Here at The Movie Bit we like to try and broaden your horizons from time to time, and bring you some movies that for one reason or an...
Here at The Movie Bit we like to try and broaden your horizons from time to time, and bring you some movies that for one reason or another have passed you by. Some old, some new, all of these movies are readily available at your local DVD store, or online through the likes of Netlix, so no more excuses as to why you haven’t seen the films on this list. The next time you find yourself wondering what to watch on your night in, just pick any from the list below and we promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
So, without further delay, here’s part 1 of our guide to the 50 best movies you haven’t seen...yet!
1 - Brick
Synopsis: Rian Johnson’s debut feature film sees a teenage loner force his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
Why you need to see it: Think Chinatown by way of 10 Things I Hate About You. Joseph Gordon Levitt’s adolescent private eye is fantastic as he navigates the seedy decadence that permeates his school, and the dialogue absolutely crackles throughout the movie. As impressive a film debut as I can ever recall seeing, it marked Rian Johnson as a future star.
2 - Paradise Now
Synopsis: Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Oscars, director Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now tells the tale of two childhood friends recruited for a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Why you need to see it: A powerful provocative drama that stays with you long after the credits roll. By humanising the two suicide bombers it shows how futile bloodshed is and what we as humans are doing to each other in the name of religion.
3 - The Cove
Synopsis: Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taiji in Japan, where they aim to expose a shocking secret being concealed by the locals there, that poses a significant threat to human health.
Why you need to see it: Simply put, it’s one of the most jarring and incredible documentaries you’ll ever see. Heartfelt, dramatic and packing an emotional wallop it’ll leave your senses reeling and change the way you feel about dolphins forever.
4 - Let The Right One In (The Original)
Synopsis: Oskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.
Why you need to see it: Forget the remake with Hit Girl, Tomas Alfredson’s masterpiece is just beautiful in style and substance. While horror in genre, this goes many levels deep and is far removed from your standard fright fest.
5 - Wet Hot American Summer
Synopsis: On the last day of the season in the hot summer of 1981, the counselors of Camp Firewood have 24 hours to clear up their unfinished business.
Why you need to see it: Featuring a host of actors before they made it big such as Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper and Amy Poehler, this zany and at times downright insane cult comedy perfectly parodies the sex comedies that seemed to litter the cinematic landscape of the eighties.
6 - Office Space
Synopsis: Three software company workers grow sick of their jobs and rebel against their greedy boss.
Why you need to see it: Mike Judge’s cult comedy perfectly satirises the everyday life of a working stiff and is full to the brim with memorable characters and quotable dialogue. It’s also the only film that springs to mind to have a major plot point inspired by Superman III.
7 - Tae Guk Gi (Brotherhood)
Synopsis: A drama about the fate of brothers forced to fight in the Korean War.
Why you need to see it: It knocks Saving Private Ryan on it’s ass. This is phenomenal film making with amazing set pieces and a story that will hammer you emotionally.One of the greatest war movies ever made.
8 - Near Dark
Synopsis: Cowboy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) meets gorgeous Mae (Jenny Wright) at a bar, and the two have an immediate attraction. But when Mae turns out to be a vampire and bites Caleb on the neck, their relationship gets complicated. Wracked with a craving for human blood, Caleb is forced to leave his family and ride with Mae and her gang of vampires, including the evil Severen (Bill Paxton). Along the way Caleb must decide between his new love of Mae and the love of his family.
Why you need to see it: Kathryn Bigelow’s directorial debut is one of the best vampire movies ever made. A western horror about love and family loyalty with terrifically creepy performances from Lance Henrikson and Bill Paxton. The scene in a bar where the vampires prey on the night’s patrons is a classic notable for showcasing Paxton’s unhinged psychopath. Chilling.
9 - Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Synopsis: A documentary on 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, his renowned Tokyo restaurant and his relationship with his son and eventual heir, Yoshikazu.
Why you need to see it: A superb documentary, masterfully shot and put together. It’s got a certain old school charm to it and offers a phenomenal behind the scenes look at this world famous restaurant.
10 - Say Anything
Synopsis: Underachiever Lloyd Doppler and college bound Diane Court fall for each other and attempt a relationship the summer before she is set to leave his life forever.
Why you need to see it: The directorial debut of Cameron Crowe, this is a funny, sweet and wonderfully written love story. The image of John Cusack holding a boombox over his head is one the most celebrated and iconic representations of true romance ever committed to film and to this day it remains one of the best date movies you’ll ever get to watch.
That’s it for part 1, be sure to check back tomorrow for the next part of our 50 best movies you’ve never seen!
