Dan’s Movie Digest #100 – 100 Greatest Underdog Movies Part 2

Dan Owen presents

DAN’S MOVIE DIGEST #100:
THE 100 GREATEST UNDERDOG MOVIESP a r t 2 o f 4

How’s the list bearing up so far? A few memories jogged? Is the youthful nostalgia kickingin for the twenty-somethings? Or just complete disbelief that Wild Wild West made anybody’sTop 100 list? Well, we’re heading for the mid-ground now, so forget about the comparativedredge at the bottom of the cup…

The countdown continues: 74 – 50!

74. WARLOCK (1989)Dir: Steve Miner. Stars: Lori Singer, Julian Sands & Richard E. Grant

In 1691, a warlock is sentenced to death in Boston, but escapes into the future (our present),followed doggedly by the witch hunter who first caught him. In 1989, the warlock searched forthree parts of The Devil’s Bible to “un-create” the universe…

This is an enthralling adventure that spawned inferior sequels – but don’t those stillbornsput you off! Julian Sands is one of the unsung screen villains, and his malevolent pony-tailedmonster is a delight from beginning to end.

Singer is spunky and good fun, sharing nice chemistry with Richard E. Grant (in a rare actionrole, struggling with a Scottish accent!), while the intricacies of witchcraft lore are fabulous(finding the warlock with a “blood compass”, milk curdling when his is present, crippling himby driving nails into his footprints, etc). If you haven’t seen Warlock – watch it now, it’s a treat!

Watch it for: Julian Sands

73. WOLF (1994)Dir: Mike Nichols. Stars: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer & James Spader

Aging publisher Will Randall hits a wolf with his car one night, and is bitten by the beast.Soon after, Will finds himself with a renewed competitive streak at work, and possessed withheightened senses, which he uses to woo a beautiful woman – unaware that he’s graduallytransforming into a werewolf.

Wolf isn’t like a typical werewolf movie. This is a corporate drama with a romantic theme, whichonly really dallies with the werewolf angles until the finale. There are fun moments, particularlywhen Will urinates on a colleagues shoes at a urinal then claims he’s merely “marking territory”.If you’re expecting lots of bloodshed, this isn’t the movie for you – hence its failure at thebox-office. But it’s still a diverting original take on the werewolf legend…

Watch it for: Jack

72. CLUE (1985)Dir: John Lynn. Stars: Eileen Brennan & Tim Curry

The popular board game (known, correctly, as Cluedo here in the UK) is adapted into a movie,with Tim Curry as a hapless butler. Six people are invited to dinner at Hill House by a MrBoddy, who is soon murdered, leaving the guests to find the culprit!

Clue is a great madcap farce that should keep fans of the board game and Agatha Christie clichésvery happy. Curry is on fine form, and the multiple endings are a delight! There’s something veryappealing about murders, mansions and thunderstorms at night, isn’t there? Great fun for sofa sleuths!

Watch it for: Tim Curry

71. HUDSON HAWK (1991)Dir: Michael Lehmann. Stars: Bruce Willis, Andy McDowell & James Coburn

Eddie Hawkins (a.k.a Hudson Hawk) is released from a decade of incarceration, planning to spendhis life honestly. No chance for that when he’s blackmailed into stealing artwork by Leonardo da Vinci…

This is one of the best-known “bad” movies, and bound to be on anyone’s list of GUM – but it’sactually a good laugh – particularly for the first hour or so. This marked a Willis downturnpost-Die Hard, until Tarantino resuscitated his career with Pulp Fiction.

Watch it for: The first hour – at least

70. THE SHADOW (1994)Dir: Russell Mulcahy. Stars: Alec Baldwin & Penelope Ann Miller

Alec Baldwin plays the titular superhero, who faces up to his arch nemesis (and mentor) Shiwan Khan.Khan has plans to take over the world by holding a city ransom with an atomic bomb, so it’s up toThe Shadow to stop him!

A wonderful pulp superhero movie, based on (and quite rightly set in) the 1930’s. The Shadowpredates most other superheroes, and even inspired Batman – so it’s unfair his big-screen debutwas so ignored by the public. Alec Baldwin makes a good lead, and the various components ofShadow lore are fun (such as employing the people he’s helped.) Also interesting to notice thatthe movie’s pupil/mentor back-story for its hero and villain has been stolen for Batman Begins!

Watch it for: The “psychic camerawork”

69. THE PROPHECY (1995)Dir: Gregory Widen. Stars: Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz & Elias Koteas

Martin was a priest who turned his back on religion to become a cop, but he soon finds himselfembroiled in a battle between Heaven and Hell when he learns that the archangel Gabriel has started a war…

Movies that tap into religion are abundant in Hollywood, with The Book Of Revelation responsiblefor more straight-to-video horror thrillers than any other literature. The Prophecy has somedependable actors, particularly Walken in full-on psychotic mode, and some suitably grizzlymoments of adult horror hokum. A good night’s rental.

Watch it for: Christopher Walken

68. FREQUENCY (2000)Dir: Gregory Hoblit. Stars: Dennis Quaid & James Caviezel

A rare atmospheric phenomenon allows a New York City fire fighter to communicate with his son30 years in the future via short-wave radio. The son uses this opportunity to warn the fatherof his impending death in a warehouse fire…

Time travel is almost its own genre these days, but for every Back To The Future there’s a BlackKnight. Frequency sits comfortably between the two; it’s a high-concept thriller with some neatideas and plenty of memorable moments. Hoblit directs the proceedings with aplomb, while Quaidand Caviezel provide a strong emotional base.

Watch it for: The original use of time-travel

67. POLICE ACADEMY (1984)Dir: Hugh Wilson. Stars: Steve Guttenberg, G.W Bailey & Michael Winslow

A group of good-hearted but incompetent misfits enter the police academy, but the instructorsthere are not going to put up with their crazy pranks…

Yes, yes, mention Police Academy these days and you get plenty of eye-rolling groans, but despitethe fact the franchise was flogged to death, the original (les we forget) was an enjoyable collectionof pratfalls, gross-out gags and slapstick mayhem. The gay Blue Oyster Bar is a glaring stereotypethat has since dominated the global psyche, while Guttenberg is actually a likeable lead. Plus,even those staunchly opposed to the idea of Police Academy on any Top 100 list, have to admitthat the “blowjob” gag is 24-carat gold!

Watch it for: Yes, the “eating the meat” scene

66. JUDGE DREDD (1995)Dir. Danny Canon. Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Armando Assante & Diane Lane

In a dystopian future where the Earth is a wasteland, millions of people crows the pollutedstreets of Mega City One, governed by The Judges. Judge Dredd, the most feared lawman withinstant judiciary powers, is convicted for a crime he did not commit…

Based on the 2001 A.D comic-book’s most famous amoral creation, 1995’s Judge Dredd waseagerly awaited by fans, but disappointed nearly everyone. Stallone seemed a great choice,and he’s certainly not terrible in the role, but certain decisions by the filmmakers effectivelycastrated the balls Dredd needed to appeal to its core audience.

Rob Schneider as a comedy sidekick stands out as the biggest mistake, but the core reason forits failure is the way the anarchic British vision was blended with American sci-fi formula.That said, the storyline isn’t too bad, and the effects-work for Mega City One (well, in theopening credits) opened the doorway for The Fifth Element and George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels.

Watch it for: The flashes of brilliance

65. JAWS 2 (1978)Dir: Jeannot Szwarc. Stars: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary & Murray Hamilton

Four years after the Amity’s first encounter with a deadly Great White Shark, a spate ofmysterious boat accidents and disappearances alert Chief of Police Martin Brody that anothermarine killer is on the hunt…

Jaws is another franchise that had all the life squeezes out of it by part four, but the firstsequel isn’t that bad. Blessed with the presence of Roy Scheider, director Szwarc apes Spielberg’s”less is more” approach to the shark, culminating in a tense and satisfying conclusion. Ofcourse, the land-based sequences are interminably slow at times, and there’s no denying the plotis a retread, but watch Jaws 2 again and you’ll be amazed at how many “signature” moments here youthought were in Spielberg’s original masterpiece!

Watch it for: The shark sequences

64. THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (1990)Dir: Wes Craven. Stars: Ving Rhames & Brandon Quintin Adams

A young boy helps his sister’s boyfriend burgle the house of their tight-fisted landlord, unableto escape and discovering caged people “under the stairs”…

This is a diverting little shocker from Craven, filmed during his career nosedivepost-Nightmare On Elm Street, later to be resuscitated by 1996’s Scream. The PeopleUnder The Stairs is affectionately remembered as a tense and entertaining oddity withsome sinister goings-on and OTT acting from the house’s mad inhabitants. Imagine PanicRoom meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – with kids!

Watch it for: The style

63. A VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1995)Dir: Wes Craven. Stars: Eddie Murphy & Angela Bassett

Maximillian is the only survivor from a race of vampires that inhabited a Caribbean Island.To prevent his species’ extinction, he travels to New York to find a fabled half-vampire bride…

Still with Wes Craven, filmed just before Scream made his name a little less synonymous withFreddy Krueger, A Vampire In Brooklyn was a box-office flop for Eddie Murphy. Murphy was similarlyin the doldrums for much of the ’90s, until his Nutty Professor remake, but made a brave stabat a comeback with this diverting horror comedy.

This is essentially a vampire version of Murphy’s own Coming To America, with him even playingsome of the supporting cast! It’s not terribly funny, not very scary (beyond a few joltingmoments), but it’s much more alluring than you may think…

Watch it for: The “heart scene”

62. MYSTERY MEN (1999)Dir: Kinka Usher. Stars: Ben Stiller, Geoffrey Rush & Paul Reubens

A group of inept amateur superheroes try to save the day when a supervillian called CasanovaFrankenstein threatens to destroy their city…

Mystery Men had a moderately substantial budget, some good actors, and a brilliantlypost-modern premise, but died a death with audiences around the world. It’s never asfunny as it could have been, although there are some good sequences dotted around,and it’s far, far too long… but it’s also entertaining because when it works, itreveals some comedy gold. Also interesting to see how Pixar reworked the premise fortheir upcoming The Incredibles…

Watch it for: The Spleen

61. TOP SECRET! (1984)Dir: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker. Stars: Val Kilmer

The comedy trio behind Airplane returned to spoof Elvis Presley films and World War II spymovies in this cinema dud starring Val Kilmer in his first role!

Kilmer stars as Nick Rivers, a handsome American 50s-style singer, who performs in East Germany,falls in love with a beautiful woman, and becomes involved with the French Resistance.

These days the Zucker Abrahams Zucker (ZAZ) brand of comedy is dying on its arse (die ScaryMovie!), so Top Secret doesn’t look half-bad. Of course, compared to Airplane and The NakedGun, which it’s sandwiched between, it comes off very badly, but still contains some wonderfulsight gags (such as the classic magnifying glass…)

Watch it for: The occasionally inspired sight gags

60. MARS ATTACKS! (1996)Dir: Tim Burton. Stars: Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan & Rod Steiger

When Martians attack Earth, several groups of people must try to survive the slaughter: areporter and his girlfriend, a top scientist, the President’s family, a Kansas boy… and Tom Jones!

Tim Burton’s delirious daffy sci-fi extravaganza was blown away by the serious-minded spectacleof Independence Day, but revisiting one of Burton’s acknowledged “low points” sees thatMars Attacks, while an empty spectacle, is still a spectacle. The cast are high-calibre andhaving great fun, the effects are spot-on ’60s pulp in design, and the storyline iscompletely mad. It’s a silly, vapid piece of fluff – but intentionally so. Ack! Ack! Ack!

Watch it for: The Martians!

59. NO ESCAPE (1994)Dir: Martin Campbell. Stars: Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen & Stuart Wilson

A man is sent to a prison for assassinating a general officer, and transferred to anisland complex called Absolom, where the worst prisoners are let loose to fend forthemselves in a sub-culture of barbarism.

You know you’re in for a high-concept B-movie treat with Lance Henriksen in the cast,and No Escape is exactly that. Martin Campbell, who just a year later would resurrect theBond franchise with Goldeneye, crafts a compelling action movie for action junkies.

Watch it for: Ray Liotta

58. DUNE (1984)Dir: David Lynch. Stars: Kyle MacLachlan, Brad Dourif & Sting

The desert planet Arrakis. The year 10191. The entire universe depends on the spice Melangewhich exists only on this dry and desolate place. The natives of Arrakis await the arrivalof their Messiah who will lead them into a holy war against the evil Harkonnen Empire.

Frank Herbert’s sprawling epic novel was deemed “unfilmable”, and Lynch proves them right,but has a damn good stab regardless. At times, the ambition and design is staggering fora mid-’80s movie, but Lynch isn’t a great director of action sequences and the moviejust fails to translate to the screen. However, Dune is a very important movie failureand more memorable than the recent TV miniseries. Watching from 20 years on, Dune is acaptivatingly odd experience.

Watch it for: The spectacle

57. EQUILIBRIUM (2002)Dir: Kurt Wimmer. Stars: Christian Bale & Sean Bean

In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions. Books,art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling emotion is a crime punishable by death.Clerick John Preston is a top-ranking government agent responsible for destroying those whoresist the rules, but then he misses a dose of his emotion-hindering drug…

Indeed, Equilibrium is a hybrid of much better movies and ideas – most notably GeorgeOrwell’s 1984 and The Matrix – but it’s still a lot of fun. A form of martial art knownas “gun kata” was employed for the movie, giving it some level of originality, but whocares if it’s so obviously inspired by better works? Bale is an impressive lead, and theoverall movie is a pleasurable experience.

Watch it for: The martial arts

56. DRAGONSLAYER (1981)Dir: Matthew Robbins. Stars: Pete MacNicol

Long ago, a King made a pact with a dragon that if his people sacrificed virgins to thecreature it would leave his kingdom alone. Now, an old wizard and his young apprenticevolunteer to kill the dragon and attempt to save the next virgin in line – the King’s own daughter…

Quite simply this is one of the greatest movies to feature a dragon – ever. Yes, Dragonheart’sbeast is more impressive visually, but Dragonslayer’s didn’t fucking talk *and* had a personality!

Sorry about that. The atmosphere drips from this ’80s flick, eliciting memories of a pre-LordOf The Rings fantasy world where it was truly amazing to see a dragon realized so wellon screen. Fantasy gold.

Watch it for: The best ever screen dragon

55. MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (1992)Dir: John Carpenter. Stars: Chevy Chase & Darryl Hannah

After a freak accident, Nick Halloway is accidentally made invisible. He’s soon recruited bythe CIA as an undercover agent; a job that causes problems when he falls in love…

Most notable for the stunning special effects (predating Paul Verhoeven’s Hollow Man by adecade, too!) but it’s also a competent sci-fi entertainment with Chevy Chase giving alast gasp before the ’90s drowned his career and likewise Darryl Hannah until Mr Tarantinoresuscitated her (temporarily?) in Kill Bill. Carpenter has made some classic movies in histime, and some entertaining misfires, before his talent fell into a quagmire – so Memoirsdeserves to be re-assessed. It’s better than Ghosts Of Mars, anyway.

Watch it for: The special effects

54. THE HITCHER (1986)Dir: Robert Harmon. Stars: C. Thomas Howell, Rutger Hauer & Jennifer Jason Leigh

A young man transporting a car to another state is stalked by a cunning and relentless serialkiller who frames the driver for a string of murders…

Neat concept and low-budget required – the perfect B-movie in waiting. Rutger Hauer iseffortlessly sinister in this compelling action thriller with plenty of creepy moments and abrilliant premise that everyone watching can relate to. Bet you’ll think twice next timeyou see someone thumbing a lift…

Watch it for: Rutger Hauer

53. ENEMY MINE (1985)Dir: Wolfgang Petersen. Stars: Dennis Quaid

A soldier crash-lands on an alien world after sustaining battle damage, and encounters a fellowsurvivor from an alien species humans are at war against. Together they unite to survive in thehostile environment…

An early work from Wolfgang Petersen (Troy) which is a fantastic sci-fi drama often forgottenabout in the annals of science fiction, but deserving of a lot of praise. Quaid is marvellousand it’s always refreshing to see characters and plot placed higher in the pecking order thanvisual effects. A moving drama often plagiarised for sci-fi TV shows…

Watch it for: The story

52. THE 13th WARRIOR (1999)Dir: John McTiernan. Stars: Antonio Banderas & Omar Sharif

In 922 A.D, Arab courtier Ahmad Ibn Fadlan is sent to the barbaric north as an emissary,because he fell in love with the wrong woman. He soon finds himself a Viking peoples’last hope, when an Oracle elects him to become “the thirteenth warrior” and defeat an unstoppableenemy known as the Wendol…

Another director who fell out of favour in the 90’s, John McTiernan, turns in a decent actionadventure movie with the smouldering Banderas. The world wasn’t ready to revisit the Dark Ageswhen The 13th Warrior was released, but a few years later (post-Gladiator) and thinks havechanged. This is a good movie with plenty to recommend it.

Watch it for: The battle scenes

51. THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (1988)Dir: Terry Gilliam. Stars: John Neville, Oliver Reed, Eric Idle & Uma Thurman

This a fantastical tale of a 17th-Century aristocrat, Baron Munchausen, who attempts tosave a town from defeat by the Turks. Along the way, the Baron and his men are swallowedby a giant sea monster, visit the Moon, dance with Venus and escape from the Grim Reaper.But is all just a pack of lies?

A notorious flop for Gilliam, Baron Munchausen is a gloriously high-budget romp through anassortment of improbably adventures with a starry cast. It’s a little meandering, but it’scertainly high on imagination and visual flamboyance.

Watch it for: The visuals

50. THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT (1996)Dir: Renny Harlin. Stars: Geena Davis & Samuel L. Jackson

Samantha Caine is a suburban homemaker and a mother to Caitlin, her eight-year-old daughter. Oris she? After Caine hits her head one day, she begins to remember a previous life – as a lethalsecret agent! Unfortunately, Caine’s old adversaries are on her tail and desperate to eliminateher, so she hires a detective called Mitch to help her defeat them…

Maybe it was a case of titleitus? It certainly doesn’t sound like a high-octane action thrillerfrom the director of Die Hard 2, does it. Or maybe audiences just couldn’t accept Geena Davisas a deadly spy. Whatever the reason, time has forgotten The Long Kiss Goodnight without goodenough reason. There are some nicely staged action sequences here, and a decent storyline(pilfered for The Bourne Identity?), so I hope you’ll rediscover it.

Watch it for: The action sequences

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