10 Great Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen

300px-One_False_MoveOne False Move (1992)

What’s it about then?

A trio of murdering criminals, led by Billy Bob Thornton, wander into the quiet Southern town of Star City, officiated by local sheriff Bill Paxton who clashes with the big city cops following them.

Why Should I see it?

Because it’s a masterclass in slow-build tension that also features a performance from Paxton that until 2002’s Frailty had not been bettered. The poster caused mild controversy: the shooter was removed from many versions, causing much confusion.

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

The unexpected closing revelations.

MovieMuse Favourite line:

none suitable!

 


6nOBzSqgFx4FpJU5hdiDbYKTf6yBelow (2002)

What’s it about then?

Set in 1943, Below is the story of an American submarine and some nasty goings on that occur when they pick up survivors from a stricken passenger vessel.

Why Should I see it?

Deftly taking the natural tension of a submarine movie and giving it a supernatural slant works surprisingly well, and the movie has an intriguing twist. Directed by David Twohy (Pitch Black).

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

Either the early drama with the sinking of the ship or that mirror scene.

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Hoag (Andrew Howard): “What if, when we took on that kraut ship, we didn’t sink ’em? What if… they sunk us?”

 


White God (2014)

What’s it about?

Thirteen-year-old Lili fights to protect her beloved dog Hagen and is devastated when her father forces Him onto the streets. Innocently believing love can conquer all, Lili sets out to find and save him. But under the leadership of Hagen, 250 stray dogs form a canine army to rise up against their human aggressors.

Why should I see it? 

A brilliant parable on the treatment of immigrants in modern Europe, White God is visually stunning and strangely believable.

MovieMuse favourite scene: 

The site of 250 dogs marauding through Budapest as Lili rides her bike is a surprisingly beautiful and equally terrifying sight, but the scene where Lili gets the dogs to temper their aggression by sitting calmly amongst them is superbly done.

MovieMuse favourite line: 

Homeless man to Hagen: “There are two hungry dogs. Me and you.”

 


 

 

Red Road (2006)

What’s it about then?

“Jackie works as a CCTV operator. Each day she watches over a small part of the world, protecting the people living their lives under her gaze. One day a man appears on her monitor, a man she thought she would never see again, a man she never wanted to see again. Now she has no choice, she is compelled to confront him.”

Why Should I see it?
Red Road exudes an air of realism, has some great performances and a plot that is deliberately pedestrian, but still manages to keep you guessing. It also represents a view of Glasgow that can no longer be seen since the demolition of the Red Road Flats in 2015.

MovieMuse favourite scene:

When Jackie blags her way into the party and seduces Clyde.

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Clyde’s chat up line to Jackie. It couldn’t possibly be repeated here though!

 


miraclemile1-sheetMiracle Mile (1988) 

What’s it about then? 

A man answers a public phone outside a diner and receives a strange, ominous call – missiles have been launched and the end of the world is nigh…

Why Should I see it?

Miracle Mile has a curious air to it and this ensures you never quite know what’s going to happen. It’s certainly an odd film – a cold war thriller, with early scenes more like an awkward romantic comedy. It also stars Anthony Edwards and strangely enough his future ER co-star Mare Winningham.

MovieMuse favourite scene:

That fateful phone call.

MovieMuse favourite line:

Harry Washello (Anthony Edwards): “Mrs. Peters, in a half-an-hour there’s going to be a full-on nuclear attack. The missiles are on their way now. L.A.’s going to be a desert again very soon.”

 


Still Life (2013)

What’s it about then?

Still Life is a heart-warming and heart-breaking tale of love and death starring Eddie Marsan as a civil servant whose has the thankless task of locating the relatives of the recently deceased and perpetually unloved.

Why should I see it?

Eddie Marsan is simply magnificent as a boring council worker who lives for the people recently deceased more than he does for himself. A fantastic score compliments the excellent direction to make Still Life highly recommended.

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

The transcendent ending that left us both saddened and uplifted.

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Mortician “Mr May, what news from the land of the living?”

 


large_6Ggt3yHICY16cejF5W5XZm0HRhnTrespass (1992)

What’s it about then?

Two firemen (Bill Paxton and William Sadler) discover a map to hidden gold in an old abandoned warehouse; the only trouble is a local gang who’s turf they’ve unwittingly infringed upon.

Why should I see it?

Trespass is a tense, muscular, action-packed thriller that doesn’t let up for it’s slim running time. Originally titled “Looters”, it’s title was changed due to a certain riot in Los Angeles…

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

The tense gangland execution.

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

Bradlee (Art Evans): “That’s the beauty of gold. It never tarnishes. Lasts forever, too. You can twist it, pound it, even piss on it but it’s always the same gold. It was here long before we were and it’ll be here a long time after we’re gone. I bet you a lot of men have died for the gold that’s just in this one piece.”

 


ravenousRavenous (1999)

What’s it about then?

Set in a frontier US Army base, Guy Pearce plays a cowardly soldier sent there as a back-handed punishment for “heroically” pretending to be dead before taking out a Mexican outpost. When a mysterious stranger arrives, all is not as it seems…

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

It’s different (a cannibal film set in 1840’s US) and the production values are superb: authenticity seeps from every nook and cranny of the Army Base. Pearce and Robert Carlyle are well supported by the likes of Jeffrey Jones and Jeremy Davies.

JD’s Favourite Scene:

A trip to the cave reveals the stranger’s true nature.

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Colhoun (Robert Carlyle): “Breakfast. Lunch. And Reinforcements.”

 


760full-zero-effect-coverZero Effect(1998)

What’s it about then?

Bill Pullman is Daryl Zero, a chronically shy but brilliant private detective, hired to solve a perplexing blackmail case. He’s assisted by his friend Ben Stiller, a role refreshingly lacking in Stiller’s usual annoying comedic schtick.

Why should I see it?

Intriguing, subtle and engrossing, Zero Effect presents a standard criminal thriller and twists it with a paranoid detective finally coming out of his shell. Sharp dialogue and a leaning towards classic Conan Doyle doesn’t do it any harm either.

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

When Zero meets Gloria (Kim Dickens).

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller): “He can tell you where you were born, how old your mother was at the time, and what you had for breakfast, all within 30 seconds of meeting you.”

 


The Brand New Testament (1998)

What’s it about then?

God is alive and living in human form as a cynical writer with his young opinionated daughter Ea, in present-day Brussels.. She concludes that her dad is doing a terrible job and decides to rewrite the world by publishing everyone’s death date. With the help of her own six messengers Ea writes a brand new testament and the world will never be the same again.

Why should I see it?

Odd and up-lifting, this is a delightful and hilarious tale of living rather than existing.

MovieMuse Favourite scene:

The reboot. Have you tried switching it off and on again?

MovieMuse Favourite line:

Deciple “What is your brother’s name”

Ea “JC”

Deciple “like Van Damme?”

 


 

What do you think?

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