio

[Mojo5]

Zhang Yimou: Shanghai Triad, Happy Times

Wong Kar-wai: Ashes of Time

Steven Speilberg: A.I, Empire of the Sun

Stanley Kubrick: Eyes Wide Shut

[bob]

Martin Scorsese: After Hours

Alfred Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder

Woody Allen: Broadway Danny Rose

Coen Brothers: The Big Lebowski

Stanley Kubrick: Eyes Wide Shut

[Scarface King]

Robert Redford - Quiz Show (10/10)
Brian De Palma - Carlito's Way (9/10)

[the movie guy]

Originally posted by Grebdron
Steven Spielberg-Empire of the Sun

What he said.

Also:

Coens - Miller's Crossing

[Cyclonus]

Martin Scorsese -- Bringing out the Dead

Stanley Kubrick -- Barry Lyndon

Oliver Stone -- Heaven & Earth

Brian DePalma -- Body Double

[sanshodayu]

Hello again, Buck! Well, as you know, so many great international directors (Mizoguchi, Renoir, Tarkovsky..) are terribly neglected, and some of the most famous may not be quite so great.

Anyway;

Mizoguchi; Tales of the Taira Clan

Scorsese; The Age of Innocence

Hitchcock; Marnie

Kubrick; Barry Lyndon (though it's long been admired in France, and i noticed it in several top 10's in the latest Sight and Sound poll, so it's on the rise). The Shining is also brilliant but perhaps too well-known to qualify.

Oliveira; Abraham Valley. The portuguese master's still going strong, directing well into his 90's, more prolific than ever. His first film was in the 1920's! How's that for staying power?

Rohmer; The Green Ray is lovely.

Ophuls; Letter from an Unknown Woman. An exquisite, hidden American pearl. Failed to make the AFI 100 (a celebration of ignorance).

Kurosawa; the most famous, though not the greatest, Japanese director. Hidden Fortress is relatively neglected and a grand adventure (and the main influence on Star Wars, which it comfortably surpasses).

Murnau; Sunrise. Not exactly underrated by critics now, as it's been in several major poll top 10's in recent years, but it should be more familiar to the public.

Eisenstein; Strike. A work of sheer genius to set alongside the more controlled and structured Battleship Potemkin.

I'm not sure the Coen bros are great as opposed to consistently original and inventive, but Miller's Crossing is certainly underrated.

I love early Wenders- Alice in the Cities is wonderful- but his work and reputation have slipped badly.

[Buck Turgidson]

It's hard to judge Tarkovsky's films in this way, because they're all underrated. But among aficionados of his work, I tend to see Nostalghia getting short shrift, which is unfortunate. All his films are pearls.

[flowrchild]

Originally posted by Hannibal21
Peter Jackson - Heavenly Creatures

Good choice, I second that decision. And honestly, I prefer it over the overly praised Lord Of The Rings series.

Some other choices:

Steven Spielberg: A.I.

Oliver Stone: Natural Born Killers (Yes I know everyone hates this movie, but I didn't)

Steven Soderbergh: Out Of Sight & Solaris

Lasse Hallström: What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (A movie I liked more than Cider House Rules & Chocolat, both of which were nominated for best picture)

Cameron Crowe: Singles

And I 100% agree with electriclite on the Peter Weir choice!

[electriclite]

Peter Weir - Fearless (a boxoffice dud and recieved only ONE Oscar nod)

David Fincher - Alien 3

Jane Campion - The Portrait of a Lady

James Cameron - The Abyss


And ditto on Soderbergh. Has anyone noticed that whenever Clooney does a movie where he shows distiguishable talent, NO ONE WATCHES? (excluding O' Brother)

[MickeyKnox]

Originally posted by La Motta
Martin Scorsese: After Hours
John Carpenter:The Thing and Escape From New York
Walter Hill:The Warriors
Terrence Malick:Thin Red Line
Steven Soderbergh:The Limey
Spike Lee:Summer Of Sam
Ridley Scott:Black Rain

I agree on all of these! You are very right LaMotta

[pat00139]

Good thread

Soderberg: Kafka (very surreal and funny)

Kurosawa: definitely Hidden Fortress, and nobody seems to know about Dreams either

Wong Kar-wai: Fallen Angels (okay, may not be underrated, but a terrific movie not a lot of people have seen. I'd see Ashes of Time but I can't find it!!! Only one place in all of Ottawa carries that and I need to get a rental pass)

John Carpenter: Starman (very sweet movie)

Hitchcock: Rope definitely and The Lodger absolutely (athough his silent movies aren't among his best, except for The Lodger)

Kubrick: The Killing definitely

Preston Sturges: pretty much anything he's done, he's pretty much forgotten today, but Miracle of Morgan's Creek seems to fit this topic better than his others.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Deckard]

A few of my faves and an underrated film:

Hitchcock- SHADOW OF A DOUBT
John Frankenheimer- SECONDS
John Carpenter- IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS
Kubrick-THE KILLING
Ridley Scott- THE DUELLISTS
Sam Peckinpah- THE KILLER ELITE
Steven Soderburgh's- THE UNDERNEATH and SCHIZOPOLIS
William Friedkin's - SORCERER
Coppolla's- THE CONVERSATION
Sidney Lumet's- THE ANDERSON TAPES/THE HILL
Robert Altman's- COOKIES FORTUNE
Billy Wilder's- BUDDY BUDDY
Norman Jewison's- THE CINCINATTI KID
Clint Eastwood- PLAY MISTY FOR ME
Terry Gilliam's- TIME BANDITS
Cronenburgh's- SHIVERS/RABID
John Huston's- THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by Deckard
A few of my faves and an underrated film:

Hitchcock- SHADOW OF A DOUBT
John Frankenheimer- SECONDS
Kubrick-THE KILLING
Ridley Scott- THE DUELLISTS
Coppolla's- THE CONVERSATION
Sidney Lumet's- THE ANDERSON TAPES/THE HILL
Robert Altman's- COOKIES FORTUNE
Norman Jewison's- THE CINCINATTI KID
John Huston's- THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER


Some excellent choices there. I've been beating the drum for The Hill and The Duellists for a long time now.

I think The Cincinnati Kid can safely be mentioned in the same conversation with The Hustler.

I just saw Cookie's Fortune a few weeks ago, and really loved it. Altman's Buffalo Bill and the Indians is excellent, as well. (It had the misfortune of following Nashville, so critics had the knives out before it hit the screen...)

Personally, I consider Moby Dick to be Huston's most underrated film.

[Deckard]

Bump- to good a thread to let die.

[stevereno]

Wes Craven: The People Under The Stairs

John Hughes: Weird Science

Steven Spielburg: Hook

SHIVER ME TIMBERS

[zeppelin]

Martin Scorsese: The King of Comedy
Stanley Kubrick: Eyes Wide Shut
Charles Chaplin: The Circus

[SenorSpielbergo]

Akira Kurosawa - Dreams
Federico Fellini - Juliet of the Spirits
Alfred Hitchcock - Spellbound
Arthur Penn - Little Big Man

[Buck Turgidson]

Thanks to my good pal Deckard for the bump. Some supplemental choices:

Woody Allen: Radio Days
John Frankenheimer: The Young Savages
Sidney Lumet: The Offence
Robert Altman: Thieves Like Us
John Huston: Night of the Iguana (Gets lost in the shuffle...)

[Ren Hoek]

A lot of good stuff has already been mentioned. Hmmm, let's see...

Oliver Stone - TALK RADIO (Stone directed this small drama to recover from the exhausting shooting of WALL STREET. It's based on a play by Eric Bogosian and features some splendid performances)

Sergei Eisenstein - ALEXANDER NEVSKY (in-your-face propaganda, sure, but beautifully made)

John Woo - BULLET IN THE HEAD

William Friedkin - THE HUNTED (no, I'm not kidding! The most underappreciated movie of 2003 thus far)

Akira Kurosawa - YUME [DREAMS] (though the final segment is a huge letdown)

[Deckard]

My Pleasure "Buck"- it is an interesting thread. All great choices as usual.............I love Connerys performance in Lumets THE OFFENCE maybe his best ever. (Lumet brings out the best in him tahts for sure)..............Im a huge fan of all early Frankenheimer, everyone is a gem.....Huston's NIGT OF THE IGUANA, and Altman's THIEVES LIKE US are well worth a mention.

A few more contributions-

Tom twykers - THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR
Richard Fleischer's - 10 RILLINGTON PLACE
John Boorman's THE GENERAL
Sydney Pollack's THE YAKUZA
Paul Schraders- MISHIMA: A LIFE IN 4 CHAPTERS
Akira Kurosawa's KAGEMUSHA
Alan J Pakula's THE PARRALAX VIEW
Don Siegel's- CHARLEY VARRICK
Arthur Penn- The MISSOURI BREAKS
Paul Thomas Anderson's - HARD EIGHT
Bryan Singer's- APT PUPIL
Sam Peckinpah- RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY
Micheal Mann's- THIEF
Laurence Kasdan's - MUMFORD
Walter Hill- JOHNNY HANDSOME/ THE DRIVER
George Roy Hill- THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP
Terence Young's - RED SUN
Micheal Cimino's THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTFOOT

[syxxpac]

James Cameron - The Abyss
Steven Spielberg - Minority Report

[Jerk Shapiro]

Alfred Hitchcock's 1930's stuff is pretty underappreciated. Films like The 39 Steps, and The Man Who Knew Too Much.

[Romero&Juliet]

Martin Scorcese-alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

[Hannibal21]

Originally posted by Buck Turgidson
John Huston: Night of the Iguana (Gets lost in the shuffle...)

Great, great choice, Buck.

Alfred Hitchcock - Shadow of a Doubt/Rope

William Wyler - The Little Foxes

Ang Lee - The Ice Storm

Zhang Yimou - The Road Home

Clint Eastwood - A Perfect World

Steven Spielberg - Amistad (mentioned it before, I know), Always, The Color Purple, A.I. Artificial Intelligence

[Squid Vicious]

Martin Scorsese - The Last Temptation of Christ, The King of Comedy
Steven Spielberg - The Color Purple
Stanley Kubrick - Paths of Glory
Alfred Hitchcock - Rope
Francis Ford Coppola - The Conversation
Joel & Ethan Coen - The Hudsucker Proxy
Sam Raimi - The Gift
Spike Lee - He Got Game

[Buck Turgidson]

Originally posted by Deckard
A few more contributions-
John Boorman's THE GENERAL
Sydney Pollack's THE YAKUZA
Don Siegel's- CHARLEY VARRICK
Arthur Penn- The MISSOURI BREAKS
Paul Thomas Anderson's - HARD EIGHT
Micheal Mann's- THIEF
Laurence Kasdan's - MUMFORD


More good choices. I would probably go with Hope and Glory for my Boorman pick.

The Missouri Breaks and Mumford have always been critical whipping boys and I've never understood why. I like them both.

And a good call from Han on A Perfect World, the last really good film w/ Kevin Costner.

[Jasonite]

okay, interesting topic:

Spielburg: Empire of the Sun and Amistad

Hitchcock: Notorious

Scorsese: Age of Innocence

Kubrick: Paths of Glory

William Wyler: The Heiress

John Ford: Stagecoach

Woody Allen: Deconstructing Harry

Coen Bros: Hudsucker Proxy

James Cameron: The Abyss

David Lean: Great Expectations



Alright, there ya go.


J

[Jasonite]

Weird, the thread didn't move up when I posted....

[Deckard]

bump

[ColinM]

Kudos from me to everyone who mentioned Hitchcock's Rope!

[Jim H]

John Woo - Once a Thief.

[Brock-Landers]

Martin Scorsese:
The King of Comedy
Gangs of New York
Bringing Out the Dead

Steven Spielberg:
Duel
A.I.
Empire of the Sun


Paul Thomas Anderson:
Hard Eight
Punch-Drunk Love


Michael Mann:
Heat
Manhunter


Coen Brothers:
Miller's Crossing
The Hudsucker Proxy
Barton Fink


Spike Lee:
Summer of Sam
He Got Game
25th Hour
Clockers

[Masterbrain]

On my opinion LUCIO FULCI is a underrated director and his work is also very underrated. Especially those movies wich arent zombie flicks!

For Exsample:

Aenigma
Manhattan Baby
Sodoma´s Ghost
Sweet House of Horrors
Voices From Beyond
etc...

Just my opinion :D

[The Delfonics]

Quentin Tarantino - Jackie Brown

[Clarkey07]

Spike Lee- 25th Hour
Stanley Kubrick - Barry Lyndon

.... All i can think of right now.

[Gian-Sergio]

Kubrick -Lolita

Scorsese New York,New York

Kurosawa -Stray Dog

Fellini -Roma

Leone A Fistful Of Dynamite

[Tayzlor]

I've never really seen a fam. director's underrated films. Just sticking to the well-knowns for starters.

Stanley Kubrick - Barry Lyndon/Eyes Wide Shut
Martin Scorsese - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Michelangelo Antonioni - L'Eclisse (overlooked, as far as I've seen)
Steven Spielberg - Minority Report (early, but already getting lost)
Akira Kurosawa - The Lower Depths

[AJAX]

woody allen - manhatten murder mystery

robert altman - brewster mccloud

hal ashby - being there

spike lee - she's gotta have it

jim jarmusch - night on earth

hal hartley - trust

[morricone]

Stanley Kubrick - Barry Lyndon/Eyes Wide Shut
Francis Ford Coppola - The Conversation
Martin Scorsese - The Last Temptation of Christ
Akira Kurosawa - Red Beard/Dreams

[ilovemovies]

Spielberg - A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
runner-up: Hook

Scorsese: Bringing Out the Dead
runner-up: Gangs of New York

Clint Eastwood: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
runner-up: The Rookie & Blood Work (fun movies and in the case of Blood Work I thought it was a nicely atmospheric thriller even if the ending was a bit of a disappointment)


John Woo: Windtalkers
runner-up: Hard Target

[bluesbrother965]

Fellini - I Vitelloni

Coen Brothers - The Man Who Wasn't There

Francis Ford Coppola - The Conversation

[CheekyShepherd]

Martin Scorsese: After Hours

Francis Coppola: Bram Stoker's Dracula

Stanley Kubrick: Lolita

Steven Spielberg: Always

Spike Lee: She's Gotta Have It

[drago25]

Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.

[wyodebbie]

Allen: Sweet & Lowdown
Altman: Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
Benton: Twilight
Brooks: In Cold Blood
Capra: Lost Horizon
Campion: An Angel At My Table
Coppola: Bram Stoker's Dracula
DePalma: Carlito's Way
Eastwood: Bird
Ford: How Green Was My Valley
Friedkin: To Live And Die In L.A.
Hitchcock: Lifeboat
Huston: Misfits
Jordan: Mona Lisa
Kubrick: Barry Lyndon
Lean: Ryan's Daughter
Levinson: Sleepers
Nichols: Wolf
Polanski: Ninth Gate
Pollack: They Shoot Horses, Don't They
Redford: A River Runs Through It
Scorsese: Age Of Innocence
Scott: Someone To Watch Over Me
Soderbergh: Sex, Lies & Videotape
Spielberg: Color Purple
Stone: Heaven & Earth
Tarantino: Jackie Brown
Wyler: Heiress

[Cronos]

David Fincher - Alien 3
Alfred Hitchcock - Rope
Francis For Coppola - Bram Stoker's Dracula
Brian DePalma - Carlito's Way, Body Double, Femme Fatale
Stanley Kubrick - Eyes Wide Shut
Martin Scorcese - Gangs Of New York
Spike Lee - 25th Hour, Summer Of Sam
John Woo - Windtalkers, Hard Target, Paycheck
Akira Kurosawa - Kagemusha
Peter Jackson - Heavenly Creatures
William Friedkin - To Live And Die In L.A.
Roman Polanski - Ninth Gate
Oliver Stone - Natural Born Killers, The Hand
John Carpenter - In The Mouth Of Madness, The Thing, Village Of The Damned, Ghosts Of Mars, Escape From L.A., Starman, Body Bags, Vampires, Memoirs Of An Invisible Man
Michael Bay - Pearl Harbor