Mosquito Coast, 1986, starring Harrison Ford and River Phoenix, directed by Peter Weir. It was a risky film for Ford to make at that time in his career but it's easily one of his best performances. It's a film that leaves a very specific, memorable lingering emotion after it finishes, for me anyway. Apocalyptic visions in the jungle, kind of reminiscent of Apocalypse Now.
Originally posted by Commontone: Mosquito Coast, 1986, starring Harrison Ford and River Phoenix, directed by Peter Weir. It was a risky film for Ford to make at that time in his career but it's easily one of his best performances. It's a film that leaves a very specific, memorable lingering emotion after it finishes, for me anyway. Apocalyptic visions in the jungle, kind of reminiscent of Apocalypse Now.
Kind of an interesting choice. I remember liking this quite a bit on original release and I think I've seen it at least once since on video. I remember that this film wasn't all that well received and I don't think it did so hot at the box office either. I never quite understood why.
What is interesting is that when I revisit movies form the 1980s when I first started to get seriously interested in cinema is to see so many actors that were popular at the time fade into oblivion. One other actress in THE MOSQUITO COAST was Martha Plimpton, who had a lot of roles in the 1980s, but has since disappeared from the big screen.
Nobody I talk to has heard of this one. Stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. In a nutshell, the movie explores the psychological impact on a couple when their young child dies tragically. The couple relocate to Venice, Italy, where they meet a psychic, and start catching fleeting glimpses of a child dressed like their daughter, while mysterious murders begin to happen around the city...and things get weird
If you enjoy the sort of ambigulously creepy atmosphere at the beginning of The Exorcist (dogs fighting around an ancient statue, evil bum in the subway) or Jacob's Ladder, you need to check this out.
No other film I've seen captures a sense of impending doom--while everything seems alright--the way this one does. It's atmospheric and gets under your skin. The ending is very intense and haunted me for a good while. Enjoy!
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1966, directed by John Frankenheimer. This is essentially a full-length, fleshed-out Twilight Zone episode. Rock Hudson stars as a man who's unhappy with his life, and consents to be a "subject" for a company that promises to give him a fresh start--a new life.
Can't say much more without giving a lot away, but if you like the old, creepy, bizarre Twilight Zone episodes, this is absolutely a must-see.
LIlya 4-ever,fantastically sad russian movie from swedish directer Lukas Moodysson. Very hard to find but one of the best moives i've seen in the last 10 years.
Girls will be Girls, why this isn't a cult hit is beyond me.
Mamboo Italiano, one of the sweetest gay romantic comedies ever. Proves not every gay movie has to be depressing or cliche.
Starring Isabelle Huppert and Daniel Auteuil. It's a contemporary Parisian movie about the break-up of a relationship which never does what you expect it to. Uncluttered, brilliantly acted, violent and romantic.
Posts: 13 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 27 May 2006
In Nov. of last year I recommended "Maria Full of Grace," and stand by it. However, I recently watched a film again I had purchased and stored away. Watching it again I realized what a gem it was. It is a delightful, humorous, and witty film that is entertaining from beginning to end. It is: "Saving Grace."
Boy, you got to carry that weight a long time!
Posts: 394 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 14 October 2005
the devil at four o'clock[1961]frank sinatra,spencer tracy,barbara luna,if you can find it this is one of frank's best set against the background of a volcanic island in the pacific,this tale of three prisoners and a preist who help save some sick kids is a good one.
If Only (2004) produced by, and starring, in part, in a singing role briefly Jennifer Love Hewitt presents a bittersweet, romantic drama that potentially cuts into the inner core of the passion and pain of true love. Rarely has an otherwise ordinary movie been able to portray the true emotion of love so powerfully.
Posts: 909 | Location: Utah, United States | Registered: 22 July 2005
gemma-the-husky Posted 10 August 2006 05:52 PM and PLEASANTVILLE - Tobey Maguire/Reese Witherspoon
I'm glad that you mentioned Pleasantville, I've continued to watch it over the years. It's one of those little fun, entertaining movies that has an unusual premise, done well, with a decent emotional message.
Posts: 909 | Location: Utah, United States | Registered: 22 July 2005
"The Natural" and "Pleasantville" hardly qualify as "little-seen"...
A truly little-seen movie that I would recommend is "Zero Effect", starring Ben Stiller and Bill Pullman. It's clever and hilarious, both in subtle ways. It was the debut film from Jake Kasdan, son of the famous Lawrence Kasdan, who both wrote and directed it.
Posts: 870 | Location: Ain'T it stiLl obvious? | Registered: 22 August 2006
I really liked Harvard Man. It is an extremely underrated, underappreciated, undereverything film. But I really liked it. Maybe because it's got a bit of everything in it: a smartass/quasi-philosophical dialogue, a university setting (which I can totally relate to since I'm a university student), involvement of mobsters, and hey...there's even....sex and pot in it.
Adrian Grenier, who plays the protagonist in this film, also happens to be the lead role in the HBO Series Entourage.
I took another look at DOWN TO THE BONE, a little-seen and little-known film that was barely released at the end of '05 and it holds up very well. You can see what I had to say about it on the movie review thread.
And I was perusing "Film Comment" last night and noticed BORDER RADIO finally popped up on DVD and that caused me to remember a film by the same directors called SUGAR TOWN. That was a film that kind of came and went quickly a couple of years ago, but I felt it was a masterpiece. It took a look at the lives about ageing, journeymen rock 'n roller in L.A.
And thinking about SUGARTOWN caused me to think about Los Angeles, which caused me to think about a film called THE NEW AGE directed by Michael Tolkin, who wrote Robert Altman's masterpiece THE PLAYER. THE NEW AGE again kind of came and went without making any waves, but I thought it was a flat out terrific film with stellar performances by the always good Judy Davis and Peter Weller, an actor who I feel is often very underrated. Set in L.A., the film is about their lives and marriage. Adam West, from "Batman" TV fame, plays Weller's father and Udo Kier, as a new age guru is also good. Even Samuel L. Jackson is good in a cameo.
Another good film directed by Michael Tolkin, director of THE NEW AGE & writer of THE PLAYER, is THE RAPTURE from the early 1990s. I remember it played at the New York Film Festival and caused quite a stir, both pro & con. I've seen it several times and find it well done & haunting. Mimi Rogers, one of Tom Cruise's ex's -- stars.
EL MARIACHI - Dir. by Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Once Upon a...)
The first movie in the trilogy that ended with ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO. Instead of the huge budget Antonio Banderas movies the sequels turned into, this one was made with only about $8,000, money Rodriguez scrounged together with the help of loans and garage sales, and all unknown actors. For example, instead of a dolly, Rodriguez used a wheelchair with the camera in his lap. He aslo did almost every non-acting part by himself. (something I've learned is very challenging after making a short film of my own)
The story, in case you're wondering, is about a traveling mariachi who gets mistaken for a hitman who carries his guns in a guitar case. As a movie it's just decent but when you think about what went into it it gets bumped up to amazing.
Posts: 608 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 18 October 2005
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