Hidden Treasures
With so many movies currently available on DVD, and many more being released every week, a good number of entertaining films are being lost in the home video shuffle. With what follows, I hope to shine the spotlight on a handful of movies that you may never have heard of, but which I believe are worthy of recognition. Check them out if you get the chance.
ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE (1973)
Robert Blake stars as a gung-ho motorcycle cop patrolling the desert roads of Arizona. This film has a real western look to it, one that rivals the best works of the legendary John Ford (which is what ELECTRA GLIDE’s director, James Guercio, set out to accomplish in the first place). With the late, great Conrad Hall behind the camera, ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE takes advantage of all the Arizona landscape has to offer, and is further bolstered by an excellent performance from Blake as the patrolman who dreams of becoming a detective.
GENERAL IDI AMIN DADA (1974)
This documentary, directed by Barbet Schroeder, was shot on-location in Uganda while Idi Amin was still in control of the country. Having risen to power in a military coup, Idi Amin ruled Uganda with an iron fist, one that he brought crashing down often, and usually with violent results. GENERAL IDI AMIN DADA was made with the dictator’s full cooperation, and because of this, we’re treated to a first-hand account of just how power-crazy Amin truly was. To see GENERAL IDI AMIN DADA is to appreciate Forest Whitaker’s portrayal of the dictator in 2006’s LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949)
HOUSE OF STRANGERS is one of those films that deserved a much broader following than it’s ever received. Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (ALL ABOUT EVE) combines film noir with high drama to tell the tale of a family in turmoil, where treachery and deceit are dished out nightly around the dinner table. Edward G. Robinson, who stars as patriarch Gino Monetti, won Best Actor at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival for his turn here.
MADE IN BRITAIN (1982)
Alan Clarke’s MADE IN BRITAIN, the story of a rebellious skinhead roaming the streets of London, is a gripping, shocking film that’s worth checking out for Tim Roth’s performance in the lead role. Spewing hate in every direction, Roth (Mr. Orange in RESERVOIR DOGS) is a racist to rival any other ever committed to film. Originally produced for British television, MADE IN BRITAIN is not for the squeamish, but if you feel up to the challenge, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Have any “lost” films among your favorites? Please fell free to post them below
Ross Miller said
November 22 2007 @ 4:50 am
I see that Made In Britain every time I go to HMV but just haven’t had the urge to buy it. Maybe now you’ve recommended it I might just do that.
As for films among my favourites that not everyone would have heard of or not many people talk about;
Unbreakable - Seems to get forgotten about over The Sixth Sense, but personally I think it is a vastly superior film in almost every way (Shyamalan’s best to date imo).
Con Air - I kow it may not be the BEST movie in the world but it is a boat load of fun and a personal favourite for years.
Saw - Seems to get grouped together with the gory sequels but if you actually watch the first film on and as it’s own you will find a very original, interesting and well made film for a first timer (and the end, although now everyone knows who Jigsaw is, is jaw-dropping)
Brick - This was my favourite movie of 2006 and one that hardly ever gets a mention for reasons unknown. I thought it was one of the most original films of the 21st century so far and yet again another debut film.
That’s all I can think of at the moment, and yes I DO realise these are all relatively new films.
Great idea for a post, Dave.
Dave Becker said
November 22 2007 @ 8:24 am
Ross,
Definitely check out MADE IN BRITAIN when you can. Tim Roth is excellent (and as evil as a character can possibly be).
I’ve seen UNBREAKABLE (which is a good one) and SAW (I agree…the first one was a very clever film, with genuine shocks and chills. It deserved all the acclaim it received), but haven’t yet seen CON AIR or BRICK (though I want to check out BRICK…I’ve heard some great stuff about it).
Thanks for the kind words. I’m hoping to make this a weekly thing, although it’s yet to be seen whether or not I can come up with 4 new titles every week!
Ross Miller said
November 22 2007 @ 8:38 am
Yeah I was going to make my “On The Movie Agenda” post a weekly thing too but I think I’ll just leave that. I still will be putting up occasional reviews for older films I watch though.
John said
November 22 2007 @ 9:57 am
Have you ever checked out The Exterminating Angel:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056732/
TheSnowLeopard said
November 22 2007 @ 2:11 pm
The Sixth Sense is awesome. Unbreakable is a noble failure.
The ending of Saw is greatness. Pity the film is let down by some poor acting.
Ross Miller said
November 23 2007 @ 4:22 am
Yeah, about Saw, I agree that the acting could have been better but I can forgive that because of the rest of it.
And about The Sixth Sense, that movie is GOOD but not GREAT. Unbreakable is fantastic, it gets better every time you watch it.