Add It To Your Queue: Vol. 4

So, you’ve seen the blockbusters, and all the Oscar contenders, but you still are looking for something to watch. Maybe something you missed. There are so many films that didn’t make a big splash, earn a lot of money or garner a lot of awards, but are still worthy of being seen. Clear your Netflix queue (or itunes or amazon or epix queue) and make some room for a few of these overlooked gems that may not have come your way before but are well worth your time. Missed Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3? Check them out here. And as always, more to come.

Volume 1  Volume 2.    Volume 3.  Volume 4.   Volume 5.  Volume 6: Comedies   Volume 7: Alternate Horror

straight to hellp.s.murder by deathhollywood knightshead on

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Straight to Hell (1986)

This Alex Cox spaghetti western was never even supposed to be made. Originally all the musicians were supposed to play a concert in Nicaragua but it was canceled. Instead, Alex Cox got all of them to come to Spain to shoot Straight to Hell.  The cast included Joe Strummer, Sy Richardson, Dick Rude, Courtney Love, the Pogues, the Circle Jerks, Elvis Costello, Jim Jarmusch, Grace Jones and Dennis Hopper among others.  The story involves  three hitmen (Strummer, Richardson and Rude) who botch a job and end up running to Mexico and shacking up in a small weirdo town and dealing with a gang addicted to coffee. It just gets weirder from there. Some people think the main characters were a major influence on Quentin Tarantino. Another fun fact, Alex Cox chose to direct “Straight to Hell” over “Three Amigos!” He made the right choice. Stream it on Amazon here.

 

 

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P.S. (2004)

Admissions officer Louise is divorced and about to turn 40 when she meets a college applicant named F. Scott (Topher Grace) with a resemblance to the boyfriend who died in high school. But this isn’t Chances Are remake, nor is it a light comedy. Louise begins to project her feelings (some good and some very bad) about her boyfriend onto to the unsuspecting F. Scott. Even worse, she hasn’t cut the ties with her ex-husband (Gabriel Byrnes), allowed her addict brother (Paul Rudd) to make amends and finish step 9, or worked through her mistrust of the high school friend (Marcia Gay Harden) who stole the boyfriend. The sophomore film by Dylan Kidd. the movie looks beautiful, filmed on location at the Columbia University campus, and featuring plenty of college indie rock. Linney’s monologue about what middle-age has in store earns the movie a look.

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Murder by Death (1976)

Think of the movie “Clue” but without the weird boardgame references, and with the acting and comedic talents of a true ensemble cast that includes greats like Peter Sellers as Inspector Sydney Wang (based on Charlie Chan), David Niven and Maggie Smith whose characters are based on Nick and Nora Charles, Peter Falk  who plays a Sam Spade-esque character named Sam Diamond, and Eileen Brennan long before her appearance in “Clue”.   Truman Capote also joins the cast as the groups murderous host for the weekend, with a staff consisting of a blind butler played by Alec Guiness and Nancy Walker as the deaf cook. It’s a murder mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, and written by Neil Simon.  The plot twists are endless, and the parody is over the top (in the best way possible).  The story follows five detectives and their associates who are invited to the home of a multi millionaire for a weekend of murder.   If you’ve never seen a lighthearted murder mystery parody comedy farce, this is the one to start with.   Order it on Amazon Instant here.

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Head On (2004)

Currently only available for streaming on Amazon Prime, “Head On(Gegen die Wand)” is a German/Turkish film from 2004 dealing with the relationship of two people who failed at suicide attempts. They meet in a psych ward and end up in a sham marriage so that the woman can get out from under the thumb of her strict religious parents. That’s just the beginning, “Head On” covers love, death, suicide, rape, drugs, punk rock, jealousy, violence, religion and marriage in a unflinching, realistic way. It’s a must see even if you don’t like subtitles. It’s won a number of awards including Best Film at the European Film Awards and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. There was some controversy involved with one of the films stars, female lead Sibel Guner, who was in a number of hardcore porn films before ending up winning a Lola, the highest German film award, for her work in Head On. You may recognize her as Shae from HBO’s Game of Thrones. Stream it on Amazon here.

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Hollywood Knights (1980)

Hollywood Knights follows high schoolers in 1965 on the night before their favorite hangout, “Tubby’s Drive-In” that is being closed down, partly to get rid of the Hollywood Knights, a high school car club that has made Tubby’s their home.  It’s a farewell to youth/the times are changing movie in the tradition of other films like “American Graffiti,” “Days and Confused,” and even “The Wanderers” (if you haven’t already, add all three to your queue).  There’s a car club, pranks, plenty of dick jokes and a great cast that included a very young Michelle Pfeiffer, Tony Danza, Robert Wuhl and Fran Drescher.  The soundtrack includes great songs by Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Martha and the Vandelas and the Beach Boys.

 

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