The 8 Most Underrated Movies In The Past 30 Years

Hype. When movie producers know they have a hit movie on their hands, they hype the heck out of it.  You can't avoid it. Whether it be on television, popular websites or plastered across billboards, you know what the hot new title of the season is, months before it's release. And for the past few years, you can count on the fact it will have to do with either a popular teen novel or a comic book hero (much to my geek heart's delight!) That said, there are other fantastic movies that get overlooked. They fall through the hype-machine's cracks, sometimes to oblivion. In fact, there are quite a lot of them. They are the movies that will be primarily seen in the comfort of your home through your DVD player. (Do they even make VHS anymore?) They are the anonymous movies you scroll through on Netflix or Amazon wondering, "where are all the good (read popular) movies?" For your perusal, I have compiled a list of the these hidden gems. Some are thought provoking, some I consider a guilt pleasure. I'll leave it to you to decide which is which.




8. Hope and Glory (1987)
Director - John Boorman
Stars - Sebastian Rice-Edwards
Snapshot - World War II, London through a nine year old boy's eyes.
My Two Cents - Although it can drag a little at times, the high points make this movie well worth it. Billy Rowan is a nine year old when World War II breaks out. His father, remembering his glory days, enlists. His older sister kind of "sluts it up" a bit. His little sister is all but forgotten (except for one very funny line.) And all the while, his mother tries to keep it all together. It is heart warming at times and laugh-out-loud funny at others.
Best Scene - Any scene where his grandfather appears.  What a hoot!




7. True Colors (1991)
Director - Herbert Ross
Stars - James Spader, John Cusack
Snapshot - Two law school friends take decidedly different paths in life.
My Two Cents - John Cusack and James Spader work well together in this political thriller, although the latter comes off looking like a bit of a weenie at times. Cusack takes what he wants without remorse, but you actually feel for him when he does so. Spader is the person from whom he takes the most, so payback is his game. The story builds to a great climax that has you second guessing friendships and politics.
Best Scene - John Cusack's speech at the end. He should run for office.




6. The Flamingo Kid (1984)
Director - Garry Marshall
Stars - Matt Dillon, Richard Crenna, Janet Jones
Snapshot - Brooklyn teen gets a job at a swanky beach resort
My Two Cents - Matt Dillon as likeable as Jeffery, a kid from Brooklyn (who happens to be awesome at the card game of Gin) who really doesn't know what he wants to do, now that's he's out of high school.  He gets a job (by chance) at a beach resort where he is befriended by a rich card player (Crenna).  And Janet Jones plays his girl friend.  Not a great acting job by JJ, but you can see why Wayne Gretsky is such a happy guy.   
Best Scene - Anything with Jeffery's father, played brilliantly by Hector Elizondo.




5. True Romance (1993)
Director - Tony Scott
Stars - Christian Slater, Rosanne Arquette
Snapshot - Two lovers on the run with a suitcase of cocaine.
My Two Cents - Clarence falls in love with Alabama and they get married. However, Alabama is a call girl with a pimp (played wonderfully by an urban-speaking Gary Oldman.) Well, after ending that business relationship in fine style, they wind up with a suitcase of cocaine and gangsters on their trail. Written by Quentin Tarantino, this movie has it all; action, comedy, drama, violence, etc.  A truly All-Star cast with some great cameos too. 
Best Scene - Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken.  You'll know it when you see it.


4. The Commitments (1991)


Director - Alan Parker
Stars - Robert Arkins, Angeline Ball
Snapshot - A streetwise promoter puts together a soul group in Dublin.
My Two Cents - I actually fell in love with the soundtrack before seeing the movie, but then ended up loving the movie just as much. Jimmy (Arkins) pieces together a soul band in Dublin from an eclectic group of individuals. Then he tries to manage and keep the band together though all the things that usually break a band up (egos, sex, fighting, etc.) The lead singer is both disgusting and a freaking brilliant singer played by Andrew Strong. What a set up pipes, I'm truly surprised that I never saw more of him.
Best Scene - Any scene where they are playing.




3. Better Off Dead (1985)
Director - Savage Steve Holland
Stars - John Cusack
Snapshot - Comedy about a broken hearted teen contemplating suicide.
My Two Cents - A not-so-dark comedy that has so many gags, you are constantly laughing. Everything that could go wrong in Lane's world, does. His girlfriend leaves him for star jock, his job is horrible, his car sucks, his family is crazy and his neighbors are nightmares. What else do you need?
Best Scene - The punk paperboy... "Where's my two dollars??"




2. Office Space (1999)
Director - Mike Judge
Stars - Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston
Snapshot - Guy snaps after his job drives him crazy.
My Two Cents - One of the funniest movies of the nineties from the creator of Beavis and Butthead.  There are so many clichés and stereotypes about the workplace, everyone can at least partially relate. A guy gets hypnotized to help reduce stress, but when hypnotist dies, he leaves him in a "don't care" state of mind. Then at the office, the less he cares, the more he succeeds.
Best Scene - Killing the copy machine




1. Coupe de' Ville (1990)
Director - Joe Roth
Stars - Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross, Daniel Stern
Snapshot - Three estranged brothers take a car across the country.
My Two Cents - I love this feel-good movie and it holds up well over time. Three brothers who hate each other are forced (by Alan Arkin, their father) to drive their mom's new car from Detroit to Florida. What could possibly go wrong? The chemistry is great, the dialogue is natural and the acting is superb. 
Best Scene - Getting car sick.




You should be able to find these movies almost anywhere. If you haven't seen them yet, take a few minutes and give them a shot. Losing yourself for a couple of hours is one of the best things in life.