Everyone loves the movies, but no one has time to see every movie
that comes out. Inevitably, there are movies that fall through the
cracks, and you just never get around to seeing them. Fortunately, we’ve
taken the time to let you know of 10 movies that you’ve likely heard of
but probably missed. Put these on your “to rent” list, and thank us
later.
10. The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

A terrible school bus accident in a small town – might not sound like
the most exciting film, but it sure makes for good drama. Atom Egoyan
directed a strong cast led by Ian Holm, Bruce Greenwood, and future Away
From Her director Sarah Polley. Tensions between grieving parents and
an opportunistic lawyer encouraging the filing of a class action lawsuit
drive the film, and the film rewards you by not simply providing the
same old story. Might not be the happiest film you’ve ever watched, but
it’s certainly worth a view (the nice people at Cannes agreed).
9. Ghost World (1998)

You know the name Scarlett Johansson now, but you didn’t know it very
well in 2001 when this film came out. She and Thora Birch (the girl
from American Beauty) star in this comedy based upon Daniel Clowes’
wildly popular graphic novel (high-class comic book). This movie is
about two teenage girls who are not in sync with the world that
surrounds them, and they provide a running commentary on that world,
until an unconventional love interest (the always great Steve Buscemi,
who won an American Spirit Award for this role) for one of them throws a
monkey wrench into the works.
8. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

This film boasts an absolute all-star team: Phillip Seymour Hoffman,
Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney — with Sidney Lumet directing.
The essential plot is that two brothers in desperate financial straits
plan to rob their parents’ jewelry store, but there is so much more than
that (and any further discussion here would spoil it for you, which
would just be wrong). Adding to the strength of this film is the fact
that the complex and multi-layered story is presented in a compelling
non-chronological fashion. Lumet returns to the form of his earlier
classics The Verdict and Serpico, and the acting is flat-out fantastic.
Why this movie did not do better in the theaters is beyond us (and we
don’t think that the sight of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s butt – yes, you
read that right – was the reason).
7. Walking & Talking (1996)

Independent films are hard to find these days…at least actual
independent films, not ones put out by the arm of a major studio. In the
1990s, though, truly independent films still existed, and
writer-director Nicole Holofcener’s second film fits that bill. If you
are looking for an action movie, you should move on. But if you want
excellent character studies and charming, witty dialogue (and you enjoy
Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, or Liev Schreiber), then this is your
movie. Yes, the film is filled with dialogue-heavy scenes, but that is
the very reason that this movie has such a strong fan base – you
actually care about these people, because you know them (if you are not
one of them).
6. Barcelona (1994)

Picking a Whit Stillman film to include is difficult, even though he
has only directed three. His first, Metropolis, was in the vein of
Walking and Talking, with verbal wit and deeply developed characters
taking the place of a lot of action (and it worked well). Barcelona had a
bit more action to it than most independent films (which isn’t really
saying much), but the treasure here is an adept and flexible cast, led
by Stillman stalwarts Taylor Nichols and Chris Eigeman, whose articulate
conversations on mundane subjects make you wish you talked like that.
The basic plot concerns men (one a businessman working in his company’s
Barcelona office, and the other his Naval officer cousin) trying to find
love in a foreign country in the early 1980s, but such a simple
description of this indie classic is almost an insult. It is (as with so
many on this list) a multi-layered character study, and the language
and humor don’t feel dated. If you’ve traveled overseas, you will
appreciate the cultural commentary (equally aimed at both the visitors
and the hosts), but the dialogue and story would have worked in any
setting.
5. Mute Witness (1994)

This suspense thriller was filmed in Moscow with a nearly
all-European cast (and has old Ben Kenobi himself, Sir Alec Guinness, in
one of his last roles). It’s the story of three Americans who find
themselves in a dangerous situation that is beginning to spin out of
their control. One of them, Billy (Russian actress Marina Sudina), is a
mute makeup artist working on a low-budget slasher film — locked in the
broken-down film studio late at night, she thinks she witnesses the
making of a snuff film, which causes a terror-filled night to occur.
This one has drawn comparisons to the work of Brian DePalma and
Hitchcock, so it’s definitely worth a look.
4. In Bruges (2008)

This is the movie that so many others wanted to be: a comedy/crime
and action thriller taking place in a European setting — that kicked
some serious ass. Don’t be fooled by any previews you might have seen –
this is not simply Pulp Fiction in Belgium – it is a fast-paced, funny,
thrill-a-minute roller coaster that will keep you watching. It was only
given a limited release in the United States (much wider in Britain and
Europe), but those who saw it loved it (including critics). Need more
proof? Colin Farrell won a Golden Globe Award, and screenplay writer
Martin McDonagh won a BAFTA (the British Oscar).
3. Lone Star (1996)

Director John Sayles paints a rich and nuanced picture of Texas
border town life in this movie, but that is only half the story. Chris
Cooper stars as a small town sheriff attempting to solve the decades-old
murder of one of his predecessors (and realizing that it just might be
his father, who then became sheriff after the disappearance of the
other). Kris Kristofferson and Matthew McConaughey portray the previous
sheriffs in a series of flashbacks that provide the background for this
multi-layered (again, we have to use the word) and complex story,
addressing concerns such as race, family history, socioeconomic
development, and personal identity. Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Peña give
subtle and understated performances that provide a deep understanding
of the characters and their motivation for making the difficult choices
that have led them to this point. At its core, this movie is a murder
mystery, but it’s unlike any mystery you’ve seen.
2. Runaway Train (1985)

You might be wondering why a movie about a runaway train (hence the
title) is listed as number two – how great could it really be? Really
great. Jon Voight (who was nominated for an Oscar, and won the Golden
Globe for best actor), Rebecca DeMornay, and Eric Roberts star in this
classic. It really is a basic plotline, in which Voight and Roberts are
two convicts who have escaped from a maximum security prison in Alaska,
and hop a train headed for the “Lower 48,” but their trip turns
terrifying when (as the title clearly states) they are on a runaway
train without brakes or an engineer (DeMornay plays a female railroad
worker along for this terror ride). As with the other movies on this
list, this movie delivers because its characters are well-developed – we
don’t have to like these guys to be emotionally invested in their
fates.
1. Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (1999)

Forest Whitaker is an Oscar-winning actor and director, who has
enjoyed a long and successful career. This movie, much less known than
his other films, explains why Whitaker has had that success. Whitaker
stars as the “Ghost Dog,” a mafia hitman who adheres to the ancient code
of the samurai (outlined in Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai, which is
featured heavily throughout the film). Director Jim Jarmusch is nothing
if not a quirky visionary, and he is at his quirky best here. How many
times have you heard a crime thriller be described as existential? This
movie defies labels, but the beautifully-shot scenes (particularly that
of a night drive than can only be described as transcendent) remind you
that you are watching artists create….well….art. Critics gave this movie
high praise, and it has a very strong (if limited) fan base.