10 Great Movies You May Not Have Seen

1.      Chinatown (1974)                                                           

 

A Los Angeles private detective is drawn into a sinister web of scandal, secrecy and sin after taking on a seemingly straightforward divorce case.

Set in pre-WW2 LA, this noir classic from 1974 is a master-class in how to pool a fascinating plot, an excellent script, luscious cinematography, a wonderful score and mesmerising performances to create a beautifully crafted, visually stunning film.

Starring:

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston

Director:

Roman Polanski

2.      The Green Mile (1999)

A retired death row guard recalls the extraordinary tale of a unique prisoner confined to his block in 1935, and the astounding events which took place there.

Excellent performances are par for the course in this slow-burning tale, though the script is the real star, providing the audience with laughs, smiles, gasps and tears. Based on a serial novel by the legendary Stephen King, “The Green Mile” is a real triumph, a low-key, underplayed masterpiece.

Starring:

Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, James Cromwell

Director:

Frank Darabont

3.      Jackie Brown (1997)

An underpaid flight attendant becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of wits between a gun-runner, an ex-con, a federal agent and a bail bondsman when she is caught smuggling gun money across the Mexican border to Los Angeles.

Gritty, witty, sleazy and streetwise, this slick crime film is an exquisite piece of filmmaking by Quentin Tarantino. Particularly enjoyable is the inspired collection of the ensemble cast and the sharp dialogue in several scenes.

Starring:

Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton

Director:

Quentin Tarantino

4.      The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1966)

Two warring conmen are forced together when they each learn half of the location of buried treasure, but must overcome a sinister bounty hunter who also knows of the gold. The actions of the three main characters escalate as they go head to head for the money, culminating in the iconic ‘Mexican standoff’ finale.

Sergio Leone’s classic Spaghetti Western delivers in all departments, with the assistance of Ennio Morricone’s instantly recognisable score.

Starring:

Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach

Director:

Sergio Leone

5.      Dirty Harry (1971)                      

 

A madman with a sniper rifle is murdering innocent civilians in San Francisco, and it is left up to the SFPD’s wild card, maverick homicide Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan, to stop him by any means necessary.

Clint Eastwood stars as one of cinema’s most iconic, and most imitated, characters in the first, and by far the best, “Dirty Harry” film. The work of director Don Siegel and composer Lalo Schifrin, combined with Eastwood’s dominant performance, make this an engaging and trend-setting cop thriller.

Starring:

Clint Eastwood

Director:

Don Siegel

6.      Se7en (1995)

A vicious serial killer who bases his crimes on the seven deadly sins is terrorising the populace of an unnamed rain-soaked city, and it’s up to detectives Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt to stop him.

Thought-provoking and unashamedly cynical, this is no feel-good movie, but it’s a classy, exciting and well-made one none the less. Memorable dialogue, a neo-noir feel, great acting and a fantastic twist turn this film from a gory thriller into a modern classic.

Starring:

Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt

Director:

David Fincher

7.      The Silence of the Lambs (1991)                        

 

A rookie FBI agent attempts to track down a serial killer skinning his female victims, asking the advice of former psychiatrist and incarcerated serial killer Dr Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter.

This isn’t actually the first on-screen appearance of Thomas Harris’ cultured killer, though it might as well have been, given Anthony Hopkins’ career-defining performance. The way Hopkins blends eloquence and charm with real menace is better showcased in the sequel, “Hannibal”, but this first film is the one which introduced the characters and originally raised the bar for the more sophisticated thriller. Jodie Foster and Ted Levine turn in believable and genuinely interesting performances which guide the film ably between Hopkins’ show-stealing scenes.

Starring:

Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Ted Levine

Director:

Jonathan Demme

8.      A Few Good Men (1990)                                   

An underachieving US Marine is killed in his barracks at Guantanamo Bay after continuously asking for a transfer. When an uptight officer and a cocky Navy lawyer are put on the case, they expose a cover-up rising to the very top of the military.

Rob Reiner’s superb courtroom drama ticks so many boxes it’s unbelievable, but the central performances from Tom Cruise and the evergreen Jack Nicholson provide some stellar scenes, most notably the finale. Can you handle the truth?

Starring:

Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson,

Director:

Rob Reiner

9.      The Shining (1980)

A troubled writer agrees to maintain an isolated ski resort through the harsh winter, in spite of warnings about the hotel’s sinister history. However, after moving his family into the deserted complex, it becomes clear that certain events do not want to remain in

the past for long.

Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall are perfect for their respective roles in Stanley Kubrick’s gripping adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling tale, as the destructive Jack Torrance and his meek wife Wendy. Nicholson’s character’s slow decline into madness is beautifully acted and is without doubt the lynchpin of this film. Underappreciated in its time, but now recognised as a brilliant piece of film making, “The Shining” originally set the standard for psychological horror films.

Starring:

Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

10. Psycho (1960)                                                           

After stealing money from her employer, a scheming secretary takes refuge at a small rural motel, completely unaware of the horror that awaits her.

 A capable but virtually unknown cast and an iconic score from Bernard Herrmann enliven this classic Hitchcock chiller which prompted two sequels, a prequel, a remake and a TV movie spin off. Plus, it would be wrong not to include a Hitchcock movie on a list of “Best ever movies”. “Psycho” is without doubt his best and most influential piece.

Starring:

Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Martin Balsam

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

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