You won't regret giving these movies a chance.
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00:00Making a movie is challenging and requires a lot of determination.
00:04Pre-production, principal photography and post-production all present their own unique
00:08challenges.
00:09It's practically a miracle when a film is completed because of how many people and moving
00:14pieces are involved.
00:16The biggest challenge, however, comes after a feature film has been completed.
00:19It needs to find an audience.
00:21Many of the flicks that don't appeal to the masses simply don't have much to offer
00:24fans of cinema, but a small number of them are brilliant and tragically miss their chance
00:29at reaching people.
00:30So with that in mind then, I'm Ellie with What Culture, here with 10 films you didn't
00:35watch, but should.
00:37Number 10.
00:38Florence Foster Jenkins
00:40Florence Foster Jenkins tells the story of a woman who has long loved music.
00:44It means everything to her.
00:46Unfortunately, she possesses very little musical ability.
00:49However, she has no clue how talentless she is because everyone that's close to her
00:53says she's marvellous.
00:56Over time, Florence develops a working relationship with a young pianist who has difficulty dealing
01:00with her terrible voice, but they become friends anyway.
01:04Florence decides to share her work with more people, but when she performs for a wider
01:07audience, she is poorly received.
01:09The people closest to Florence do their best to protect her and encourage her, but the
01:13truth is still painful.
01:15The film is admittedly quite predictable, but the emotional journey it takes viewers
01:19on is undeniably worth it.
01:21Meryl Streep has a remarkable ability to elevate films that are otherwise forgettable.
01:26Her performance as Florence adds so much heart and passion to the movie and makes it one
01:30to remember.
01:31Beyond that, there are plenty of heartwarming moments that are guaranteed to make people
01:35smile.
01:36Additionally, some scenes might cause waterworks because of the disappointment Florence faces.
01:41All in all, it's a very human story that remains engaging throughout and is sure to
01:45make an emotional impact on those who watch.
01:48Number 9.
01:49The Way Back
01:51Inspired by true events, The Way Back follows the struggles of a small group of prisoners
01:55being held by Soviet forces during World War II.
01:59The film stars Jim Sturgis, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Colin Farrell, all of whom give
02:03remarkable performances.
02:06The human will to survive is incredibly strong, and the characters they play clearly demonstrate
02:10that fact.
02:11Early on in the film, the prisoners decide to escape the camp they are being held in
02:14and find a place of freedom.
02:16Things don't go quite according to plan, and their journey is full of unforeseen perils.
02:21The struggles of this small group of people is inspirational and motivating, but it isn't
02:25without heartbreak.
02:26It's difficult to watch at certain points, but it's well worth it if you can commit
02:30to it.
02:31The beauty and terror these individuals face on their quest for freedom is not easily forgotten.
02:35The cinematography powerfully highlights the aloneness everyone battles as they travel
02:40through barren wastelands towards salvation.
02:42On top of that, Peter Weir's directing is incredible.
02:46He manages to get personal performances out of the whole cast, and orchestrates many intense
02:50and gripping scenes.
02:52It makes for a powerful film, and one of the best survival stories ever told.
02:578.
02:58The Aftermath
02:59The Aftermath is a fascinating film that centres on Lewis and Rachel Morgan, a British colonel
03:05and his wife, played by Jason Clarke and Keira Knightley, as they move into a home that was
03:10previously occupied by a German family.
03:13The story is set just after the end of the Second World War, and Germans are being forced
03:17to allow Brits to move into their homes during the reconstruction of Hamburg.
03:21Lewis allows the home's previous owner, Stefan Lubert, and his daughter to continue to live
03:25in the house as long as they stay in the attic.
03:28Rachel is unhappy with this choice, as she holds great resentment towards Germans.
03:32Time goes on, and Rachel crosses paths with Stefan more frequently.
03:36In doing so, she discovers he isn't a heartless, evil man like she first thought.
03:40Because of the strained relationship Lewis and Rachel have, she begins to develop feelings
03:44for Stefan.
03:45Life becomes difficult and messy from that point, as drama increases and hearts are pulled
03:50in different directions.
03:52Thanks to compelling performances from all involved, the movie stirs up conflicting emotions
03:56and captivates viewers from start to finish.
03:59It's a challenging story that highlights just how difficult it is to live in the world and
04:03make sense of it.
04:057.
04:06Fences
04:07British plays don't automatically make great films when translated to the screen.
04:11It takes a skilled director to bring the story to life in a new art form.
04:15Denzel Washington met the challenge and delivered an excellent performance not only as the film's
04:20director, but also as one of its leading actors.
04:23The story that's told in Fences is powerful, soulful, and emotional.
04:27It requires dedicated and purposeful performances from all cast members in order to be truly
04:32compelling.
04:33Denzel got exactly that from his co-stars, especially Viola Davis, which comes as no
04:38surprise based on how her career has gone.
04:40Each scene is as formidable as the last, as Denzel's Troy and Viola's Rose try to teach
04:45their son valuable lessons while simultaneously battling their own demons.
04:50The entire family struggles through lots of pain and stress, and it paints a vivid picture
04:54of how difficult life can be.
04:56The emotional turmoil the family goes through, Rose especially, is palpable thanks to how
05:01finely acted the drama is.
05:03This is a film that sticks in the mind for a long time, which is something not many films
05:07can boast about.
05:096.
05:10The Green Knight
05:11In his take on this Arthurian legend, director David Lowery artfully reimagines Gawain's
05:17tale.
05:18The version he presents is totally unique, full of wonder and suspense.
05:22Dev Patel's Gawain is different from what many people are used to from the hero.
05:26He's untested in battle, frightened, and unsure of his place in the world.
05:30When The Green Knight, played by the excellent Ralph Einsohn, offers a challenge to any of
05:35Arthur's knights, Gawain answers in the hopes of proving himself.
05:38This leads him on a dangerous quest to find the Green Chapel, where he encounters many
05:42different people on the road.
05:44Each interaction teaches him a lesson and pushes him to become more honourable.
05:48Gawain doesn't succeed every time, though, and occasionally he falls short of what's
05:51expected from a knight.
05:53The way the story is communicated is an absolute treat.
05:57The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful and the music is chilling.
06:01The soundscape has one of the most creative atmospheres in recent memory, thanks to the
06:05excellent sound design and mixing.
06:085.
06:09Boy Erased
06:10Gay conversion therapy is a dangerous and damaging thing.
06:14If there was ever any doubt about that, seeing it presented on film makes that point abundantly
06:18clear.
06:19Telling difficult stories like this one requires humility, respect, and dedication from everyone
06:24involved.
06:25Thomas Hedges brilliantly plays Jared Amons and is supported by talented actors including
06:30Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Joel Edgerton, who also wrote and directed the movie.
06:36Boy Erased is based on the true story of a young homosexual man who was forced by his
06:40father to join a conversion therapy program.
06:43Jared's time there is full of horror as he and others are subject to various forms of
06:47abuse.
06:48Their treatment is entirely unhelpful and only serves to hurt them and make them feel
06:53alone.
06:54It's really depressing and disheartening to see, but important to understand what so
06:57many young men and women have been unfairly put through.
07:01Although much of the film is bleak, there are moments that are touching and hopeful.
07:05The few characters in the film who have empathetic and understanding hearts serve as a great
07:09example of those watching.
07:11The film serves as a reminder for us to be kind to people that are different from us
07:15because it can make a world of difference for them.
07:184.
07:19First Reformed
07:21Despair is something people try to avoid, but it inevitably presents itself from time
07:25to time.
07:26Paul Schrader's First Reformed takes a good look at how despair affects the human mind
07:30and spirit.
07:31The film centers on a pastor named Ernst Toller, played by Ethan Hawke, and his crisis of faith
07:37after discovering some troubling information from a person in his community.
07:41What he learns causes him to doubt his faith and let despair outweigh hope.
07:45It's a humbling and refreshingly honest portrayal of how a lot of people experience their spiritual
07:50lives.
07:51Schrader isn't afraid to wrestle with uncertainty or explore painful feelings.
07:56This makes the film so much easier to relate to and think deeply about.
08:00Most films that center on faith spell answers out for the viewer in simple terms, but that
08:04is not often true to life and people's experiences.
08:07The difficulty and messiness of First Reforms are what make it so compelling.
08:11Beyond the film's excellent story, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried both give remarkable performances,
08:17and the cinematography beautifully conveys feelings of being trapped and lost thanks
08:21to its 4 by 3 aspect ratio and stationary framing with deep focus.
08:263.
08:27Locke
08:28This brilliant movie takes place almost entirely inside a single car driven by one man.
08:34Despite the simple setting, it maintains a firm grip on viewers as it pulls them into
08:38the drama and tension.
08:40The film begins with Ivan Locke, excellently played by Tom Hardy, getting in his car and
08:44leaving a construction site he is the foreman of.
08:47He's supposed to oversee the largest concrete pour of his career the next day, but he instead
08:51leaves Birmingham and travels to London to witness the birth of his child.
08:56The difficult truth is that this new child is the product of an affair.
08:59Ivan uses the time he has on the trip to call and explain himself to everyone this birth
09:04will affect.
09:05He makes phone calls to his family, construction team, and the mother of his new child, all
09:09of whom are distressed for different reasons.
09:12Fish Call is more tense than the last.
09:14The drama and suspense climb and remain high all throughout the film thanks to absolutely
09:19stunning vocal performances by all the supporting members of the cast.
09:24Every aspect of this film is perfectly executed and makes for a totally unique cinematic experience.
09:302.
09:31Anthropoid
09:32Anthropoid follows the plot to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking German SS
09:37and the principal architect of the Final Solution.
09:41The movie is unbearably tense at moments and commands complete and undivided attention
09:45from viewers.
09:47Cillian Murphy delivers an outstanding performance as Josef Gabcik and is accompanied by Jamie
09:52Dornan, who does an excellent job portraying Jan Kubisz.
09:55Josef and Jan are charged with the mission of bringing down Heydrich, and the road that
09:59leads them there is full of hardship, but they refuse to give in until their mission
10:03is complete.
10:04There are multiple scenes full of heart-pounding action that puts viewers on the edge of their
10:09seats.
10:11Anthropoid is a tremendous work of art all across the board, though.
10:14The supporting cast is captivating, all of them giving stunning performances that help
10:18raise the stakes.
10:19The film editing always heightens the emotions and tension of each scene and even induces
10:23panic during a few specific moments.
10:26The cinematography and visual style are both beautiful and engaging, often making use of
10:30handheld to put viewers right alongside the characters.
10:341.
10:35The Hunter
10:36Willem Dafoe's entire career more than speaks for itself, so it goes without saying
10:40that he is incredible in this film as well.
10:43The Hunter has largely gone unnoticed by movie fans, and that's a real shame because it's
10:47absolutely phenomenal.
10:50The movie centres on a man named Martin David, a mercenary who is sent to Tasmania by a military
10:55biotech company called Red Leaf.
10:58His mission is to track down and retrieve samples of a Tasmanian tiger so that Red Leaf
11:02can use its DNA for purposes that are not revealed to Martin.
11:06After gathering DNA, Martin's task is to eliminate all other Tasmanian tigers so rival
11:11corporations cannot compete with Red Leaf.
11:14Upon arriving in Tasmania and getting to work, Martin starts to make a few discoveries that
11:19are unsettling, and he decides to break his contract with Red Leaf.
11:23This takes the film in a whole new direction, full of mystery and intensity that continues
11:27to build as the film progresses.
11:29Beyond providing entertainment, The Hunter is also thought-provoking.
11:34Martin has to make some difficult decisions that are not always clear, and it's these
11:38moments that further solidify the film's grip on the audience and make it a movie to remember.
11:43And that concludes our list.
11:45If you have other suggestions, then do let us know in the comments below.
11:48And while you're there, don't forget to like and subscribe and tap that notification bell.
11:52Also, head over to Twitter and follow us there at WhatCulture, and I can be found across
11:56various social medias just by searching Ellie Littlechild.
11:59I've been Ellie with WhatCulture, I hope you have a magical day and I'll see you real soon.