Five Excellent Movies I Guarentee You've Never Seen

Five severely underseen and underrated low-budget movies that deserve your attention now they've premiered on Netflix and Amazon Prime 

Gerard Butler in 'Playing for Keeps' (CREDIT: Millennium Films)

by Jack Linsdell

During lockdown, I'm sure you have delved deep into your DVD and Blu-ray archives at home to watch some of your hidden gems and timeless classics. We all have those "comfort" movies, and we all discover films that many others in the word have never seen heard of - let alone seen. So, this list of "five movies I guarantee you never seen" is just that. It's a range of well-crafted, entertaining and damn good movies that for whatever reason (lack of "butts in seats" stars, no theatrical release, low-budget etc.) have flown under everyone's radar. So, without further ado...

PLAYING FOR KEEPS (2012)

'Playing for Keeps' (CREDIT: Millennium Films)

In recent years, Gerard Butler has developed a reputation for being an "action star". However, alongside the action flicks, Butler has showcased his severely underrated acting skills in a series of compelling dramas. For every Has Fallen instalment, we get A Family Man (one of Butler's best movies, period). And, Gabrielle Muccino's Playing for Keeps is another example of Butler flexing his acting muscle. This heartfelt and engaging sports-romantic drama follows George Dryer (Butler), a former football star who is persuaded to coach his son's local team in order to get his life back on track. However, his attempts are met by advances from three, attractive Mums, who threaten to push his life over the edge once again. With a "to die for" cast including Jessica Biel (almost stealing the show as Butler's ex-wife), Dennis Quaid, and, as the three Mums, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman and Judy Greer, Playing for Keeps is a fantastic "Friday night" family movie. Robbie Fox's screenplay is well-paced, with plenty of poignant character work, and absolutely delivers on it's killer, original hook. It's examinations of masculinity, parenthood and sexual promiscuity are well-judged and provide some excellent subtext for those looking for it in their movies. But, really, Playing for Keeps combines two of Butler's best non-action movies (P.S. I Love You and A Family Man) to become a hidden gem that you need to see. 

APPLE MORTGAGE CAKE (2014)

'Apple Mortgage Cake' (CREDIT: UP TV)

UP TV's Apple Mortgage Cake is one of the best "made for Television" movies ever produced. But, the fact so few people have seen it (especially outside Canada) remains one of the biggest injustices of our time. So, do me a favour, and if you have Amazon Prime, watch this one for free now. It's well worth it. Jamie Pachino skilfully adapts the inspiring and "I can't believe that happened" true story of single mother Angela Logan, who tries to bake and sell 100 cakes in 10 days to prevent the foreclosure of her family's home. The true story alone is a remarkable and moving tale celebrating the best of humanity, one that's even more engaging because of Angela's insistence she's not a "hero" or extraordinary person - her humbleness reminds me of the real-life men behind Sully and Bridge of Spies. But, the film takes an inspiring human story and makes an emotive, poignant and relatable domestic drama out of it. Superbly directed (and staged) by Michael M. Scott and with a moving score by Philip Giffin, Apple Mortgage Cake becomes a piece of filmmaking gold. And, considering the people behind it are far from prolific names in the industry (I'd never heard of them), it just shows the filmmaking quality that lies outside the main industry perimeters. We also have to mention some of the best acting you'll ever see on Network TV, with a standout central performance from Kimberley Elise as our protagonist, not to mention Stephan James (from Race) and Kevin Hanchard (as the against-type love interest). Apple Mortgage Cake really does prove you can have your cake (a killer true story) and eat it too.

18 AGAIN (1988)

'18 Again!' (CREDIT: New World Pictures)

Back in 1988, acting legend George Burns took on his final role as Grandad Jack Watson in Paul Flaherty's 18 Again!. This hilarious and immensely relatable fantasy-comedy may have been ignored by audiences all those decades ago with a mere $2.5 million worldwide gross (only $5.4 million today), but that doesn't mean you have to. Like Apple Mortgage Cake, you can find this one for free on Prime. Anyway, Paul Flaherty's 18 Again! offers nothing unique in it's core premise ("a car accident makes an ageing, ruthless businessman swap bodies with his teenage grandson"), yet with an engaging narrative that riffs off the popular coming-of-age story and plenty of charming characters, you find yourself very entertained by the time the credits roll. Firstly, this is a very funny movie, especially when Jack Watson first discovers he's in a teenagers body and can relive his youth all over again. But, it's the way the movie finds humour and charm in the awkward and confusing life of adolescence that wins it merit. It's both an entertaining comedy and a relatable drama too. It's messaging about having confidence in yourself and "reinventing yourself" provide poignant subtext, whilst the romantic subplot revolving Jack's grandson crush on a girl in his class is handled with care and comes across as sincere rather than a cliché. 18 Again! (not to be confused with Zac Efron's 17 Again), is a lighter entertainment choice, but one that nonetheless hits every mark. 

SHE'S FUNNY THAT WAY (2014)

'She's Funny That Way' (CREDIT: Lionsgate)

Peter Bogdanovich's screwball-comedy is an utter delight from start to finish. It's existence as a low-budget, star-driven, indie movie may make it's somewhat "unconventional" narrative format a different viewing experience for audiences used to the more mainstream cinematic dramas. However, She's Funny That Way is the sort of movie that keeps you smiling from its first to last frame, and if it was more mainstream would have definitely picked up Oscars for acting. On that note, this is one of the best performed (from everyone) movies I've ever seen - the acting is so strong and on-point here that it's a utter treat just to sit back and enjoy it. The film boasts a strong cast of big names, enough to challenge Knives Out for the best acting ensemble title, including Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Kathryn Hahn, Will Forte, Rhys Ifans, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Aniston, not to mention cameos from Michael Shannon and Quentin Tarintino amongst others. Every actor here delivers one of their career best performances, although Wilson and Poots are particular standouts (Poots especially has a fantastic career ahead of her). With an intricately and cleverly designed narrative web of love triangles (think Love Actually but times ten) that forms on the set of a playwright's (Wilson) latest production, She's Funny That Way is the type of clever, funny and charming piece of old-school entertainment that we rarely get treated to anymore. If you're an inspiring actor, or someone who wants a good laugh and brain teaser at the same time, this one's for you. 

SAINT JUDY (2019)

'Saint Judy' (CREDIT: Blue Fox Entertainment)

Michelle Monaghan has been one of my favourite actresses for a long time, with a career filled with such cinematic treats like Source Code, The Heartbreak Kid and her portrayal of Julia Mede in two of the best Mission movies, Mission: Impossible 3 and Fallout. And, her performance, which lies at the heart of Saint Judy, is yet another charming, captivating and emotive starring turn. In this based on a true story-biographical drama, Monaghan plays Judy Wood, a real-life immigration attorney who changed the law on granting Asylum in the United States to save the lives of countless women. Like Apple Mortgage Cake, the true tale behind Saint Judy is so inspiring and remarkable on its own merit that it's a shame Judy Wood hasn't received more publicity for her pivotal role in changing our world for the better. But, as a movie, Saint Judy is hands down a piece of high art. It reminds me of Bridge of Spies, both in the similarities between both movie's protagonists and true-life tales, and how well-crafted it is. Directed and produced with outstanding skill by Sean Hanish, and featuring one of the best written screenplays I've ever read courtesy of Dmitry Portnoy, Saint Judy has become one of my top five favourite movies of all time. To demonstrate how good the writing (and direction) is, there is a fantastic ten minute scene set in a courtroom at about the half-way mark, which is so immersive and so well executed that it becomes one of the best cinematic moments I've ever witnessed. We also have a remarkable score by James T. Sale which compliments the drama excellently. And, to top it all off, we have truly top-class performances and characterisation. As I mentioned, Monaghan is as good as she's ever been, but the true standout is Arab-Israeli actress Leem Lubany, who absolutely steals the screen as Wood's client Asefa. She is a massive Oscar snub from this year, hands down. Anyway, Saint Judy, which is currently on Netflix, is well worth you're time.