- 20 hours ago
You won't regret giving these movies a chance.
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00:00Making a movie is challenging and requires a lot of determination.
00:04Pre-production, principal photography and post-production all present their own unique challenges.
00:09It's practically a miracle when a film is completed because of how many people and moving pieces are involved.
00:15The biggest challenge, however, comes after a feature film has been completed.
00:19It needs to find an audience.
00:21Many of the flicks that don't appeal to the masses simply don't have much to offer fans of cinema,
00:25but a small number of them are brilliant and tragically miss their chance at reaching people.
00:30So with that in mind then, I'm Ellie with WhatCulture here with 10 films you didn't watch, but should.
00:36Number 10, Florence Foster Jenkins.
00:39Florence Foster Jenkins tells the story of a woman who has long-loved music.
00:43It means everything to her. Unfortunately, she possesses very little musical ability.
00:49However, she has no clue how talentless she is because everyone that's close to her says she's marvelous.
00:54Over time, Florence develops a working relationship with a young pianist who has difficulty dealing with her terrible voice,
01:01but they become friends anyway.
01:03Florence decides to share her work with more people, but when she performs for a wider audience, she is poorly received.
01:09The people closest to Florence do their best to protect her and encourage her, but the truth is still painful.
01:15The film is admittedly quite predictable, but the emotional journey it takes viewers on is undeniably worth it.
01:21Meryl Streep has a remarkable ability to elevate films that are otherwise forgettable.
01:26Her performance as Florence adds so much heart and passion to the movie and makes it one to remember.
01:31Beyond that, there are plenty of heartwarming moments that are guaranteed to make people smile.
01:36Additionally, some scenes might cause waterworks because of the disappointment Florence faces.
01:41All in all, it's a very human story that remains engaging throughout and is sure to make an emotional impact on those who watch.
01:48Number 9. The Way Back
01:51Inspired by true events, The Way Back follows the struggles of a small group of prisoners being held by Soviet forces during World War II.
01:58The film stars Jim Sturgis, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell, all of whom give remarkable performances.
02:05The human will to survive is incredibly strong and the characters they play clearly demonstrate that fact.
02:10Early on in the film, the prisoners decide to escape the camp they are being held in and find a place of freedom.
02:16Things don't go quite according to plan and their journey is full of unforeseen perils.
02:20The struggles of this small group of people is inspirational and motivating, but it isn't without heartbreak.
02:26It's difficult to watch at certain points, but it's well worth it if you can commit to it.
02:30The beauty and terror these individuals face on their quest for freedom is not easily forgotten.
02:35The cinematography powerfully highlights the aloneness everyone battles as they travel through barren wastelands towards salvation.
02:42On top of that, Peter Weir's directing is incredible.
02:45He manages to get personal performances out of the whole cast and orchestrates many intense and gripping scenes.
02:52It makes for a powerful film and one of the best survival stories ever told.
02:57Number 8. The Aftermath
02:59The Aftermath is a fascinating film that centres on Lewis and Rachel Morgan, a British colonel and his wife, played by Jason Clarke and Keira Knightley,
03:08as they move into a home that was previously occupied by a German family.
03:12The story is set just after the end of the Second World War and Germans are being forced to allow Brits to move into their homes during the reconstruction of Hamburg.
03:20Lewis allows the home's previous owner, Stefan Lubert, and his daughter to continue to live in the house as long as they stay in the attic.
03:27Rachel is unhappy with this choice as she holds great resentment towards Germans.
03:32Time goes on and Rachel crosses paths with Stefan more frequently.
03:36In doing so, she discovers he isn't a heartless evil man like she first thought.
03:40Because of the strained relationship Lewis and Rachel have, she begins to develop feelings for Stefan.
03:45Life becomes difficult and messy from that point as drama increases and hearts are pulled in different directions.
03:51Thanks to compelling performances from all involved, the movie stirs up conflicting emotions and captivates viewers from start to finish.
03:59It's a challenging story that highlights just how difficult it is to live in the world and make sense of it.
04:04Number 7. Fences
04:06Stage plays don't automatically make great films when translated to the screen.
04:11It takes a skilled director to bring the story to life in a new art form.
04:15Denzel Washington met the challenge and delivered an excellent performance not only as the film's director but also as one of its leading actors.
04:23The story that's told in Fences is powerful, soulful and emotional.
04:27It requires dedicated and purposeful performances from all cast members in order to be truly compelling.
04:33Denzel got exactly that from his co-stars, especially Viola Davis, which comes as no surprise based on how her career has gone.
04:40Each scene is as formidable as the last, as Denzel's Troy and Viola's Rose try to teach their son valuable lessons while simultaneously battling their own demons.
04:49The entire family struggles through lots of pain and stress and it paints a vivid picture of how difficult life can be.
04:56The emotional turmoil the family goes through, Rose especially, is palpable thanks to how finely acted the drama is.
05:03This is a film that sticks in the mind for a long time, which is something not many films can boast about.
05:08Number 6. The Green Knight
05:11In his take on this Arthurian legend, director David Lowery artfully reimagines Gawain's tale.
05:17The version he presents is totally unique, full of wonder and suspense.
05:21Dev Patel's Gawain is different from what many people are used to from the hero.
05:26He's untested in battle, frightened and unsure of his place in the world.
05:30When the Green Knight, played by the excellent Ralph Ineson, offers a challenge to any of Arthur's knights, Gawain answers in the hopes of proving himself.
05:38This leads him on a dangerous quest to find the Green Chapel, where he encounters many different people on the road.
05:44Each interaction teaches him a lesson and pushes him to become more honourable.
05:48Gawain doesn't succeed every time though and occasionally he falls short of what's expected from a knight.
05:53The way the story is communicated is an absolute treat. The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful and the music is chilling.
06:01The soundscape has one of the most creative atmospheres in recent memory, thanks to the excellent sound design and mixing.
06:08Number 5. Boy Erased
06:10Gay conversion therapy is a dangerous and damaging thing. If there was ever any doubt about that, seeing it presented on film makes that point abundantly clear.
06:19Telling difficult stories like this one requires humility, respect and dedication from everyone involved.
06:25Lucas Hedges brilliantly plays Jared Amons and is supported by talented actors including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Joel Edgerton, who also wrote and directed the movie.
06:35Boy Erased is based on the true story of a young homosexual man who was forced by his father to join a conversion therapy programme.
06:43Jared's time there is full of horror as he and others are subject to various forms of abuse.
06:48Their treatment is entirely unhelpful and only serves to hurt them and make them feel alone.
06:54It's really depressing and disheartening to see but important to understand what so many young men and women have been unfairly put through.
07:01Although much of the film is bleak, there are moments that are touching and hopeful.
07:05The few characters in the film who have empathetic and understanding hearts serve as a great example of those watching.
07:11The film serves as a reminder for us to be kind to people that are different from us because it can make a world of difference for them.
07:18Number 4. First Reformed
07:20Despair is something people try to avoid but it inevitably presents itself from time to time.
07:26Paul Schrader's First Reformed takes a good look at how despair affects the human mind and spirit.
07:31The film centres on a pastor named Ernst Toller played by Ethan Hawke and his crisis of faith after discovering some troubling information from a person in his community.
07:40What he learns causes him to doubt his faith and let despair outweigh hope.
07:45It's a humbling and refreshingly honest portrayal of how a lot of people experience their spiritual lives.
07:51Schrader isn't afraid to wrestle with uncertainty or explore painful feelings.
07:55This makes the film so much easier to relate to and think deeply about.
07:59Most films that centre on faith spell answers out for the viewer in simple terms but that is not often true to life and people's experiences.
08:06The difficulty and messiness of First Reformed are what make it so compelling.
08:11Beyond the film's excellent story, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried both give remarkable performances
08:17and the cinematography beautifully conveys feelings of being trapped and lost
08:21thanks to its 4 by 3 aspect ratio and stationary framing with deep focus.
08:26Number 3. Lock
08:28This brilliant movie takes place almost entirely inside a single car driven by one man.
08:34Despite the simple setting, it maintains a firm grip on viewers as it pulls them into the drama and tension.
08:40The film begins with Ivan Locke, excellently played by Tom Hardy, getting in his car and leaving a construction site he is the foreman of.
08:47He's supposed to oversee the largest concrete pour of his career the next day,
08:51but he instead leaves Birmingham and travels to London to witness the birth of his child.
08:55The difficult truth is that this new child is the product of an affair.
08:59Ivan uses the time he has on the trip to call and explain himself to everyone this birth will affect.
09:04He makes phone calls to his family, construction team and the mother of his new child, all of whom are distressed for different reasons.
09:12Each call is more tense than the last, the drama and suspense climb and remain high all throughout the film
09:18thanks to absolutely stunning vocal performances by all the supporting members of the cast.
09:23Every aspect of this film is perfectly executed and makes for a totally unique cinematic experience.
09:29Number 2. Anthropoid
09:32Anthropoid follows the plot to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking German SS and the principal architect of the Final Solution.
09:41The movie is unbearably tense at moments and commands complete and undivided attention from viewers.
09:47Cillian Murphy delivers an outstanding performance as Josef Gabczyk and is accompanied by Jamie Dornan, who does an excellent job portraying Jan Kubisch.
09:55Josef and Jan are charged with the mission of bringing down Heydrich and the road that leaves them there is full of hardship,
10:01but they refuse to give in until their mission is complete.
10:04There are multiple scenes full of heart-pounding action that puts viewers on the edge of their seats.
10:10Anthropoid is a tremendous work of art all across the board though.
10:13The supporting cast is captivating, all of them giving stunning performances that help raise the stakes.
10:19The film editing always heightens the emotions and tension of each scene and even induces panic during a few specific moments.
10:26The cinematography and visual style are both beautiful and engaging, often making use of hand-held to put viewers right alongside to the characters.
10:34Number 1. The Hunter
10:36Willem Dafoe's entire career more than speaks for itself, so it goes without saying that he is incredible in this film as well.
10:43The Hunter has largely gone unnoticed by movie fans and that's a real shame because it's absolutely phenomenal.
10:49The movie centres on a man named Martin David, a mercenary who is sent to Tasmania by a military biotech company called Red Leaf.
10:58His mission is to track down and retrieve samples of a Tasmanian tiger so that Red Leaf can use its DNA for purposes that are not revealed to Martin.
11:06After gathering DNA, Martin's task is to eliminate all other Tasmanian tigers so rival corporations cannot compete with Red Leaf.
11:14Upon arriving in Tasmania and getting to work, Martin starts to make a few discoveries that are unsettling and he decides to break his contract with Red Leaf.
11:23This takes the film in a whole new direction full of mystery and intensity that continues to build as the film progresses.
11:29Beyond providing entertainment, The Hunter is also thought-provoking.
11:33Martin has to make some difficult decisions that are not always clear and it's these moments that further solidify the film's grip on the audience and make it a movie to remember.
11:43And that concludes our list, if you have other suggestions then do let us know in the comments below and while you're there don't forget to like and subscribe and tap that notification bell.
11:52Also head over to Twitter and follow us there at WhatCulture and I can be found across various social medias just by searching Ellie Littlechild.
11:59I've been Ellie with WhatCulture, I hope you have a magical day and I'll see you real soon.
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