Hidden Gems at Your Local Videostore 2

“The Galloping Moose Theatre Series Returns”

By Dean Kish

The videostore these days constantly becomes flooded with direct-to-video titles starring actors we thought were dead or stopped making films. The box covers can be deceiving as they are always interesting to look at but the film inside isn't worthy of your time.

I took my time and found 20 more interesting and over-looked films. There is a reason why films like these end up being lost in videostores. One of the reasons is the layout of a videostore. You have a shelving unit that can have 30 or 40 movies on it and they are all in competition for your attention. You have to base your decision on the fancy and often ambiguous box covers. Can you imagine if a movie theatre was set-up this way?

Another is that the films released direct-to-video are often either recycled TV movies, US cable movies, movies made specially for video or independent movies that couldn't generate enough money for a theatrical release. The latter two are the ones people should try to avoid if they can.

The films on this list fit into one of the categories above and were able to enthrall and shine even with those constraints. So on with the list:

1. Bad Influence (1990) (Thriller): James Spader plays Michael Boll, a wimpy executive who has watched as life has pushed him aside. It all changes when Michael meets the enigmatic Alex (Rob Lowe) who shows him a part of life Michael has been missing. What is Alex all about and does Michael like what he has become?

This little film was a bench-mark for a lot of disenfranchised youth in the early 90s. This film left a mark like the classic “Less than Zero” did for the 80s. The film was hinged on incredible performances by Spader and Lowe. Also the direction by then unknown director Curtis Hanson (“8 Mile”) made the film stylish and enthralling. Looking back at it now there are a lot of signs of it being dated and trapped in the confines of the 90s but it’s the performances that people should acknowledge. (99 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

2. Below (2002) (Drama): After the Tiger Shark submarine, U.S.S. Manta mysteriously lost her captain, Lt. Richard Brice must pull his crew together and unravel an eerie mystery to get his crew home alive.

“Below” is one of those films that got lost in the shuffle of theatrical release. Headlined by sci-fi director David Twohy (Pitch Black), “Below” is one of those films that plays with your mind until the final frame. It is utterly amazing how involved you can get with this film. Twohy also uses a lot of interesting camera angles to accent the confinement of being in a sub. Twohy also has a lot of support from character actors Bruce Greenwood and Olivia Williams. “Below” is definitely a gem lost in the sea of video. (105 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

3. Beyond Suspicion (2000) (Drama): Also known as “Auggie Rose”, this film stars Jeff Goldblum as John Nolan, a bored insurance salesman who assumes the identity of dead con-man Auggie Rose when he unexpectedly dies in his arms. Nolan must now unravel dead Auggie’s life without his fractured girlfriend, Lucy (Anne Heche), finding out

“Beyond Suspicion” shocked me. It is one of those films that starts off really slow and really doesn’t impress till it makes your jaw drop. What made the film so involving was the relationship between Heche and Goldblum. This is a very awkwardly thrown together couple. The film loves to plant doubt in the viewer and that makes the characters very engrossing. It reminded me that no matter how bad the first act of a film is you may just have a jewel staring back by the third. (109 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

4. Castle in the Sky (1986) (Animated-Fantasy): Hayao Miyazaki’s “Castle in the Sky” chronicles the story of a young boy, Pazu (James Van Der Beek) and young girl Sheeta (Anna Paquin) who hold a mysterious crystal that could unlock the secrets of a deserted floating city. Standing in their way are pirates and some ruthless foreign secret agents.

In the vein of the Academy Award winning “Spirited Away”, “Castle in the Sky” perfectly blends the power of human emotion with that of an engrossing fantasy filled world. Miyazaki miraculously brings so many aspects into his films. From the music to the breathtaking landscapes there is so much to herald in this film. This is a film for all families or just for the kid in all of us. It is a jewel to be cherished. (124 mins) (4.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

5. The Crimson Rivers (France - 2000) (Crime-Thriller): Infamous and stoic French actor Jean Reno (“Leon the Professional”) stars as Pierre Niemans, a French detective is brought to a remote mountain college to investigate the grisly murder of a student. Niemans eventually has to team-up with a local hot-shot police officer, Max (Vincent Cassel) when their cases collide with shocking results.

Jean Reno is one of my favorite European actors and he does disappoint in this stylish and grisly investigation. Reno is perfect for the role and it is amazing how good he can be when given such incredible subject material. The relationship between Reno and Cassel is brilliant on film. There is so much to herald in this film. There hasn’t been a great crime-thriller probably since “Se7en”, Rivers comes close. (106 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

Extra note on this film: The DVD’s English track is a pretty close to perfect dub with Reno and Cassel doing their own voices. A sequel is to be released this year in France.

6. Dangerous Beauty (1998) (Historical Drama): In the 16th century, Veronica Franco (Catherine McCormack) falls totally in love with Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell). Standing in their way of total bliss is Venier’s rich family who are against their impending marriage. Veronica locks her love deep inside and is advised by her mother Paola (Jacqueline Bisset) to become the greatest courtesan Venice has ever seen. Veronica does her best to cope but even the luxurious life of a courtesan can’t keep her love bottled up. Naomi Watts, Fred Ward and Oliver Platt co-star.

To put it directly, “Dangerous Beauty” is not your every-day love story. You have the heroine of the story giving herself up to become a high-classed call-girl because she can’t have the one she loves. Then the film follows the woman as she continues to denounce her true feelings. What makes this film so involving is the struggle and immersion that not only the audience goes through but actress McCormack. The film’s historical visuals will make you drool as the costumes, sets and acting are all superb. You will believe you are a part of 16th century. (111 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

7. Fear (1996) (Thriller): In the late 1990s, director James Foley had a one-two punch with 1999’s “The Negotiator” and the little film “Fear”. The latter would spawn the careers of now Hollywood A-listers Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon. The film told the story of an innocent sheltered16-year old girl, Nicole (Witherspoon), who meets a suave boy named David (Wahlberg) at a rave. Before Nicole and her family realize, David becomes a monster and their whole world is turned upside-down.

“Fear” has become known as the teen-Fatal Attraction. The engrossing performance from newly turned rap-star Marky Mark made the film. Wahlberg delivered in spades with his shocking and jaw-dropping portrayal of David. His engrossing monster was perfectly complimented by Witherspoon’s delicate and soon fractured portrayal of Nicole. “Fear” was probably over-looked by a lot of people because it’s another “Fatal Attraction” film but like “Bad Influence” it is a hard film to ignore on the merits it presents. (97 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

8. Fright Night (1985) (Horror): Pimply-faced Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale) discovers that he has a vampire (Chris Sarandon) living next to him. No body believes him and Charlie decides he needs to recruit television personality and vampire hunter, Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowell) to stop the “lord of the undead”.

“Fright Night” is probably one of the best vampire films ever made, that sadly nobody saw. The film has such a simple premise and has such great execution. Sometimes that is all you need. But what makes the film so enjoyable seems to be its simplicity. What is amazing about the film is its perfect blending of horror and spoof. McDowell is brilliant as the washed-up TV personality. It is probably one of his best roles to date. (111 mins) (3 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

Extra note on this film: Why isn’t the sequel, “Fright Night II” on DVD yet? In some ways the sequel outdid the original and would be welcomed to any DVD collector’s collection.

9. The Gathering Storm (2002) (Historical Drama): An intimate look at the marriage of Winston and Clementine Churchill (Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave) during the events leading up to the dawn of World War 2.

“The Gathering Storm” is another HBO gem. Finney’s courageous performance as the emerging leader would have won him an Oscar if this wasn’t an HBO film. The celebration of the legendary leader is seen here in spades. But even if this is a tribute to the man we still see how very human he was. This is where the magic is born. Redgrave compliments Finney with a more subdued performance but you can feel the patience and room-filled love housed in each of these historical figures. You can’t miss this film. (95 mins) (4.5 out of 5)

10. Greenfingers (2000) (Comedy): Colin Briggs (Clive Owen) has a green-thumb but the only problem is that he is a prison inmate. With his talents, Colin is surprisingly recognized by Martha Stewart clone Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren). Gardening becomes part of Colin and his fellow inmate’s rehabilitation and eventually sends Colin to enter a national gardening competition. This film is based on a true story.

“Greenfingers” doesn’t apologize for what it is. It is a light-hearted comedy with some razor-sharp wit tossed in. Like “Waking Ned Devine” and “Saving Grace” before it, “Greenfingers” is predictable entertainment but is also sweet and enduring with an adult twist. If you haven’t heard the name Clive Owen or seen the movie “Croupier” then watch this film. Owen is a star on the rise and he is going to be big. “Greenfingers” is a delightful little Euro-comedy. (91 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

11. The Guilty (2000) (Crime - Thriller): Bill Pullman stars as Callum Crane, a man who finds himself on the way to a federal bench position. The very week of the appointment Crane is accused of assaulting his assistant (Gabrielle Anwar). Crane’s life is ruined much to the dismay of Crane’s wife (Joanne Whalley). Crane becomes desperate and hires a young ex-con (Devon Sawa) to solve his problem by killing his assistant. Unbeknownst to Crane, the ex-con harbors another secret that could bring down Crane himself.

“The Guilty” is probably one of the best non-grisly crime thrillers I have seen in a long time. The film has so many twists, turns, shocks and pitfalls that it made me gasp. Pullman is brilliant as the morally distraught Crane. Sawa, Anwar and Whalley compliment him very well with every scene. This could be Bill Pullman’s best role to date. Pullman made another court-room-crime thriller back in 1996 called “Mistrial” which was your typical cable movie fare but his second turn in the genre is pure magic. (112 mins) (4.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

12. Harrison’s Flowers (2000) (Drama): Andie MacDowell stars as Sarah Lloyd, a devoted wife who must journey into war-torn Yugoslavia and find her missing photo-journalist husband, Harrison Lloyd (David Strathairn). Helping her on her quest are fellow journalists, Kyle (Adrien Brody) and Chris (Gerard Butler).

“Harrison’s Flowers” is as powerful and majestic as it sounds. I am a great admirer of feature films about war correspondents. This is the first of two I have added to this list. I was awe-struck to see how much Andie MacDowell has grown as an actress. She is purely riveting. This is a very long way from her film debut in “Greystoke” where she was dubbed over by Glenn Close. I am also a strong supporter of Strathairn. He is one of the most under-used and under-rated working in Hollywood today. If you want to see another great Strathairn performance, watch “Limbo”. I also really enjoyed Brody and Butler in this film. It is such a shame that more people didn’t see this amazing gem. (130 mins) (4.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

13. In a Savage Land (Australia - 1999) (Drama): Martin Donovan and Maya Stange star as a married anthropologist-couple who journey to Papua New Guinea for field research in pre-World War II. The couple’s ideal working conditions become frustrating when a culture clash happens in the world around them and in their inevitably dissolving marriage. Rufus Sewell (“Dark City”) co-stars.

I found this film by utter accident. But the powerful performance of Maya

Stange and the film’s whole concept left me engrossed. The film stars off like throwing a rock into a pond. The rock is the couple’s marriage when they land in New Guinea. As the film meticulously moves forward we watch not only the marriage splinter but the War comes calling. In every aspect this film is Stange’s and she is utterly brilliant as this strong woman who has to defy the odds to finish her dissertation. It’s been a long time since I have seen a woman written this strong and engaging. It is a brilliant performance. (115 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

14. The Infiltrator (1995-TV) (Drama): Yaron Svoray (Oliver Platt) is a Jewish freelance reporter who goes to Germany to write an article about neo-Nazism. In a slight twist of fate, Yaron finds himself able to become a part of the neo-Nazi movement after he is arrested with a group of skinheads following a rally. The film is based on the book, “In Hitler’s Shadow” written by the real Svoray.

This little seen HBO cable movie is a gem and probably the best I can recollect on the subject of neo-Nazism. The film delivers a powerful message as Platt gives one of the best performances of his career. Even if Platt doesn’t probably fit the role it is the story and his performance that makes up for a controversial casting. What makes this movie so incredible is the way it allows an audience to see how hate and pure evil can affect even the most pure of men like Svoray. It is shocking, brilliant and very hard to forget. (92 mins) (3 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

15. Last Days of Disco (1998) (Dramedy): During the twilight of disco, a group of friends celebrate each other, reflect on their lives, strike out plans for the future and fall in love. As they grow over the course of one night, they wonder if disco is truly dead.

Director Whit Stillman brilliant screenplay that is “Last Days of Disco” is the third film in his analysis of emerging Generation X. His previous films “Barcelona” and Metropolitan” are brilliant in their own right but “Disco” remains Stillman’s crowning achievement. The dialogue, striking presence of his leads Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale and the uproarious wit of Chris Eigeman make this film a very worthy gem. (113 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

Extra note on this film: Why hasn’t Stillman made a movie in the past five years? He is utterly brilliant and I so want more of his genius on celluloid.

16. Live From Baghdad (2003-TV) (Drama): This directly released to HBO film stars Michael Keaton and Helena Bonaham Carter as journalists who find themselves deep within Baghdad during the break of the Gulf War.

There have been plenty of "journalists-on-the-frontlines" movies. One of the best of those is hands down "The Killing Fields" but "Live From Baghdad" is definitely in the same league as "Fields". The performance of Michael Keaton is probably the best of his career and the film just builds off his charisma and magic. Probably the most interesting aspect of the film is the historical information revealed and how close that hits home in a Post-War Iraq. (110 mins) (4.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

17. Murder 101 (1991-TV) (Mystery): Pierce Brosnan stars as Charles Lattimore, an author and lecturer of the mystery novel. Lattimore begins the new school year at the same institution where his ex-wife (Dey Young) teaches. Lattimore’s life is turned upside down when a student of his is found dead and he becomes the prime suspect.

“Murder 101” is surprisingly a solid and involving mystery for a television film. It is probably the best television film Brosnan ever made. The twists and turns are frequent and Brosnan is stoic as he always was before Bond finally lassoed him. I am a strong fan of the pre-Bond Brosnan. What I liked is that the film starts off with a sort of “Dead Poet’s Society” styled movie then begins to fracture and evolve into a mystery with the death of a student. It is very solid and worth a look for mystery buffs. (100 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

18. Point of Origin (2002-TV) (Crime-Drama): In this fact-based film, arsonist investigator John Orr (Ray Liotta) is forced to hunt down a serial arsonist on a fire-spree in 1980s Los Angeles. This will be the hardest case of Orr’s career.

Shortly after Liotta struck gold with his performance in “Narc”, Liotta took on the role of John Orr. The fireworks he delivered in “Narc” are amplified with his portrayal of Orr. This is Liotta at his finest. This film is yet another great mystery with oodles of twists and turns. What is probably the most surprising about it is the film’s rookie director, cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel. With every carefully placed shot you can really see there is a cinematographer directing the film. Sigel uses a lot of interesting and aspiring camera movements, editing and effects to make this drama addictive. This is probably the best movie of its kind since “Backdraft”. The fire in this film is more alive than ever before. (89 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

19. Restoration (1995) (Historical Drama): Robert Downey Jr. stars as Robert Merivel, an aspiring doctor who finds himself in the service of King Charles II (Sam Neill) after he saves the life of a friend close to the King. Merivel joins the King's court and lives the luxurious life. A twist in Merivel’s life occurs when he is ordered to marry his King's mistress (Polly Walker). The situation becomes worse when Merivel finds himself falling in love with his new wife. How will this controversial turn of events affect the young doctor and his status with the king?

“Restoration” is a brilliant look at England when she was in the grips of the Black Death. Downey and Neill are stalwart in their performances as the films main characters. The cinematography and sets of this film are breathless as we do become enveloped in the noble world. We can see Merivel’s allure to it. There is so much to cherish when Downey is at his finest. “Restoration” was lost in the shuffle but should still go down as a great film for both history buffs and Downey himself. (117 mins) (4 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

20. The Thirteenth Floor (1999) (Sci-Fi Thriller): Computer genius Hannon Fuller (Armin Mueller-Stahl) has made the discovery of his career. While on his way to tell his friend and colleague Douglas Hall (Craig Bierko), Fuller is murdered. Douglas becomes the prime suspect and must piece together the legacy of his dead friend or find himself doomed. What he discovers is shocking and a twist most of us won’t see coming.

In the wake of 1999s “The Matrix”, “The Thirteenth Floor” got lost. While others were learning about Neo and his cyber-buddies a select few found “13th Floor” in a multiplex. It is a shame since “13th Floor” is a great little sci-fi movie that has found a lot of cult success on DVD. The film itself is a hodge-podge of the “Twilight Zone”, “Outer Limits” and film noir with a computer edge. I really enjoyed Bierko as a leading man and it is too bad we haven’t seen more of him in the spotlight. I have also spoken highly of co-star Gretchen Mol (“Rounders”) and she is also quite intriguing here as well. This film is finely crafted and the ending is a great one. (100 mins) (3.5 out of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.

Just in conclusion to my second Hidden Gems, two of my favorite guilty pleasure films are finally coming to DVD. “Young Sherlock Holmes” (Dec 2) and “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins” (Out now!) are some long forgotten films that a lot of people probably don’t remember. I have always had a soft spot for these two films when I was a teenager. I originally saw “Young Sherlock Holmes” under it’s international title “Pyramid of Fear”. If you are due for a guilty pleasure check out these titles, I know I will be.

Cheers, the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish