Films from the 70s, 80s and 90s, that are underrated and/or largely forgotten

[setreal]

Yep, The Wire light

[The Golden Eel]

 

[Greycellgreen]

Sisters is fantastic, didn’t think much of Obsession though, I found it really flat despite being a big fan of both De Palma and Schrader.

 

De Palma’s output in the 70s/80s was phenomenal.

 

Sisters

The Fury

Carrie

Dressed To Kill

Body Double

Blow Out

Scarface

The Untouchables

 

Even that strange rock opera he did had its moments.

[SasaS]

Obsession is a great shout for De Palma's Hitchcock phase in terms of forgotten, I remember it took me some time to find it. I liked it when I saw it first years and years ago, but I am a bit nervous over how it will look now.

[setreal]

Blow Out is an utter masterpiece IMO. 

 

Dressed to Kill is really good also, love the Argento vibe. 

 

Suitable for this thread:

 

[Greycellgreen]

Obsession has been out on Blu-ray (actually released twice by the same company) for the last five years, HMV are selling it as part of their 5 for £20 deal and you can buy it easily enough from Amazon. It’s always been fairly easy to get hold of.

[Tony Moanero]

Obsession has been out on Blu-ray (actually released twice by the same company) for the last five years, HMV are selling it as part of their 5 for £20 deal and you can buy it easily enough from Amazon. It’s always been fairly easy to get hold of.

Availability isn’t really relevant, mate. This thread is about films that are underrated and/or largely forgotten - forgotten by the average person who isn’t a film buff, etc.

[rubble-rouser]

Frantic - Harrison Ford film set in Paris

[setreal]

Frantic - Harrison Ford film set in Paris

 

With an epic dance by Emmanuelle Seigner

[setreal]

Availability isn’t really relevant, mate. This thread is about films that are underrated and/or largely forgotten - forgotten by the average person who isn’t a film buff, etc.

 

That was a response there Tone.

[VladimirIlyich]

Fat City has always been a favourite of mine. Not sure how it would look now but Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges were excellent in it.

[SasaS]

Obsession has been out on Blu-ray (actually released twice by the same company) for the last five years, HMV are selling it as part of their 5 for £20 deal and you can buy it easily enough from Amazon. It’s always been fairly easy to get hold of.

 

 

I must have searched for it before then, I remember I couldn't find it on Amazon and was very happy to finally see it was available. I seem to remember when discussing De Palma with friends I was the only one who has seen it for quite a while, so it would qualify as forgotten.

[Total Longo]

 

[SammyAftershave]

After Hours was great. Who hasn't had a night like that?

[Total Longo]

Obsession is a great shout for De Palma's Hitchcock phase in terms of forgotten, I remember it took me some time to find it. I liked it when I saw it first years and years ago, but I am a bit nervous over how it will look now.

 

it's just way too similar to Vertigo. There's homage and there is outright thievery.

[Greycellgreen]

it's just way too similar to Vertigo. There's homage and there is outright thievery.

Exactly the way I feel about it. One of my favourite films is Body Double, which ‘borrows’ heavily from Hitchcock (especially Rear Window and, again, Vertigo) but De Palma managed to put his own sleazy fingerprints all over it and it becomes its own thing. Obsession doesn’t have any of his normal flourishes of genius or stylistic violence and nudity, it’s just dull. At least I found it dull anyway.

[Stickman]

I remember seeing this TV movie when I was a kid starring William Shatner haven't seen it since.

It's about an ill fated bombing raid during World War Two in which the plane goes missing but not before one of the pilots bails out leaving everyone else on board to die. Years later the plane is found but it is still haunted by the ghosts of the crew....

 

[SasaS]

I must pluck up my courage and watch it again then.

 

I remember Body Double as one of his worst offerings ever, almost a silly 80s B movie using Hitchcock as a crutch of respectability. What did

Pauline Kael say about it, did she destroy him as a fraud or hail as a genius for it, I don't remember, only that her article was a big deal at the time.

[Greycellgreen]

I can’t remember what Kael thought of Body Double, I know she liked De Palma and loved Blow Out. Body Double is as trashy as mainstream cinema gets, it probably got horrendous reviews. I love every minute though, it’s at odds with the rest of my favourite films, but in my opinion the worst thing a film can be is boring. Body Double is wildly entertaining, even if you’re rolling your eyes. Obsession maybe a better film technically (or morally) but it isn’t for me.

[Total Longo]

Exactly the way I feel about it. One of my favourite films is Body Double, which ‘borrows’ heavily from Hitchcock (especially Rear Window and, again, Vertigo) but De Palma managed to put his own sleazy fingerprints all over it and it becomes its own thing. Obsession doesn’t have any of his normal flourishes of genius or stylistic violence and nudity, it’s just dull. At least I found it dull anyway.

 

Agree. I may be looking back at it through rose tinted teenage eyes but i recall Body Double being boss. Melanie Griffiths is saucy as hell in that film. Don't Frankie Goes to Hollywood turn up in a bar scene?

[Greycellgreen]

Agree. I may be looking back at it through rose tinted teenage eyes but i recall Body Double being boss. Melanie Griffiths is saucy as hell in that film. Don't Frankie Goes to Hollywood turn up in a bar scene?

They do, when that really strange porno is being shot, and Melanie Griffiths is absolutely outstanding.

 

Just a riot of sleaze and violence. Great stuff.

[SasaS]

I can’t remember what Kael thought of Body Double, I know she liked De Palma and loved Blow Out. Body Double is as trashy as mainstream cinema gets, it probably got horrendous reviews. I love every minute though, it’s at odds with the rest of my favourite films, but in my opinion the worst thing a film can be is boring. Body Double is wildly entertaining, even if you’re rolling your eyes. Obsession maybe a better film technically (or morally) but it isn’t for me.

 

 

Probably, it didn't have much of a reputation as far as I recall, maybe featuring in American Psycho helped its cult status, it's definitely a film you can enjoy if you think what De Palma was doing was deliberate.

 

All this talk makes me want to revisit these films.

[Greycellgreen]

Probably, it didn't have much of a reputation as far as I recall, maybe featuring in American Psycho helped its cult status, it's definitely a film you can enjoy if you think what De Palma was doing was deliberate.

 

All this talk makes me want to revisit these films.

I never used to think De Palma was being deliberately subversive, but starting with Dressed To Kill he made four really sleazy nasty films on the bounce. I might be trying to justify enjoying some real trash ( I’m a huge Italian horror fan but I don’t try and justify that) but I’m starting to think he knew what he was doing.

[scudger99]

Man Bites Dog.  Mad French fuckers.  I got the t-shirt, it shocks some sensitive people.

 

 

[thegreatelephant]

Fabulous Baker Boys

The Sure Thing

Clockwise

Repo Man

Babylon

Croupier