Forgotten Movies you should check out
Great movies lost in time or fading out of the public conciseness (Always Updating)
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- DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsGene HackmanRene RussoDanny DeVitoA mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt, and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.A great start to the list. Not completely forgotten but a good one that's a joy to watch every time, You must check Get Shorty out if you haven't already.
- DirectorMichael HoffmanStarsSally FieldKevin KlineCathy MoriartyAn ambitious television soap actress connives with her producer to scuttle the career of the show's long-time star, but nothing works as they plan.The cast alone makes it worthwhile
- DirectorJames L. BrooksStarsWilliam HurtAlbert BrooksHolly HunterTake two rival television reporters: one handsome, one talented, both male. Add one producer, female. Mix well, and watch the sparks fly.Very well written tale of 3 TV news journalists, a love triangle and journalistic integrity. Great cast. Even Jack Nicholson's in it.
- DirectorSteve RashStarsPatrick DempseyAmanda PetersonCourtney GainsAn outcast secretly pays the most popular girl in school one thousand dollars to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month.One of the best 80's teen movies overshadowed by its better known contemporaries. A well made, fun, morality tale. Great cast again. Patrick Dempsey gives John Cusack a run for his money for the 80's teen top spot with this little gem
- DirectorAbel FerraraStarsChristopher WalkenDavid CarusoLaurence FishburneA drug kingpin is released from prison and seeks to take total control of the criminal underworld in order to give back to the community.Got all the actors ever. A great take on a non-mafia crime organisation in New York.
- DirectorJames GlickenhausStarsPeter WellerSam ElliottRichard BrooksA legal aid attorney and renegade cop team up to stop a corrupt cop.Worth watching for the stunt work alone. Filmed in New York city so amazing views. They shut down a block of New York, hung a stunt man off a vertical building sign which falls and bridges onto the street, then he seamlessly jumps on bike for a chase through Manhattan. Great chemistry between Peter Weller & Sam Elliott. Let down by a rushed final action scene. They must have ran out of money by the finale.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsGene HackmanJohn CazaleAllen GarfieldA paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.The ultimate forgotten classic by Francis Ford Coppolla. Well written and perfectly woven character study hiding behind an intriguing thriller. A tale of an intensely private man, who is a private investigator paid to spy on others. Great performances by Gene Hackman and John Cazale. Robert Duvall & pre-Star Wars Harrison Ford show up.
- DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsSam RockwellDrew BarrymoreGeorge ClooneyAn adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impresario Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), in which he purports to have been a C.I.A. hitman.Sam Rockwell is so charismatic. A fun story of international espionage during the Cold War, spies, intrigue, murder and a TV show host pulling all the strings. Based on Chuck Barris memoirs. Is it all make believe from the mind of a crazy person or did it really happen, you decide.
- DirectorFlorian Henckel von DonnersmarckStarsUlrich MüheMartina GedeckSebastian KochIn 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.
- DirectorBetty ThomasStarsHoward SternMary McCormackRobin QuiversThe autobiographical story of Howard Stern, the radio rebel who is now also a TV personality, an author and a movie star.Very funny. Howard Stern re-invents radio and re-invents himself as a dorky, shy guy with a heart and a stone cold killer on the airwaves. Paul Giamatti is so good in an early role as the meddling middle management trying his best to hamper Sterns ambitions.
- DirectorRobert DuvallStarsRobert DuvallTodd AllenPaul BaggetAfter his happy life spins out of control, a preacher from Texas changes his name, goes to Louisiana and starts preaching on the radio.Acting master class form Robert Duvall. Another great character study of a flawed man who tries to make amends in his own way.
- DirectorJames FoleyStarsAl PacinoJack LemmonAlec BaldwinAn examination of the machinations behind the scenes at a real estate office.All the actors doing all the acting.
- DirectorJames GrayStarsJoaquin PhoenixMark WahlbergEva MendesA New York City nightclub manager tries to save his brother and father from Russian Mafia hitmen.
- DirectorAbel FerraraStarsHarvey KeitelBrian McElroyFrank AcciaritoWhile investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness and redemption.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsViggo MortensenMaria BelloEd HarrisA mild-mannered man becomes a local hero through an act of violence, which sets off repercussions that will shake his family to its very core.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsJohn CusackDaphne ZunigaAnthony EdwardsWalter Gibson is a university freshman going through a dry spell. His old buddy arranges a "sure thing" for him in California. Gibson and his classmate Allison then take a long road trip out to Cali, and both foil each other's plans.
Surprisingly good, solid movie. Good cast. John Cusack cements himself as the 80's teen idol in 1985 with this and Better off Dead. - DirectorJoe DanteStarsDennis QuaidMartin ShortMeg RyanA test pilot is miniaturized in a secret experiment, and accidentally injected into a hapless store clerk.Always a joy, great action/comedy from Joe Dante. Great performances from all and a comedy masterclass from Martin Short.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsKevin CostnerSean ConneryRobert De NiroDuring Prohibition, Treasury agent Eliot Ness sets out to stop ruthless Chicago gangster Al Capone, and assembles a small, incorruptible team to help him.An auteur is thrown a bunch of money to direct a mainstream action movie. This is the result. It doesn't get the praise it deserves.
- DirectorJim SheridanStarsJake GyllenhaalNatalie PortmanTobey MaguireWhile on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of excess baggage.
- DirectorRon UnderwoodStarsBilly CrystalJack PalanceDaniel SternOn the verge of turning 40, an unhappy Manhattan yuppie is roped into joining his two friends on a cattle drive in the southwest.
- DirectorRobert De NiroStarsRobert De NiroChazz PalminteriLillo BrancatoAn intense drama about a boy torn between his tough, hard-working father and a violent yet charismatic crime boss.
- DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsBill MurrayJohn CandyHarold RamisTwo friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsSharon StoneGene HackmanRussell CroweA female gunfighter returns to a frontier town where a dueling tournament is being held, which she enters in an effort to avenge her father's death.
- DirectorDavid CronenbergStarsChristopher WalkenBrooke AdamsTom SkerrittA man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability to foresee future events.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsDennis QuaidLouis Gossett Jr.Brion JamesDuring a long space war, the lives of two wounded enemies become dependent on their ability to forgive and to trust.
- DirectorLisa GottliebStarsJoyce HyserClayton RohnerBilly JayneTerry feels discriminated against when the summer jobs at the Sun Tribune go to two guys. She decides to do something about it. She dresses like a guy and gets a haircut. Will students at the other high school notice? Girls notice "him".One of the better teen movies I saw during a binge of 30+ from the late 70s to early 90's
- DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsGene HackmanAl PacinoDorothy TristanAn ex-con drifter with a penchant for brawling is amused by a homeless ex-sailor, so they partner up as they head east together.Hackman commands the screen and it could be one of his best and funniest roles in my opinion playing the grouchy drifter who likes to fight. Pacino's role expects less of him, he plays a naïve young drifter who likes to make people laugh, helping Hackman grow as a person. I've never seen Pacino like this before, playing the comedy sidekick role in a drama, and he has yet to pick up all the Pacinoisms we see later in his career. Some of his bits feel forced, like he has to act whacky but not really sure what to do. Maybe it was the wrong role for him, but he does get something to chew on by the end. Even a young Pacino with a higher-pitched voice, his presence is a win in anybody's book. It has a real 70's style ending.
- DirectorPhil JoanouStarsSean PennEd HarrisGary OldmanA Boston cop is recruited to return to his hometown and infiltrate the mob ran by his best friend's brother.WoW! Sean Penn, Gary Oldman (on top of his game), Ed Harris, John Tuturro, John C Reilly, Burgess Meredith and others, all turn up and put on great performances. Acting, directing, editing, story and the cinematography are all stellar. The shots of NY City look amazing, and the cinamatog is carried on through the slower scenes in doors. It looks so good and every shot is busy. I cant believe ive never heard or saw this one before nor is it talked about.
- DirectorLewis John CarlinoStarsRobert DuvallBlythe DannerMichael O'KeefeAs he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated Marine pilot.Bobby Duvall, one of our greatest treasures. Plays yet another flawed man in a drama of a family who follow the ambitions of a military man
- DirectorBruce MalmuthGary NelsonStarsSylvester StalloneRutger HauerBilly Dee WilliamsWhen one of Europe's most lethal terrorists shows up in New York, an elite undercover cop is assigned to take him down by any means necessary.Stallone does the French Connection with Lando Calrissian and Rutger Hauer putting in an Alan Rickman/Hans Gruber level performance as the European bad guy. Props to the stunt guys jumping from a subway platform onto the back of a moving train.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsJames CaanTuesday WeldWillie NelsonAn ace safe cracker wants to do one last big heist for the mob before going straight.Its Jimmy Caan, not Jimmy Caan't. It's Drive before Drive. Stylish, moody, well shot and good-looking. The soundtrack makes it even better with a moody synth score, yanking it out of the 70s era of film making into the 80s.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsMaxwell CaulfieldCharlie SheenPatti D'ArbanvilleRoy and Bo leave their small California town the weekend after graduation for a short road trip to Los Angeles. Soon, they find themselves lashing out and leaving a trail of bodies behind them. The violence escalates throughout.Charlie Sheen & Maxwell Caulfield are both excellent with great chemistry, playing troubled "teens" go bad perfectly. Serial killers in the making, deftly told, showing how outcasts, on the edges of society can slip into crime and murder, both with different motives and ideals in life. The driving scenes are great and really show off the concrete jungle streets of LA with some really nice wide shots and inventive camera strapped to the car angles. Although I do believe this repugnant pair were disliked for their piggish behaviour, mainly due to Max not wanting to fit in and hating people in general, I don't believe for a second either of them wouldn't be able to get chicks in high school.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsMichael KeatonGlenn CloseRobert DuvallNew York City tabloid editor Henry's faced with tough decisions while he faces several serious life challenges, and a tempting job offer.
- DirectorDan O'BannonStarsJohn TerryJane SibbettChris SarandonCharles Dexter Ward's wife enlists the help of a private detective to find out what her husband is up to in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries.Good H.P. Lovecraft reworking from Dan O'Bannon. SFX are a little iffy near the end though but it's well worth watching otherwise.
- DirectorAnthony MinghellaStarsMatt DamonGwyneth PaltrowJude LawIn late 1950s New York, a young underachiever named Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.
- DirectorPeter HyamsStarsGregory HinesBilly CrystalSteven BauerTwo street-wise Chicago cops have to shake off some rust after returning from a Key West vacation to pursue a drug dealer who nearly killed them in the past.Gregory Hines & Billy Crystal have great chemistry. Buddy cop movie done well, with some great stunt work. A stuntman jumps onto the back of a moving subway train. Top marks.
- DirectorJoe RothStarsPatrick DempseyArye GrossDaniel SternThree bickering brothers who don't get along reluctantly go on a cross country road trip together to deliver a car in time for their mother's birthday.
- DirectorHerbert RossStarsJohn CusackJames SpaderImogen StubbsBest friends from law school to election night, their friendship is sorely tested when one learns of another's betrayal.Solid film with two young stars holding their own with a really good script.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsNicole KidmanMatt DillonJoaquin PhoenixA beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.
- DirectorFrank OzStarsSteve MartinMichael CaineGlenne HeadlyTwo con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of fifty thousand dollars first.I forget how good Steve Martin really was. Definitely one of the comedy greats. Michael Caine is also top-notch in this one. The story is a great back and forth between two rival conmen who bet over who can swindle 50k from their mark. Twists and turns for the full runtime. Great ending.
- DirectorFrank OzStarsSteve MartinEddie MurphyHeather GrahamWhen a desperate movie producer fails to get a major star for his bargain-basement film, he decides to shoot the film secretly around him.Steve Martin at the top of his game. Eddie Murphy back to his best. Great cast, and great story. Very funny.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsMeryl StreepKevin BaconDavid StrathairnRafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a spectacularly violent river.
- DirectorPhil Alden RobinsonStarsRobert RedfordDan AykroydSidney PoitierA security pro finds his past returning to haunt him when he and his unique team are tasked with retrieving a particularly important item.
- DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsRobert RedfordDebra WingerDaryl HannahA New York district attorney works and flirts with his adversary and her kooky artist client, who is on trial for a murder she didn't commit.