Movies that are too good to make any money

[Samuari]

I love a movie that drives me to the coffee shop for an extended discussion about the issues that it raised. Unfortunately these are usually the ones that close the first week, and never make any money. I guess the masses just want to be entertained, titillated, or shocked. Just don’t make ‘em think.

The first movie that comes to mind in this category is “Shadowlands”, the story of how C.S. and Joy Lewis dealt with her cancer and eventual death. Not exactly fun, but like everything about C.S. Lewis very thought provoking.

Another is “The Apostle”. Robert Duvall felt so strongly that this film needed to be made that he stared, produced and directed it, and when he could find a backer, risked his own money to bring it to us. It is a great film, and make sure that you watch the closing credits. There have to lots more like these.

 

[KillerMuffin]

In the Gloaming and Howard's End. Watch In the Gloaming babe. It'll rock your foundations.

Of course, I still steadfastly stand by Brainsmasher: A Love Story as THE cinematic accomplishment of the decade.

 

[TN_Vixen]

I loved "The Apostle" it was a fantastic film. There are a lot of others, but you're right. Most of these films don't make the box office crowd like the shoot 'em up bang 'em up movies do and it's a shame. I totally enjoyed "Swingers" when it was out, a short independent film that lasted about a half minute in the theatre. There are some movie forums around that give you great ideas about obscure films that you'd be interested in, once I drum up the urls, I'll post them for you.

 

[Patryn]

I loved The Gloaming. Has anyone seen The Lawn Dogs? That one rocked my foundations.

 

[RisiaSkye]

My picks for most underrated:

Happiness (starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Camryn
Manheim, among others)1998

Pecker (John Waters dir, starring Edward Furlong, Patty Hearst, Christina Ricci)1999

The Last Supper (starring Courtney B. Vance, Annabeth Gish, and a pre-Glamour girl Cameron Diaz) 1994

Citizen Ruth (Alexander Payne dir, starring Laura Dern, Swoozie Kurtz) 1997

Lots of scathing class commentary, and every one of them is an actually FUNNY dark comedy--as opposed to, say, Very Bad Things--which made ten times more money than any of these.