Released in 2017, Hostiles is a modern western classic few speak about
List compiled by Eddie on 17/11/2023
There’s no doubt that time for all is at more of a premium than ever before, particularly so in the consumption of media.
Whether it be listening to your favourite podcast, binging the latest series of one of your 100’s of TV shows, scrolling your TikTok feed or watching the newest and hottest features in the comfort of your own lounge or cinema complex, many things come and go these days with little fanfare due purely to the fact that there just isn’t enough time in a day to get through it all.
With more films than ever before coming at us thick and fast, for a few decades now its become easier and easier to overlook quality films that for whatever reason never managed to become massive hits in their own way and have now with the onset of days become more of an obscure property than ever before.
Below is a list of 10 films that time has seemingly forgot, films rarely spoken about on internet forums or debated by cinematic pundits but there films worthy of checking out, either as films you’ve always meant to get to or films you perhaps have never before heard of.
Ranging from pitch black comedies through to life affirming dramas, this is an eclectic list and one that I hope provides all with some new viewing options, when and if time allows.
Happy reading and happy watching.
Disclaimer – Plot summaries from IMDB.com
10. Light of My Life (2019)
Directed by: Casey Affleck (I’m Still Here)
Starring: Casey Affleck, Anna Pniowsky
A father and his child journey through the outskirts of society a decade after a pandemic has wiped out half the world’s population. As the father struggles to protect his child from, their bond and the character of humanity are tested.
A poignant and heartfelt character driven post-apocalyptic tale, Casey Affleck’s passion project that he bought to screen and starred in is a film few have seen but it’s one that deserves a much larger audience than it was afforded on initial release in 2019. Featuring one of the decades most impressive child performances from then newcomer Anna Pniowsky, Light of My Life is a memorable and emotionally engaging drama of the highest order.
9. Enemy (2013)
Directed By: Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mélanie Laurent
A man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.
In amongst the likes of Dune, Arrival or Blade Runner 2049, the great underseen work of esteemed director Denis Villeneuve remains his Jake Gyllenhaal collaboration, Enemy. A much small-scale film than we’ve come to expect from Villeneuve, Enemy’s slow-burn may not be for everyone but for those that connect with it, Enemy is a unique and razor sharp dive down a rabbit hole that culminates in one of the great final scenes of the modern era.
8. Paranoid Park (2007)
Directed by: Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting)
Starring: Gabe Nevins, Taylor Momsen,
A teenage skateboarder’s life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard.
Coming out during his highly experimental period behind the camera that saw Oscar nominated director Gus Van Sant release the likes of Elephant, Gerry and Last Days, rarely if ever have I heard anyone speak about Paranoid Park but it’s easily one of the 2000’s most accurate and confronting examination of teenagehood I can recall. An unashamedly dark tale centred around an accidental death, Paranoid Park is a gem in the career of Van Sant that is worthy of a new age audience.
7. Nine Days (2020)
Directed By: Edson Oda (feature debut)
Starring: Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz
A reclusive man conducts a series of interviews with human souls for a chance to be born.
One of my favourite films of the last few years, it pains me to know that debut feature film director Edson Oda’s unique and touching exploration of what it means to live and to be human still doesn’t have a large audience following it’s unkindly muted response on release. With a fantastic turn from the playing against type Winston Duke and another energetic turn from rising star Zazie Beetz, Nine Days is a life-affirming tale and a beautiful film that can warm the soul.
6. Blindness (2008)
Directed By: Fernando Meirelles (City of God)
Starring: Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo
A city is ravaged by an epidemic of instant white blindness.
A bleak and unrelenting vision of a society that has lost the ability to see, Blindness is one of renowned director Fernando Meirelles most unforgettable films that failed to find the same audience as his breakout hit City of God did a few years prior to this effort. Featuring a stacked cast of A-list talent and notable bit players, Blindness for all intents and purposes appeared to be an awards hit waiting to happen but never took off, making it a film forgotten by time that should be found.
5. The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)
Directed By: Niels Mueller (Small Town Wisconsin)
Starring: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts
Based on real life events, Assassination is set in 1974 and centers on a businessman who decides to take extreme measures to achieve his American dream.
With producers such as Alfonso Cuarón, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emmanuel Lubezki and a cast lead by Oscar winner Sean Penn and Australian expat Naomi Watts, it’s an odd thing that director Niels Mueller’s based on a true story film The Assassination of Richard Nixon never made its way into the public conversation. Founded around one of Sean Penn’s most impressive lead turns and tackling some weighty subject matter head on, Mueller’s film is a fine piece of dramatic film-making that makes you wish he had continued to be more involved in the feature film industry.
4. Hostiles (2017)
Directed By: Scott Cooper (Black Mass)
Starring: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike
In 1892, a legendary Army Captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory.
One of the more frustrating writer/directors working today, filmmaker Scott Cooper has shown much promise over his brief time behind the camera but often his films lack a certain ingredient to turn them from something fine into something great. A problem that his take on the western genre didn’t have. A warts and all western epic that gives voice to a powerful female character in the form of Rosamund Pike’s Rosalee Quaid and another chance for Christian Bale to disappear into a role with his turn here as grizzled army captain Joseph J. Blocker, Hostiles is a modern masterpiece that is the eras most impressive western offering.
3. Brick (2005)
Directed By: Rian Johnson (Looper)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas
A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.
Before he was delving into the world of Star Wars or providing us with quirky detectives, Rian Johnson burst onto the movie scene with his Joseph Gordon-Levitt indie Brick. A high school set film like none you’ve seen before, Brick is a unique and inventive experience that heralded in one of the worlds most talented film-making voices.
2. Bus 174 (2002)
Directed By: José Padilha & Felipe Lacerda (Elite Squad)
Starring: Sandro do Nascimento, Rodrigo Pimentel
On June 12, 2000, a young man with a gun took the passengers aboard Bus 174 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hostage. This documentary examines the event itself, the resulting media frenzy, the police response, and the perpetrator’s background.
A documentary unlike any I have seen before, José Padilha & Felipe Lacerda raw and uncompromising Brazilian effort Bus 174 is a must-watch for anyone that calls themselves a documentary fan or anyone that wants to be informed of the world around us. A confronting experience that provides more tension and twists than big-budgeted Hollywood crime films, Bus 174 is deserving of a resurgence amongst modern viewers.
1. World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
Directed By: Bobcat Goldthwait (God Bless America)
Starring: Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara
When his son’s body is found in a humiliating accident, a lonely high school teacher inadvertently attracts an overwhelming amount of community and media attention after covering up the truth with a phoney suicide note.
Featuring Robin Williams last truly great performance and arguably one of the performances of his career, World’s Greatest Dad is one of the darkest and most unflinching comedies I have ever seen as well as being one of the most underseen. The brainchild of comedian and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait, World’s Greatest Dad is far from an easy watch and won’t be too everyone’s tastes but it’s a film worth trying out, if for nothing else to be reminded of the talent of Williams when he was given material worthy of his sensibilities.
What are some other films you’d like to remind the world of? Let me know in the comments below!
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
I saw Hostiles with a friend at the theatre and sobbed during the ending credits. I liked the movie, it was my idea to watch it, but it made me so sad that I can’t watch it again.
Has time really forgotten Brick or is it more surprising that there aren’t more nostalgia pieces written about the film itself or the cast/crew (and if there are, one has to go looking for them)?
I am the same with Hostiles, just a shame I never got a chance to see that one in the cinema, not even sure it played in Australian cinemas to be honest.
I have rarely seen Brick spoken about or seen it written about over the last few years, really surprising to me considering how good and unique it is and how popular Johnson is off the back of the Knives Out brand.
E
Very fascinating concept of a list. I guess some movies I think could be more obscure (and I watch a lot of obscure stuff) despite being great watches could be Before Your Eyes (the Turkish film), Boma-Turveren: The Journey, Toward the Terra, A Tree of Palme, and Strings (the marionette film).
Thanks so much for your picks, I must admit to not having seen any of them over my time!
E
Sure thing. Feel free to check them out whenever you can!
Excellent and enjoyable list you compiled. Hostiles, Enemy, and Blindness I’ve seen and are definitely underrated. Father of the Year I didn’t care for, it just wasn’t for me.
As far as films I’d like to remind people about, the first that comes to mind is The Rapture with Mimi Rogers, David Duchovny, and Will Patton from 1991. That was a mind bender.
Thanks for the recommendation mate.
E
You’re welcome. If you get to watch it please let me know what you think. It is a slow burn (which I don’t usually like), but it is a trip. And the ending, I’ll just say I’ve never been able to hear that song since without getting chill bumps.
Will do mate.
E
A 2013 (14?) Australian thriller called The Rover with Robert Pattinson I feel like didn’t get talked about enough. I loved that thing. It was the first role I saw of Pattinson where I was like, okay this guy can actually act when he’s playing an emo vampire lol
When he’s NOT playing I meant
Actually a great pick mate! I feel like this was the start of when I realised Pattinson was more than Twilight. I always remember the end of this film as one that hit pretty hard.
And sorry for not replying earlier mate I actually didn’t see the original comments!
Have a great xmas and chat again soon 🙂
E
WordPress has been doing this to me as well, I almost always respond to comments via the notifications box n not directly on my page. Not sure if that’s got anything do with it. Not only that but I have to keep logging back in to my account just to comment on other sites. It’s so odd.
Anyway, yeah, I apologize for misinterpreting the situation — that’s a bit awkward and childish on my part. Glad you agree on that movie — it’s a tremendous performance from Pattinson for sure. And same to you — happy holidays!
The only one of those I’ve seen is Brick, which I love, so I take the rest as strong recommendations – thank you! 🙂
Let me know if you catch some of the others.
E
Great list! I’d epigrammatically add “Half Nelson,” “The Matador,” “Pollock,” “Tape,” and “You Can Count on Me.” There is a personal reflection in these overlooked movies we list, and there’s the question of why they still hold so true to us over time. I love eclectic lists like this. “Enemy” still sticks to my subconscious at least once a month! And, “Brick?” What a mind tease!
Some great picks there from you mate. Half Nelson is a really forgotten about Gosling turn, he was amazing in that.
E
I saw and reviewed some of them but they did not struck me (Hostiles, Light of my life, Paranoid Park), heard about the others (Enemy I’d like to see for long, Blindness,…) and really forgot the rest.
Anyway, that’s a very interesting kind of list. I made the same for films on WWI.
I really loved Enemy mate, be keen to hear what you think!
E
I’ll vouch for “Hostiles.” It’s like a Greek tragedy. I once wrote, ” “Hostiles” strips whatever cowboys-and-Indians simplicity that was left from the Western genre and throws it on the campfire.”
A fantastic way to describe the film, one that took me by surprise and still to this day leaves me confused as too why more don’t speak of its virtues in the genre.
E
Fantastic list of movies. If there’s one other film I would add to this list, it is “The Place Beyond the Pines”. Since 2013 release, the film didn’t get any appreciation. But over time it’s been praised as a cult classic. Here’s why I absolutely adore it:
A great pick and a film I too very much enjoyed! I hope Derek Cianfrance starts to make some more films again.
E