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Here are some great movies you probably didn’t see
Nick Rupert
Entertainment Article
For a variety of reasons,
sometimes great movies get
overshadowed by competition,
while others are marketed
improperly, or in some cases,
not marketed at all. My aim is
to dredge up some fine films
which, for whatever reason,
slipped between the cracks.
The list I have compiled
includes drama, comedy,
science fiction, and action
films, so hopefully there will
be something for almost
everyone. Best of all, the next
time you go to the video store,
you don’t have to stand around
biting your nails for thirty
minutes. Just grab one of
these.
1. “Dark City,” directed by
Alex Proyas, who also directed
“I, Robot” and “The Crow.”
This mind-blower hit theaters
in 1998, but apparently Alex
Proyas was the only person to
buy a ticket. Don’t blame the
cast. This film packs some
serious star-power, including
William Hurt, Kiefer
Sutherland, and the heavenly
Jennifer Connelly.
“Dark City” triumphs as a
nebulous, eerie sci-fi thriller. If
you liked “The Matrix,” be
sure to watch this one, but do
keep in mind that “Dark City”
came first.
Classic line: “You heard of a
place called Shell Beach?”
2. “Rob Roy,” directed by
Michael Caton-Jones. This
1995 swash-buckler takes
place in 18th century Scotland,
where commoner Rob Roy,
played by the superb Liam
Neeson, is pitted against tyrant
Archibald Cunningham,
played by the equally-superb
Tim Roth.
“Rob Roy” boasts an
excellent cast and an engaging
story told on an epic scale.
The ending includes one of the
greatest sword fight scenes
ever filmed. Unfortunately,
“Braveheart” came out the
same year, and the rest is
history.
Classic line: “Mr. Cunningham
and I have matters outstanding.”
3. “The Edge,” by Lee
Tamahori, director of
“Mullholland Falls,” and
“Along Came a Spider.” This
1997 action/thriller pits Sir
Anthony Hopkins and Alec
Baldwin against each other,
the Alaskan wilderness, and
one angry, blood-thirsty
grizzly bear. Hopkins and
Baldwin are equally
outstanding in this nail-biter.
Classic line: “So ... how are you
planning to kill me?”
4. “Gattaca,” by Andrew
Niccol, who also directed . . .
well, never mind that. A 1997
release, “Gattaca” portrays a
futuristic world of geneticallysegregated
caste systems as
envisioned by Aldous Huxley
in his novel “Brave New
World.” Niccol’s all-star cast
includes Ethan Hawke, Jude
Law, and Uma Thurman.
The “horrifying future”
angle has frequently proved to
be pay dirt for movie makers.
This one never made much
dirt, but don’t let that dissuade
you.
Classic line: “There’s no gene
for fate.”
Tune in next week for more
great rentals that didn’t get seen.
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