My Favorite Lesser Known Movies
Ranked #7,866 in Entertainment, #97,869 overall
Some of my favorite movies that didn't get the recognition they deserved
Some of my favorite movies are those that had short runs in the theaters and didn't receive the recognition they deserved. I didn't see these movies until they showed up on television, but they all became favorites. I may be adding to this lens later but for now I'd like to share five of my favorites. Give them a view and see if you agree with me. You can add your own favorite lesser known movies to the plexo towards the end of this article.
(Image courtesy of Allposters, Buy This at Allposters.com)
(Image courtesy of Allposters, Buy This at Allposters.com)
"The Secret Life of Bees"
Without giving away too much of the plot, this is a heart-warming story of a young white girl who tries to escape her abusive father and convinces her young black caregiver and friend to join her in running away to find out the truth about her deceased mother. Their travels take them to a small town where they buy a jar of honey which leads them to the home of the Boatwright sisters, a family of independent, talented black women. The girls ask the sisters to allow them to stay at their home as they have no money and nowhere to go. They are taken in, and through their trials and tragedies, they bond as a family.
Cast of "The Secret Life of Bees"
- Queen Latifah- this award winning star started out as a rap singer and became a respected actress. She plays August Boatwright, the head of the household of independent sisters, who runs a honey business.
- Dakota Fanning- this charming and talented young actress plays 14 year old Lily Owens, a young girl trying to escape her abusive father, who travels with her young caregiver and friend to find a better life and find out the truth about her deceased mother.
- Jennifer Hudson - this talented singer and actress plays Rosaleen, the caregiver and friend to Lily.
- Alicia Keys- this talented singer, musician, and actress plays June Boatwright, the snobbish sister of the family.
- Sophie Okonedo - this wonderful actress plays May Boatwright, the sweet, traumatized sister who feels everyone's pain
"The Secret Life of Bees"
on Amazon
"The Skeleton Key"
This is just a really cool movie! This great psychological thriller has so many twists and turns in the plot it will keep you forever trying to figure out what is really happening all the way to the unexpected ending. Suffice it to say that a young hospice worker accepts a position of caring for a dying stroke victim at an old plantation in Louisiana. The young woman discovers an attic room that holds clues to the mystery of the house's owners and former residents, which involves hoodoo and magic.
Cast of "The Skeleton Key"
- Kate Hudson - the daughter of Goldie Hawn, Kate gained the respect of Hollywood playing Caroline Ellis, a hospice worker, in this film.
- Gena Rowlands - this award winning actress plays Violet Deveraux, the lady of the house and wife of Benjamin Deveraux, a stroke victim.
- John Hurt - another award winning actor who plays Benjamin Deveraux, a stroke victim who as he lays dying tries to warn Caroline of the horrible things going on in the old house.
- Peter Sarsgaard - plays the estate's lawyer who convinces Violet to hire Caroline to care for her dying husband.
"The Skeleton Key"
on Amazon
"Secondhand Lions"
This wonderful movie will surprise you and warm your heart. It is the story of two eccentric old bachelor brothers who reluctantly take in their shy, 14 year old nephew for the summer, when the boy's mother unexpectedly drops him on their doorstep. The brothers are rumored to have millions of dollars hidden in their property so people are constantly coming by trying to get them to invest in their schemes. The brothers tell tall tales of great adventures they have had that no one believes. As the summer passes, the uncles order an old circus lion which Walter names and vows to care for. By summer's end the boy and his great uncles have grown to love each other. You just have to watch this wonderful movie to follow their adventures and see the surprise ending. You know it has to be great with both Michael Caine and Robert Duvall in it.
Cast of "Secondhand Lions"
- Robert Duvall - this award winning actor plays Hub McCann, an eccentric old man who has lived a life of adventure, although no one believes his tales.
- Michael Caine - this award winning actor plays Garth McCann, brother of Hub, and an equally eccentric old man who shared life long adventures with Hub.
- Haley Joel Osment - this wonderful young actor plays Walter Caldwell, a shy young boy of 12 who is dropped off by his mother for the summer to live with his eccentric uncles.
- Krya Sedgwick - this actress who gained recognition from The Closer TV series plays Mae, Walter's mother. She is seeking a husband but leaves Walter with his uncles under the pretense of finding work.
"Secondhand Lions"
on Amazon
"Dead Again"
This wonderful psychological thriller is told in the present day in color with flashbacks to the 1940s in black and white. It is a fascinating film with many twists and turns which involves a society murder and reincarnation. A private invesitgator is brought in to aid a woman, who has amnesia and lost her voice, find out who she is. Along the way, they find that they have been reincarnated and were husband and wife in their previous life. I can't tell you any more wihtout ruining the movie for you. You must see this one!Dead Again Poster 27x40 Kenneth Branagh Emma Thompson Andy Garcia
Cast of "Dead Again"
- Kenneth Branagh - this Shakespearian actor branches out to play dual roles in this fascinating film. He is the modern day Mike Church, a private investigator, who is the reincarnated Roman Strauss, a conductor and composer who was involved with his wife's murder in the 1940s.
- Emma Thompson - Kenneth Branagh's real life wife at the time of the film, this award winning actress plays Grace, a woman who has been traumatized, lost her voice and has amnesia. Through hypnosis and the help of Mike she recalls a previous life when she was Margaret, wife to Roman.
- Robin Williams - the comedian and successful dramtic actor plays Cozy Carlisle, a disgraced psychiatrist who MIke turns to for help.
- Andy Garcia - plays Gray Baker, a newspaper writer who is delving into the story of Roman and Margaret.
- Derek Jacobi - plays a crazed antiques dealer who tries to help Grace through hypnosis to recall her past.
"Dead Again"
on Amazon
"The Game"
The Game was a fascinating movie that has so many twists and turns even at the end you aren't sure what was real and what was part of the game. Starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn, you can't go wrong with this 1997 movie. It's about two brothers, one of which (Sean) buys his brother (Michael) "the game" to spice up the brother's dull, uptight life. Mayhem ensues which leads to suicide and murder..or does it?. Enough said...I don't want to give away the plot. It's one of those movies you need to watch over and over, and even then you won't be sure of what is going on. A real thrill ride.
The cast of "The Game"
- Michael Douglas plays investment banker, Nicholas Van Orton, -whose personal life is in shambles despit his welthy and success.
- Sean Penn plays the younger brother, Conrad, who lives a more rebellious life and gifts his brother Nicholas with a ticket to play "The Game."
- James Rebhorn, that character actor who seems to show up in every movie evr made, plays Jim Feingold, the employee of the game organization who gives Nicholas his physical before stating the game.
- Debra Cara Unger plays Christine, the waitress who keeps showing up in Nicholas' life, and about whom he never knows what to believe.
"The Game" on DVD
on Amazon
Vote on your favorite lesser known movie
Add your own, and vote for your favorite too
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Do you like the movies I recommended?
What's your favorite?
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Ohohdon May 9, 2012 @ 8:45 pm | delete
- Secondhand lions was a great movie. I think it's the only one on your list that I've seen. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm always on the lookout for good movies that I haven't already seen.
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scarlettohairy May 9, 2012 @ 12:44 am | delete
- I've seen about half of these movies. Good choices!
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mamabush
May 8, 2012 @ 11:01 pm | delete
- Secondhand Lions is definitely one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. :) Great choices here!
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JziE May 8, 2012 @ 10:43 pm | delete
- i watched skeleton key before. you should try also Akeelah and the bee
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traveller27
Apr 24, 2012 @ 6:38 pm | delete
- I also enjoyed Secondhand Lions.
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nevets_sdoow
Apr 3, 2012 @ 1:29 pm | delete
- The Game is one of my all time favorites from one of my all time favorite directors!
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---Chazz
Apr 1, 2012 @ 4:19 am | delete
- Haven't seen all of these but have enjoyed the ones I did watch - added rest to my must see list. Great list.
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LiteraryMind
Mar 10, 2012 @ 3:41 pm | delete
- I like these type of movie with a twisted endings -- it gives the brain exercise
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AlleyCatLane
Mar 10, 2012 @ 4:20 pm | delete
- Hope you enjoy them. Thanks for the thumb's up.
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victoriuh
Mar 8, 2012 @ 1:08 pm | delete
- I love The Game! Great suspense and tension.
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A little about the author
I became a Giant Squid at the Super Level (25 articles) as well as a SquidAngel in October, 2011. In February, 2012, I made Monster Squid (at least 50 quality lenses). I also am an Amazon and Allposters affiliate.
Come join me on Squidoo. It is a wonderful place to be. It's free and so much fun. Just click here: Join Squidoo
Come join me on Squidoo. It is a wonderful place to be. It's free and so much fun. Just click here: Join Squidoo
Some of my other articles you may enjoy
Index for my favorite movies
Click on any item and jump back to that section in the article
- "The Secret Life of Bees"
- Cast of "The Secret Life of Bees"
- Movie trailers for "The Secret Life of Bees"
- Music of "The Secret Life of Bees"
- "The Secret Life of Bees"
- "The Skeleton Key"
- Cast of "The Skeleton Key"
- Movie trailers for "The Skeleton Key"
- Music from "The Skeleton Key"
- "The Skeleton Key"
- "Secondhand Lions"
- Cast of "Secondhand Lions"
- Movie trailers for "Secondhand Lions"
- Music from "Secondhand Lions"
- "Secondhand Lions"
- "Dead Again"
- Cast of "Dead Again"
- Movie trailers for "Dead Again"
- Music from "Dead Again"
- "Dead Again"
- "The Game"
- The cast of "The Game"
- "The Game" on DVD
- "The Game" movie clips
- Vote on your favorite lesser known movie
- This article received SquidAngel blessings!
- If you enjoyed this article, please leave us a thumb's up
- Do you like the movies I recommended?
- A little about the author
- Some of my other articles you may enjoy
by AlleyCatLane
I love watching movies. Some of my favorite movies are those I found on televsion after short runs in the theater. Here are some of my favorite movie... more »
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