Underrated films

[chickenfeet]

Tell me about a film you think is under-rated or, at least, doesn't enjoy the popularity it deserves. Everybody knows about films like Lawrence of Arabia or Dr. Zhivago and the rest. What I want to hear about are some less well known gems.

My nomination would be The Duellists. It's based on a story by Joseph Conrad and was directed by Ridley Scott before he was famous. It has a fantastic cast; David Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Tom Conti, Albert Finney, Edward Fox, and it evokes the Napoleonic era better than any other film I can think of. It's lovely to look at and compelling from beginning to end. If you've never seen it, rush out and rent the DVD.

Comments

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

I've been surprised in the last year, as I've enthused to people about the "Up" series, at how few people have seen them.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Tell me more

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

Huh. I had thought you'd have seen these. They're the documentaries about ordinary British people every seven years, starting in the mid-60s. I have gotten the sense that they are one of the best-kept secrets in documentary film.

Anyhow (http://melted-snowball.livejournal.com/337661.html),
here (http://melted-snowball.livejournal.com/339764.html) are (http://melted-snowball.livejournal.com/360222.html) my (http://melted-snowball.livejournal.com/370093.html) reviews (http://melted-snowball.livejournal.com/451981.html). (You actually commented on the review of 28 UP.)

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

OK I know what you mean now. I saw some of the early ones when they were first on TV in England. I am, after all, pretty much a contemporary.