14 Underrated Movies of 2007

It's only October, but 2007 is already full of tons of great or really good movies. It's pretty amazing, because I've gone years where I haven't seen a truly great movie until the final weeks of December and struggled to piece together a top ten list where the bottom three aren't on there simply for the sake of filling out the top ten.

2007, however, has had plenty of great films, some of which were complete surprises (28 Weeks Later), some were ones you were hoping to be good but weren't expecting them to be (Transformers) and others ones that received great critical reaction but not many box office dollars (Michael Clayton comes to mind). And so this list below takes a look at the movies released thus far that have failed to reach their box office potential for whatever reason...

Zodiac
It's no real surprise that this serial killer movie didn't make a ton of money as it is nearly three hours long and it's no action thriller along the vein of Seven, but Zodiac is a near masterpiece in its presentation of the long and arduous investigation that went into finding the Zodiac killer, a real person. Pulling off a movie like this is difficult, but David Fincher seemed to be on automatic as pieced together the complicated storyline.

28 Weeks Later
Yeah, it's a zombie movie. But it's a zombie movie that takes what was accomplished in the first film and makes things scarier and more exciting. This is definitely one of the best horror sequels ever, yet didn't perform too well in theaters and even got slammed by quite a few critics as being unoriginal. Seriously, I've read many reviews, some from professional critics and some from bloggers, that have mocked this movie, but I don't know what the hell they were watching. I consider myself to have pretty good taste in film, and 28 Weeks Later was certainly a pleasant surprise.

Gone Baby Gone
The full strength of this movie is yet to be seen, but it already appears to be skirting under the radar. The directorial debut of Ben Affleck, the movie stars his brother Casey as a private detective looking for a kidnapped girl. The film fires on all cylinders and is a dramatic yet exciting detective flick with heart.

The Kingdom
Sure, the script isn't all that great and overall the movie could have been more, but The Kingdom is an exciting, well-paced action thriller that was seemingly made to blow away the competition. Surprisingly, this one flopped massively, and I'm still scratching my head as to why.

The Last Mimzy
It's a kid's movie, but a very good kid's movie at that. In a year where Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a bit disappointing, The Last Mimzy is a refreshing and unique adventure tale about a brother and sister who discover a toy that give them special powers. However, what is the true purpose of the alien toy? This one probably flopped because it's a more serious kid's movie, and the title sucks. Highly recommended, even to adults.

Michael Clayton
Some people predicted this would top the box office when it hit theaters, but of course a slow-moving legal thriller wouldn't do that. Still, the movie has shown disappointing returns even though it is one of the best reviewed movies of the year and features some of the best performances of the year, by Tom Wilkinson, George Clooney and Tilda Swinton most notably. This movie isn't for everyone, but those who are patient while find payoff in the film's climax.

Seraphim Falls
This Liam Neeson/Pierce Brosnan movie was never even released wide, but it is a non-stop action thrill ride set in the old west. With a simple story of one man trying to hunt down another man through snowy mountains and the desert, Seraphim Falls offers very little dialogue but haunting performances from the men involved nonetheless. More importantly, it is exciting from start to finish and features some great visuals.

Ratatouille
The Pixar movie still made a good amount of money at theaters this summer, but compared to other Pixar films, it was a box office disappointment. Some blamed it on the fact that the title is hard to pronounce or that it stars a rat, but I don't really know. All I know is that this film features absolutely stunning visuals, an entertaining storyline and witty screenplay. It is a pure treat, and one of the few animated films that I could see competing against live action movies as "best movie of the year". It isn't THAT good, but I hope you get my point.

Rescue Dawn
Christian Bale's movie about a man who crashes in Vietnam and forced to live in a prison camp in the middle of the jungle looked cheesy at first, but it is actually one of the finest made pictures of the year. Featuring great acting, beautiful scenery and exciting, fact-based story, Rescue Dawn is certainly one of the hidden gems of 2007.

Sunshine
This film about the death of the sun and human's last attempt to save the species is more pure sci-fi than most films we see these days, but it's a shame it wasn't marketed to general audiences more effectively. Featuring dazzling special effects, good performances and an exciting, chilling story, the movie could easily appeal to both sci-fi buffs and regular moviegoers alike. I blame the studio for not positioning this sci-fi classic better.

The Lookout
I can't remember how this one did at theaters, but regardless it probably didn't get the attention it deserved. Featuring a great performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a memorable story about a young man trying to overcome a disability, and a bank robbery, the movie is exciting, dramatic and "twisty" all at the same time. Those who like small-town crime thrillers should certainly check this out. It may not be Fargo, but it's still really good.

Vacancy
The last minute or two kind of suck, but Vacancy, starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale, is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a bitter couple who get trapped in the hotel from Hell. There isn't a moment that passes when the tension eases up, and that's all that really needs to be said.

Grindhouse
Amazingly, the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double feature flopped at theaters, forcing The Weinstein Company to split the directors' two movies, Death Proof and Planet Terror, into two movies in Europe, and DVD. Had they released this around Halloween we might have seen better results, as while neither film are absolutely amazing, both are certainly better-than-average horror movies, if you can even call them that.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Casey Affleck hits this list for the second time, as he plays the second title character for this slow-moving western drama. He turns in an award-winning performance, as does Brad Pitt, who plays the famous outlaw. As with Michael Clayton, this movie isn't for everyone, but it has certainly gone under the radar without much box office impact.

The year is still young. I expect more quality films to make this list as we wind down to New Years...

26 movies to watch (or not watch) in September

September is a surprisingly full month for movies, despite kids returning to school, summer still lingering around and its reputation for being a dump month. But never fear, because Erik the Movie Review Guy is here to tell you exactly what to watch this September. Stray from this list and I may hunt you down (and subsequently throw a pillow at you), so be warned.

(click on the title to see release dates, cast details and more)

1. Eastern Promises
   
   The latest film from David Cronenberg, the director of the awesome A History of Violence, Eastern Promises pulls Viggo Mortensen out of hiding to co-star with Naomi Watts in this drama-thriller about a woman who digs a little too deep into the Russian mafia. With all of the ingredients prepared and a kick-ass trailer to boot, this one looks like a repeat of the success of Violence. I can't wait.


2. 3:10 to Yuma
   
   This western flick stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale as two men on different sides of the law. Gritty and definitely not like the westerns your parents grew up with, 3:10 to Yuma is about a vicious robber (Crowe) who is captured by the law (Bale) and then transported to another town for execution. Along the way, Bale's character runs into his defiant son, and Crowe's men show up to rescue their fearless leader. Based on the trailer, we're looking at some great drama by two excellent actors and some intense action sequences to boot. If this one isn't good, I will be highly disappointed.


3. The Kingdom
   
   I've been anticipated this action-thriller set in Saudi Arabia for quite some time. While the push from its original release date in the spring to September is a little unsettling, this Jamie Foxx/Jennifer Garner movie looks to have plenty of intrigue and action, and has the budget to back everything up. It could end up being more of a drama than the previews let on, which might turn off some viewers, but I'm still looking forward to a quality action movie set in the Middle East.


4. The Brave One
   
   Jodie Foster doesn't do a lot of movies, but she's back and The Brave One certainly looks to be one of her darker films. Following late August's Death Sentence, this thriller will be the second revenge flick in less than a month, but the previews have been stellar for both. It doesn't look like there will be much comedy in this one, as Foster becomes a real-life vigilante who kills criminals whenever she feels like it. These revenge movies can often end up being not so good, but when done right, boy do they kick ass.


5. Lust, Caution
   
   The latest film from Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), this Chinese drama-thriller is about a woman who seduces a man (Tony Leung) with the eventual intent to kill him. Presumably, the movie is in Chinese, so the trailer for the film features no dialogue but instead a moving and powerful soundtrack and lots of brief shots of the progression of the story. Lee has shown a knack for quality when his main character is not a green comic book character, and this one has all the makings of an early Oscar contender.


6. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
   
   This Brad Pitt film has been pushed back over a year, which does not bode well for its chances at being good, but that aside, everything I've seen thus far has me wetting my pants. The teaser trailer is short and to the point, and makes my hair tingle every time I watch it. And how can you beat that title? Compared to 3:10 to Yuma, the other western of the month, I don't expect it to be as good, but it definitely has the marketing intrigue going for it.


7. Across the Universe
   
   This Julie Taymor movie looks like a combination of Moulin Rouge, Yellow Submarine, Platoon and perhaps Forrest Gump (only not funny), as it takes a look at a love story set against the turbulent 1960's and the Vietnam War. Taymor, never known to do "normal" movies, has apparently added a musical element to the film, so who knows what the final product is actually going to look like. Either way, the film stars Evan Rachel Wood, who I like for multiple reasons, not all of them innocent, and certainly seems to have a grasp on its subject matter. It's just a question on whether Taymor manages to piece everything together.


8. Fierce People
   
   Every year a couple of these movies come along, about some young man getting thrust into a strange setting and growing up really quickly as a result. Not unlike Almost Famous, Fierce People looks to have the intrigue of a bug-on-the-wall perspective on the upper class, as one young guy gets lucky and lands a room in a mansion owned by Donald Sutherland, who seems to be screwing his mom, played by Diane Lane. He then runs into an elite brother and sister, the brother being the Human Torch (Chris Evans) and the daughter being the ever-so-attractive-and-apparently-sort-of-crazy Kristen Stewart. Fierce People looks like a dramatic blast, or like a serious version of Mean Girls.


9. Run, Fatboy, Run
   
   Certainly not an Oscar contender, Run, Fatboy, Run is on this list for one simple reason: Simon Pegg. Pegg, the star of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is gold right now, and this movie, with its hilarious title, looks pretty damn funny, even if the trailer just shows Pegg getting hurt and running around in his nasty underwear. It might not be rocket science, but the previews cater perfectly to Pegg's audience.


10. Good Luck Chuck
    
    This comedy could easily end up being bad, especially considering the fact that neither Jessica Alba or Dane Cook have much of a record for choosing quality comedies, but, then again, the movie stars Jessica Alba and Dane Cook. Alba looks about as good as she has ever looked, which is enough to draw me to theaters along with millions of other desperate men; I'll leave the women to comment on Cook. The movie is about a guy who women sleep with because there is a rumor that after they sleep with him, they will find the love of their lives. This works out well for Chuck until he meets the girl of his dreams - but if he sleeps with her, will she fall in love with someone else? The concept is funny and... it stars Jessica Alba.


11. The Darjeeling Limited
    
    The latest Wes Anderson film doesn't look as funny as his previous efforts, but the more I watch the trailer the more I want to see it. About three brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman) who ride a really weird train around India, The Darjeeling Limited looks like it has all the odd ball things one has come to expect from Anderson. My highlight is a scene where the train gets lost, and Schwartzman points out that trains can't get lost because they're on rails.


12. In the Valley of Elah
    
    Tommy Lee Jones does what he does best in In the Valley of Elah, by playing a man investigating a crime. He has worked the role to perfection and then some, and even though he's not playing an official investigator here, he seems made for the role of a retired Army man looking into the disappearance of his soldier son. A military cover-up ensues. While the ending of the trailer may suggest this is more of a character drama than a suspense film, the movie looks pretty fast-paced and intriguing. Also note how many times Charlize Theron knocks papers off of desks in the trailer.


13. The Savages
    
    Starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages looks to be a promising drama-comedy about a brother and sister trying to reconcile after years of fighting. The movie promises lots of fighting between the two, which should be entertaining, but overall looks pretty good. This film probably isn't Oscar caliber, but if done right could get some votes for the talented actors involved.


14. Resident Evil: Extinction
    
    The two previous Resident Evil movies haven't been great, but they haven't been terrible, either. Probably one of the most successful video game adaptations, the movies have been restrained by unnecessary video game elements (flashy action sequences and over-the-top stunts), but you can see signs that it wants to break the mold. Extinction looks to be set sometime later in the wasteland that was once Las Vegas, and has a Mad Max aura about it. That's not a bad thing, as it gives the movie a fresh look without completely departing from formula. Extinction probably won't be great, but it could be a fun ride.


15. Into the Wild
    
    This Sean Penn-directed movie doesn't look amazingly exciting, but it could still end up being quite good if done right. About a young man who leaves everything he has to go live in the wild (though he eventually meets a girl who is thankfully not an animal), Into the Wild will have lots of beautiful scenery and hopefully some good acting from rising stars Emile Hirsch and Kristen Stewart. I'm not a huge fan of these self-exploration flicks, but Into the Wild still looks pretty good (I'm getting quite sick of saying "looks pretty good" but I can't think of any better way to describe most of these movies).


16. The Hunting Party
    
    About a couple of overly ambitious journalists in the middle of a war zone, The Hunting Party looks like it will be one of this year's first mainstream films to address unrest in another part of the world. Based on a true story of what I can't remember, the film stars Richard Gere, Terrence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg as three reporters who attempt to track down an elusive fugitive terrorist for an interview, but, as one might imagine, end up stepping on a hornet's next in the process. Political intrigue, action and government conspiracy ensue.


17. Trade
    
    I thought this movie had potential... when it was supposed to be released in 2006. Now that it's been pushed back almost a year to a month that is not known for Oscar-worthy films, I have to question how much of a disaster Trade is. Still, this look into the black market trade of humans is intriguing, so I'll give it a chance, but my guess is that it isn't going to be all that good.


18. December Boys
    
    Harry Potter returns, but this time in a drama about four boys who are looking to be adopted. This movie marks the first semi-big film for Daniel Radcliffe that does not include magic wands, and that alone should draw people to theaters. The movie looks halfway decent, though it's certainly a story that has been done before in some form or another. Still, it's a good choice for Radcliffe who would be smart to stay away from mainstream films as much as he can to avoid the inevitable typecasting he is going to receive.


19. Feast of Love
    
    This quirky romantic comedy-drama starring Greg Kinnear, Morgan Freeman and a slew of others (don't worry, Kinnear and Freeman are not love interests of one another) looks like it has promise, though the trailer really isn't funny enough to have me heading to theaters. More than likely, Feast of Love will be forgotten before it reaches DVD, but good reviews could save this one.


20. Mr. Woodcock
    
    Seann William Scott stars as a young man who was tormented as a child by his coach, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). To his horror, he finds out that the evil man has moved in with his mother. The two roles are perfect for these two actors, and I look forward to them sparring for an hour and a half. More than likely, Mr. Woodcock is not going to be a great comedy, but it has enough funny scenes in the trailer to draw some audiences to theaters.


21. The Brothers Solomon
    
    Certainly the dumbest movie of September, The Brothers Solomon stars the pretty funny Will Arnett ("Arrested Development") and Will Forte as two sheltered men trying to get with women - unfortunately, they don't have a clue how to do it. The movie won't appeal to everyone, but the trailer has enough goofy gags to interest certain audiences. I'm on the fence, and more than likely will wait until DVD. After films such as Knocked Up and [maybe] Superbad, expectations for male-oriented comedies have gone through the roof. Will The Brothers Solomon fulfill those expectations? I highly doubt it.


22. The Signal
    
    It's hard to rate a film where the teaser only has a really annoying sound and a few creepy clips of random things, but The Signal is definitely trying to play up its similarities to The Ring. Hell, I received a DVD in the mail a month or two back - I thought it was a screener for the film, and instead it turned out to be nothing more than thirty seconds of the horrid "signal". The tagline, "Do you have the crazy?" is pretty cool, though, so I'm a bit intrigued.


23. Romance & Cigarettes
    
    This comedy-drama from John Turturro that stars James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker and more certainly has the talent, but the previews aren't all that amazing. The movie looks like a midlife crisis kind of flick, but while there are a few funny moments, there isn't enough here to have me heading towards theaters.


24. Shoot 'Em Up
    
    Normally, I would jump all over a Clive Owen-starring action movie that also features Paul Giamatti, but Shoot 'Em Up just doesn't look that good. There'll be plenty of action, but an action movie without a story to piece everything together is just stupid, and Shoot 'Em Up definitely seems to fit that mold. Who knows - maybe it'll be a blast - but I'd rather see Sin City 2 come around one of these days. Oh, and the title is God-awful.


25. The Jane Austen Book Club
    
    It's a chick flick about women who really like Jane Austen. As they discuss books, they also look at ways to get their relationships and lives on track. Might be okay, but I'm in the wrong demographic, and hence unless I get dragged unwillingly to theaters on a date, my eyes will never meet this movie.


26. Dragon Wars (D-Wars)
    
    Wow. How is this one actually making it to theaters? While the concept is fine (dragons attack the world), the visual effects just don't look up to snuff. This one should be heading direct to DVD, but for some reason Freestyle Releasing thinks they can make some money off of this piece of crap. Pump another $10 million into the visuals and you might have something here, but as is this looks like a destruction film that was made thirty years ago.