Five Personal Favorite Movies That Nobody Else Likes.
71That's me watching these 5 movies at the theater.
The following list of movies are ones that I really like. I do realize that my opinion is in the minority, but hey we can not all have the same taste in movies. All five of the movies failed to make a dent at the box office and have been quickly forgotten. I discovered each of the movies on their DVD release and re-watch them at least once every two years. They are great room clearers. Just put the movie in the DVD player and watch as my family leaves the room.
Honorable mentions: Hudson Hawk, Hide in Plain Sight, She's The One, Quick Change, Miracle Mile, After Hours, and The Ref.
Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz in 1997's A Life Less Ordinary.
1997's A Life Less Ordinary.
Plot summary: A cleaning man(Ewan McGregor) takes his boss' daughter(Cameron Diaz) hostage after being fired and replaced by a robot. Meanwhile two angels(Holly Hunter & Delroy Lindo) try to get this unlikely couple to fall in love.
Why I like it: What a great cast. Besides McGregor, Diaz, Hunter and Lindo you also get great character actors Dan Hedaya, Stanley Tucci, Ian Holm and Tony Shalhoub. All under the watchful director's eye of Danny Boyle who later went on to direct 127 Hours and the Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. Cameron Diaz gives the best performance in the movie as the spoiled rich girl who is capable of anything. The soundtrack is another part of the movie that I like very much. A quirky movie that I never could figure out where it was going....but I enjoyed the ride.
Why people do not like it: The angels are some of the strangest angels to ever appear on movie screens. The movie does not seem to know what kind of movie it is....sometimes it is a comedy, sometimes it is a fantasy, sometimes it is a drama, sometimes it is a musical, sometimes it is a claymation movie and sometimes it is a Pulp Fiction clone. Put altogether you end up with a very bumpy movie ride. A Life Less Ordinary earned only 4.7 million in worldwide box office.
Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson in 1985's Fandango.
1985's Fandango.
Plot Summary: Five college buddies from the University of Texas circa 1971 embark on a final road trip odyssey across the Mexican border before facing up to uncertain futures, in Vietnam and otherwise.
Why I Like It: The performances of Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson and Chuck Bush as Dorman. Movie has some interesting scenes that include a firework cemetry scence, a tie a car to a moving train scene, a parachute scene and a very humorous last minute wedding. The director, Kevin Reynolds, and Costner went on to make more movies together...Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Waterworld. Soundtrack is filled with many classic songs. One of the few Kevin Costner movies I actually like.
Why people do not like it: After seeing Kevin Reynold's college short film, Steven Spielberg provided the money for this movie to be made into a feature film. After seeing the results, Spielberg wanted nothing to do with the movie. Fandango grossed $91,166 dollars in North America.
Josh Hartnett in 2004's Wicker Park.
2004's Wicker Park.
Plot Summary: A young Chicago advertising executive(Josh Hartnett) believes a woman(Diane Kruger) he sees in a café is his long-lost love. His conviction leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her.
Why I Like It: I love a movie that makes me think, this movie is guaranteed to make you think. The plot twist about halfway through the movie takes a movie that was very confusing and helps explain things in a very original and memorable way. Hartnett and director Paul McGuigan would later make another favorite of mine, Lucky Number Slevin.
Why people do not like it: A very confusing movie. It took me three attempts to watch this movie until it's conclusion. I can easily see many people giving up on this movie and saying it was one of the worst movies ever made. But remember patience is a virtue. Wicker Park earned 12.83 million during its box office run in North America.
Sean Nelson in 1994's Fresh.
1994's Fresh.
Plot Summary: Michael/Fresh(Sean Nelson) is a 12-year-old drug pusher who lives in a crowded housing project with his cousins and aunt. His father has become a street bum(Samuel L. Jackson), but still meets with Fresh on occasion to play chess. Fresh's sister is a junkie who sleeps with the dealers who Fresh sells for. As the story progresses Fresh realizes that he doesn't want to sell drugs anymore, he wants out.
Why I like it: Sean Nelson gives one of the best child performances ever. I would put his role in Fresh up against Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun, Natalie Portman in The Professional, Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver and Ivana Baquero in Pan's Labyrinth. Samuel L. Jackson as his chess playing father, is also outstanding in a small but important part. I like how we watch Fresh go from a child with little choices to a child with a master plan that he carries out with brutal consequences.
Why people do not like it: Simply put..... Fresh lives in a very brutal world. It is not a fun movie to watch. It is a brutal world filled with lots of violence, drug use and cruelty and is not a movie for everyone. But if you want to watch one of the best child performances ever check out Fresh. Fresh grossed just over 8.00 million during it's release in North America.
Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley in 1994's Swimming With Sharks.
1994's Swimming With Sharks
Plot summary: A young, naive Hollywood studio assistant(Frank Whaley) finally turns the tables on his incredibly abusive producer boss(Kevin Spacey).
Why I like it: Great performances by Whaley and Spacey. A Hollywood behind the scenes story that has lots of humor and lots of drama. Kevin Spacey as the boss from Hell is much meaner than the boss he played in Horrible Bosses. Swimming with Sharks is a movie that will keep you guessing and thinking all the way until the very last scenes. If you listen to the first line in the movie you will be able to figure out the surprise ending.
Why people do not like it: Movies about Hollywood are not very popular with the general public. With a North America box office of $376,928 I think you can put Swimming with Sharks in that category. I guess people that have great bosses can not imagine having a boss as mean as Spacey is in this movie. I guess there are more great bosses out there than I thought.
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I really enjoyed 'A Life Less Ordinary', too. I haven't seen any of the others, though.
Cogerson, I've seen two of these and I've been meaning to watch A life Less Ordinary since it keeps popping up on Sundance because of the festival.
Fresh was a little much but it was definitely realistic in the portrayals and the plot.
Wicker Park was okay but it was so much going on and I hate watching or reading something multiple times for one understanding. I enjoyed this hub.
Great hub, Cogerson! I have only seen two of the movies on your list. I thought Fresh was outstanding - it almost made my previous hub's list of Hidden Gems. I may do a similar hub in the near future, if you don't mind. Keep up the great work!
Hey Paradise7...thanks for stopping by. Glad to see you might check out some of these movies. After the first two failed attempts to get through Wicker Park....I thought it was horrible. But the third attempt was the charm....and the funny thing about that movie....it takes almost a hour of screen time before you realize who the movie is really about....thanks for the comment.
Hey Dallas....glad to see somebody else who liked A Life Less Ordinary....the first time viewing the movie it takes the whole movie trying to figure out if Hunter and Lindo are really angels or just two crazy people. A strange but delightful movie. Thanks for the comments.
Well, we see movies which we like. So do not think whether others like your favorite movies or not.
Hey Alecia....well I think it is 50/50 if you will like A Life Less Ordinary. Great soundtrack that I actually bought after a became a huge fan of the movie. I was so happy when Danny Boyle won an Oscar later...as he is still the guy who directed A Life Less Ordinary to me. I agree Fresh is very brutal and realistic and just thinking that some kids have to lead that life is very sad. I often think about how he was willing to sacrifice the queen in his real life chess match with the drug lords. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey thatmovieguy71....glad you agree with me about Fresh. Fresh is a movie my wife will never ever watch....just too realistic and brutal for her tastes. But wow what a performance by Sean Nelson. I am so surprised he did not do more with his career....but he is still pretty young.
I look forward to reading your hub on hidden gems....I am sure I will find a movie or two that I will track down and watch myself.
Hey jainismus....yep I am sure there are more that will disagree with me than will agree with me....thanks for checking out my latest hub.
I haven't seen any of these movies. I never heard of them either. We all have favorites that somebody, I don't know if it's everybody doesn't like. Great idea for a hub!!
Well, it shouldn't be a surprise that I haven't seen them as I rarely watch recent films unless they get award buzz. But I have heard of A Life Less Ordinary. 2004 was a year where I was moving out and there were huge changes going on in my life. I don't know that I could tell you the names of any movies that year that were not nominated for awards.
An interesting bunch of films Bruce, I've only seen two of them -
A Life Less Ordinary which like you say can't figure out where it's going, it's a weird romantic comedy and my Sandra seems to like it more than I do.
Swimming With Sharks I like a lot more than Sandra does, Kevin Spacey is excellent as the hateful boss from hell and his role in Horrible Bosses must have been a nod and a wink to this film.
The other three I've heard of but never seen.
I could fill a page with films I like that no one else does. I could fill a book with films I like that Sandra doesn't like, hahaha!
Voted Up, Interesting and Awesome, Funny too.
Cogerson...a really great "twist" to your usual fantastic hubs. Not only have I never seen any of these movies...I've never heard of them. (but that's pretty typical for me, "Miss never go-to-the-movies.")
I will say, though, once in awhile I'll pick up movies that are marked way down...old movies, unpopular movies...that sort of thing (I'm such a penny-pincher!!) I've picked up a few that I simply loved. One in particular that I must have watched a dozen times by now, is Peter O'Toole, "Creator." ...Vincent Spano, Virginia Masden, David Ogden Stiers, Marielle Hemingway. I swear I can speak the entire movie. Anytime I talk about it, people say..."What?? Who??? Creator?? Never heard of it!!"
You did such a teriffic job presenting these, I have to go rumaging through the "discount bins" now!! lol.
It's settled. You're the Rock Star of movies.
Thanks for stopping by....I know you are a big Cameron Diaz fan....she is awesome in her role in A Life Less Ordinary....it was her Bad Teacher role 15 years ago...and she looks awesome...McGregor is pretty good as well....so if you checked out The Box you have to check out A Life Less Ordinary.
Hey Flora...thanks for stopping by....none of these movies got any Oscar buzz...I think they might have gotten Razzie buzz....but no way did they get any awards....Fandango is one you might like...Costner is very good in the movie...and a great soundtrack...when I worked at the video store I always put this in the VCR because of so many great songs in the movie....songs like "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" by Elton John, "Spooky" by Classics IV, Badge by Cream, and Can't Find My Way Home by Blind Faith. At one point in the film they visit the old set of Giant. It is so lonely here...you should watch Fandango as well...lol.
Hey Steve...thanks for stopping by. My wife actually thought A Life Less Ordinary was pretty good too. I can not talk her into watching Swimming With Sharks....I still remember how confused I was at the end when we find out who is going to the morgue....but the first line in the movie...is something like...."There are stories were love conquers all...this is not one of those".
I have been thinking about doing a hub like this for awhile...I can only imagine how many films you have in your personal gem closet. Of the three you have not scene I think you would like Fresh the best of all....the kid takes the lessons learned in chess and uses them against the drug lords....brutal but very well done....thanks for the kudos and the visit.
Hey fpherj48 thanks for stopping by and for the compliments about my hub. I liked Creator as well...I am a huge Peter O'Toole fan...so I actually saw that in theaters(one of the few). I think I have seen all 5 of these movies in the Wal-Mart bucket for 2 for 10 dollars. I think it is time for them to go lower on their regular DVD movies....I think 3 for 10 seems like a better price....lol.
I will purchase and watch a A Life Less Ordinary when I find it at a yard sale...VHS or DVD either one will work for me. I didn't notice Cameron Diaz with a gun until I gave the photo a third look! :)
The old Giant set? I will check it out the next time it is on TV. I love it when old sets are visited. I certainly think I'd love the soundtrack.
Hey Sunshine625....I think it is worth at least 2 of 3 dollars to have a look at it....I love the soundtrack lots of unusual songs in the background of the music....and a very interesting song duo between McGregor and Diaz...singing Beyond the Sea. Let me know what you think whenever you track it down and watch it.
Hey Flora...the group of college kids end up in the town that they filmed Giant....and they end up sleeping on the old set...but it takes place about 18 years after Giant was filmed....so there is not much left...but it is still pretty interesting. Awesome music....I think the only time Fandango ever got noticed was when it was on a NBC movie of the week...back when movies still earned some ratings on network tv.....oh those days are over.
Hi Bruce; I actually haven't seen any of these five, so I can't really comment on them. There are some talented people involved, so they can't be all bad.
Thanks for sharing,
Rob
mckbirdbks struckout, never swung the bat, one, two, three, four, five. Haven't seen any of these. Only recognized one title. Ok I'll go back to reading a book now. Great information as always Cogerson.
Hey Rob, I am willing to bet, since we seem to have similar taste in movies...that you would really like at least two of the movies.....one you would think was average...and two you would think would be horrible movies. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Mckbirdbks.....thanks for taking a moment away from one of your books, to check out my latest and not so great hub. It is greatly appreciated.
You are the movie king! Who else would write about movies mostly unheard of and do a great job. Very interesting though I'd never heard of them. Guess they are the equivalent of the '50s "B" movies as far as popularity goes, not necessarily production costs. Will be keeping my eye open for those titles. Voted up and interesting.
Thanks for the title tillsontitan it is greatly appreciated. Hopefully you will enjoy at least one of these titles if you ever come across them...thanks for stopping by.
I'm almost ashamed to admit that I haven't seen a single one of those movies. I'm curious now. :P
Ever since I saw the movie A Life Less Ordinary back in high school I have LOVED it! It's always been a favorite of mine. It's nice to see someone else appreciates it too!
Hey priley84...its ok...I imagine there might only be a few people in the entire world that have seem all 5 of these movies.
Hey danielleeu....so glad to see somebody else that likes A Life Less Ordinary....it is such a wonderful strange movie with some many great scenes and lines....and I love the music as well.
Cogerson, a very interesting list. I haven't seen Fresh but will have to look for it now. I'm not sure why people don't like Swimming With Sharks more (but then again I'm a Kevin Spacey fan). And I happen to love Fandango! There's a great line in it, something to the effect, "If you ever thought you loved a woman then you loved her." Personally, I think it is a real feel-good film.
Voting up :)
Hey Bethperry. Glad to see you like two of the movies on the list. I think Swimming With Sharks loses many people because it is about movie making and that is not a popular subject. But Spacey is awesome in the movie....and he really earns his Horrible Boss title in that movie. As for Fandango...it is filled with great lines like you mention. I love the lines that say...."You are the rudest person I have ever met" response..."Well somebody had to be"....I love Costner's role in the movie...one of the few Costner movies I like...thanks for the visit and the comment.
....well I always love your 'personal' film hubs - they're educational, enlightening and always fun to read - I am going to try something a little different here my friend and instead of posting this to my Facebook page I will post it to my new Facebook group (of which I have invited you and someone of your fine pedigree would be most appreciated there) LET'S JUST TALK MUSIC OR CINEMA ......(with a direct link back here)
lake erie time 12:14pm - Flora is there, and I am trying to get Robwrite too, any suggestions or other people - please let me know
Well now I have trio check out all these movies.. thank you for sharing and thank you Colin for posting this on Facebook I would not have seen it otherwise.
Voted way up
Blessing today
Debbie
Hey epigramman...I appreciate the invite and I will be headed there soon to join and check out the new Facebook page. Thanks for adding this link as well....you are truly one of hubpages finest.
Hey Deborah Brooks....thanks for checking out my hub. I am so thankful for Colin and the fact that he is one of HubPages biggest supporters. Thanks for the votes up.
Well, I've seen "Swimming" and somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking I might have seen "Fresh". The others, I've never even heard of! :)
Hey Fay Pax....well I guess the big question is...did you like Swimming With Sharks? I think you would like Fandango the best of the remaining movies. Thanks for the visit.
Never heard about any of these films, I'll keep them in mind for next time I want to clear a room ;-)
Hey Princessa....thanks for stopping by...a very funny comment....I bet if you watched all five of these movies....at least two you will really like....that would only leave 3 really bad movies to watch.
Ok I have seen none of these either. I'd like to check out Wicker Park. I really want to see Fresh - but I can't make myself see it. I volunteered at Juvy Hall here and it breaks my heart knowing much of that stuff is reality. Is there at least a happy ending to that one??
Hey RealHousewife....I think you would like Wicker Park...but it will keep you thinking and confusing you along the way....but the twist is very unusual. I will say this much...rarely do you watch a movie that it takes almost half of the movie to find out who the star of the movie really is.....as for Fresh...mmmm a happy ending? If a happy ending is the bad guys get whats coming and the hero survives...then yes it is a happy ending...but he still lives in the same place at the end of the movie that he does at the beginning of the movie.....thanks for the comment.
Paradise7 Level 7 Commenter 3 months ago
I found this all very interesting, Cogs. I liked "Wicker Park", myself, and it was the only one of your picks that I've seen. I'm def. gonna check out: Fandango, Fresh, and Swimming with the Sharks. Thanks for the info!