The Allen Almanac

As we all know, sometimes films don’t do as well at the box office as they deserve. Sometimes they get discovered later on DVD, and sometimes they just seem to disappear. I’ve compiled a list of 15 US films from the last 15 years that made $15 million or less at the US Box Office (according to imdb.com) which I think is a good place to start discussing these films. The other criteria I used were that I had to have seen them and enjoyed them. Which is why Reservoir Dogs is missing (among others) - I haven’t seen it yet. It is by no means an exhaustive list, and I’m sure I’ve left a few off. Leave me a comment and let me know what some of your favorite “unknown” films are. Follow the link to see my list.

• The Man Who Wasn’t There 7M - The Coen Brothers’ modern noir masterpiece stars Billy Bob Thorton as small town barber who turns to murder and extortion in his plans to open a dry cleaner. Tony Shaloub and Scarlett Johansen shine in supporting roles.
• Big Trouble 7M - Tim Allen and Rene Russo star in this hilarious movie based on a script by Dave Barry. If you enjoy Dave Barry’s Miami Herald articles, you’ll know what to expect. Several characters’ lives intersect and hilarity ensues. Watch for Jason Lee as a scene stealing messianic hobo named Puggy.
• Human Nature 700K - Another comedy makes the list. This one is a Charlie Kaufman / Michael Gondry project (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). It’s pretty much your standard love triangle, but in this case one face of the triangle is a man raised by apes. It may be a comedy, but it really explores what value we get in return for conforming to society.
• The Squid & the Whale 7M - From the co-creator of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (and the creator of Kicking and Screaming (1995), which I intend to see shortly) comes this film focusing on American divorce in the 80’s. It looks at the destruction of the family of two New York writers and their two sons and is apparently based somewhat on Noah Baumbach’s childhood. It is one the most touching films I’ve seen this year.
• The Hudsucker Proxy 7M - I hesitated to include this due to the fact that I had already included one Coen Brother’s comedy, but it is just too good not to recommend. The basic plot is that a nitwit (played by Tim Robbins) is installed as the head of a company as part of a stock scam. Soon a reporter discovers their ruse and begins to investigate. Enjoy and soon you too will realize just what a brilliant idea this: “O” is.
• Donnie Darko 700K - A lot of people have seen this wonderful film since it left the theatres, but due to its exceptionally low gross and the fact that anyone who hasn’t seen it is really missing out it is included here. I don’t really think I could describe this movie in a few sentences so I’ll just copy the imbd plot summary: “A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes, after narrowly escaping a bizarre accident.”
• Requiem for a Dream 3.6M - This is another film that many have seen on DVD, but its greatness demands inclusion here. Requiem is the story of 4 people whose lives are ruined as their drug problems spiral out of control. This movie accomplishes more in 2 hours than the entire War on Drugs has.
• American History X 7M - Ed Norton, Ethan Suplee, that kid from Terminator 2, and Director Tony Kaye shine an unflinching light on the fall and rise of an American Neo-Nazi and his desperate attempt to save his younger brother from following in his footsteps before it is too late.
• American Splendor 6M - This fictional biography of comic book artist Harvey Pekar mixes fiction and reality by having Paul Giamatti play Harvey Pekar but also having scenes with the real Harvey Pekar (and some of this friends) intruding on the movie. I don’t know anything about Harvey Pekar as an artist, but this movie is pure brilliance. If you enjoy Charlie Kaufman-style films, then you must check this out.
• The Salton Sea 700k - When this film begins it seems to be another drug-epic, ala Requiem for a Dream. But soon it takes the first of many twists, and you are on for the ride. Starring Val Kilmer (can this guy ever get a break at the box office) in the lead. It also showcases supporting roles for Vincent D’Onofrio and Adam Goldberg.
• Chasing Amy 12M - My personal favorite on this list is Kevin Smith’s magnum opus. This is the story of two comic book artists (Holden (Ben Affleck) and Banky (Jason Lee)) who have just gotten their first break. Then Holden falls for another artist named Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams). The only problem is she’s a lesbian. This movie could easily have fallen apart into a silly exploitation film. But Smith uses this setting to explore relationships, friendships, and coming to grips with your lover’s sexual past. It is truly a masterpiece.
• Dark City 14M - John wakes up alone in a hotel bathtub naked with no memory and with blood on his forehead. He soon discovers that he is wanted for a series of brutal murders and goes on the run. While trying to discover what has happened he runs into the mysterious Strangers, a group of subterranean dwellers who seem to be able to control the city and its inhabitants. John has to find a way to stop them before they can stop him. This movie feels very much like a precursor to The Matrix (in fact some of the sets from Dark City were recycled for The Matrix) and is actually the better film in my opinion. I suggest skipping the opening voiceover, which unnecessarily reveals some of the Strangers’ secrets.
• In America 15M - Irish immigrant adapt to life in America in this 2002 film. The father has dreams of becoming an actor in the theatre, but when those dreams fail they are left scraping by in a new land where they know no one. That is until the children are befriended by Mateo, a terminally-ill African painter who lives downstairs from them. This is a touching tale of friendship and survival.
• Gattaca 12M - One of two science fiction films on this list (along with Dark City); Gattaca is set in a future where parents can engineer the perfect baby. This is the story of Vincent (played by Ethan Hawke), a second class citizen (or in-valid) due to the fact that his parents conceived him naturally. Undeterred by the discrimination facing him at very turn, he proves (with a little help from a black market genetic code he buys from Jerome (played by Jude Law), a “borrowed ladder”) that its not what’s in your genes that determines your success, it is what is in your heart. Gattaca substitutes genoism for racism in the great tradition of true science fiction.
• Swingers 4.5M - This is the story of a group of unemployed actors in L.A. who find themselves spending all their time at the clubs. This movie practically launched the careers of Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Ron Livingston, and Doug Liman. It doesn’t really have a lot of plot, but it gives an excellent glimpse into the lives of these young men. You will definitely walk away from this one quoting Trent (Vaughn) who has some of the best lines of the past 15 years.

So that’s my list. I know you have your’s, so let’s hear it.