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SALT LAKE CITY -- We seem to be a society that loves finding gems, and I love that about us. We love finding the musician no one has heard of and pass along his tunes. We love to find a hideaway restaurant and tell our friends they need to hit it up and try their bison burgers. We love finding gems, sharing gems and being told about gems. So, I'm going to give you five hidden movie I've come across in the past seven or eight years. These are some films that I had not heard of, but that left an impression on me.
I'm sure some of you have seen a few of these films and maybe hated them, but to each his own. What I want with this is to tell you some about these films I've found and enjoyed, and I want to hear about the gems you've come across. So, I hope the comment boards and Facebook blow up with your favorite hidden movies that no one has heard of.
Luke Wilson stars as Henry Poole in this little flick and it's hands down the best acting job of his career according to me. How did I come to that conclusion? Well, simply put, he's not the exact same guy he is in every other film.
Henry Poole, Wilson, moves into a home in a quiet California neighborhood in hopes of spending his last days of mortality in solitude. But a nosy, well-meaning, neighbor finds what she thinks is the face of Christ on the outside wall of his house and Henry's quiet "last days" turn into a circus.
When I first saw the trailer for Poole I thought with the combination of Wilson and the few laughs it evokes I'd be in for a good comedy/drama. But much to my surprise, the film has a very serious tone from front to back, but it was a welcome surprise. Poole manages to inspire and touch without an agenda.
"Henry Poole Is Here" is rated PG some language. There's not really anything offensive in it, but the heavy subject matter probably isn't the best for young kids.
I very rarely watch movies more than one or two times during a year span, let alone multiple times in a few days. When I got "Son of Rambow" from Netflix I watched it three times over the weekend.
The film follows two English schoolboys who become unlikely friends. When sheltered Will sees a bootlegged copy of the movie, "Rambo: First Blood," from his friend Lee. Something goes off in Will's head and he won't stop until he's become John Rambo.
The two boys decide to make their own film; "Son of Rambow" and both manage to overcome personal demons in the process.
I was caught off guard by how much I related to this film. It captures the idiocy that is adolescence and also the pain that too often accompanies it.
"Son of Rambow" is rated PG-13 for some violence and reckless behavior by minors. There's really nothing offensive in the film, but again the PG-13 warning is appropriate.
I'm a sucker for a good caper movie and I found one in "The Lookout." I have yet to find someone who has seen this movie and didn't love it.
The story revolves around Chris Pratt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a cocky high school athlete who loses just about everything following a drunken driving accident. Fast forward a few years from the crash and Chris has short term memory problems and is working as the night janitor of a small town bank. Chris finds some new friends who he soon finds out have pulled him into their group to solicit his help in robbing the bank he works for.
This movie totally caught me off guard and kept me glued the whole way through. Gordon-Levitt is fantastic and Jeff Daniels and Matthew Goode both give stellar performances.
"The Lookout" is rated R for language, violence and some sexual content. This film is meant for adult audiences and if the content seems a bit too intense for you, "The Lookout" plays pretty regularly on TV and the broadcast edit is well done and cuts out the language and sexual content.
Sir Anthony Hopkins was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in "The World's Fastest Indian" and unfortunately not enough people have seen the movie.
Indian is the true story of New Zealander Burt Munro, Hopkins, and his journey from his home to Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to set the land-speed world record on the Indian motorcycle he spent years building.
I will admit there are parts of Indian that seem to drag, but the film is truly enjoyable the whole way through and you can't help but fall in love with Burt. The film both inspires and entertains as Burt touches lives around the globe and sacrifices time and time again to achieve his goal.
"The World's Fastest Indian" is rated PG-13 for some brief language, drug use and some sexual references. I'd say this film would be great for all ages and fun as well, but the younger kids may find it a little boring at times and there are two scenes that are not explicit, but probably aren't appropriate for young kids.
Ryan Reynolds has become a bona fide star and "Chaos Theory" is a film that kind of snuck under the radar.
#chaos
Reynolds plays Frank Allen, an obsessively organized man who also happens to be a loving father and husband. Soon, Frank's perfect life gets terribly out of hand as a good deed tailspins into a nightmare. I found myself laughing out loud, uncomfortably twisting in my chair and on the verge of tears on several occasions.
Reynolds is fantastic and he's supported by a great cast including Emily Mortimer and Stuart Townsend.
"Chaos Theory" is rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and mature thematic material. This movie is meant for an older audience and may be a bit on the dark side for some. But if you are in the mood for some dark humor and an incredibly well told story be sure to check out Chaos Theory.
So, there are my five hidden gems. Here are a few that maybe are known, but underrated and therefore not as well known as they should be: "The Usual Suspects (R)," "Hot Rod (PG-13)," "Blood Diamond (R)." Here are some classics that some may have forgotten about: "Charade (NR)," "Rope (NR)," and "Bringing Up Baby (NR)."
Now it's your turn. What are your favorite gems that need to be shared? Tell us on the comment boards and Facebook.
