Number 5: In Bruges
In Bruges is a 2008 comedy action movie starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. It follows two hitmen hiding out in the Belgian city of Bruges (Brooge-z,) after a job went wrong. It’s funny, depressing, and has interesting themes of purgatory and morality sprinkled throughout. It’s one of my favorite films, and it is seriously under known and underrated.
Number 4: Woman in Gold
Woman in Gold is a 2015 movie starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds. It follows the true story of Maria Altmann, a woman who successfully sued the Austrian Government for possession of her family’s long lost painting, the Woman in Gold. This movie is very emotional, and it features some absolutely beautiful scenes. However, the story could be told with more energy, and it does have numerous flaws. This movie isn’t considered very highly, but I actually like it despite its problems, and I believe it’s well worth watching.
Number 3: Sorcerer
Sorcerer is a 1977 movie starring Roy Scheider. It follows convicts who are forced to transport liquid nitrogen through a jungle in trucks. Liquid nitrogen, is an extremely explosive material, which can blow up at even the slightest movement. This movie is very under known, despite it being directed by William Friedkin. This is because Sorcerer came out in the same year as Star Wars, which simply overshadowed everything released. Despite that, I think this movie is excellent. It has absolutely one of the highest tension moments in all of cinema, when they have to bring a truck across a rope-bridge in a hurricane. My knuckles were literally white during this scene. Sorcerer also contains numerous psychological elements, and it’s simply a fantastic movie, that does not get enough attention.
Number 2: The Secret of Kells
The Secret of Kells is a 2008 animated movie. It follows Irish monks attempting to finish the famed book of Kells, before Vikings invade their lands. One of the sad realities of having studios such as Pixar churning out animated blockbusters every year, is that other animated movies do not receive enough attention. This film falls into that category. It has absolutely some of the most beautiful animated visuals you will see in your lifetime, drawing inspiration directly from the Book of Kells itself. Additionally, for an animated film, it’s surprisingly scary at times, the Vikings still creep me out to this day with their black staunchly contrasting the vibrancy of the Irish world. It’s an incredible film, and it should be considered one of the best animated movies ever made.
Number 1: Stardust
Stardust a 2007 film based off of the novel by Neil Gaiman. It follows a young man as he rescues a Star in human form from a coven of witches, with the help of a cursed prince, and a transgender pirate captain. This is in my eyes possibly the most underrated movie ever made. It is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy films of all time, and it’s a joy to watch. It has a very imaginative story, some fantastic scenes, and Robert Deniro as a transgender sky pirate, who doesn’t want to see that? Stardust is amazing, and it’s criminally underrated.