Usually I recommend movies based on some genre or other connecting theme. This time around I'll give you three films that never received the credit they deserved.



Jeff Daniels portrays George Washington in this made-for-television biopic covering the fateful crossing of the Delaware River. Daniels gives a brilliant performance as the troubled general as he faces certain defeat in the face of overwhelming odds. The film is very simple and quite intimate. Lacking a massive budget, the film relies on a thoughtful and engaging script penned by novelist Howard Fast.





A quiet movie that didn't make a big splash when it was released and has since disappeared. It is a hidden comedic gem. This isn't a masterful film but it is a simple pleasure. Bill Murray stars as Wally Ritchie, a clueless dupe who unwittingly gets pulled into the world of international espionage. Again, not a masterwork but certainly a good piece of comfort cinema.



This is a very smart and clever film. Nicholas Cage gives one of his better performances as David Spritz a weather man who, while on the cusp of professional success, finds himself questioning the trajectory of his life. Michael Caine portrays David's father Robert Spritzel, a brilliant writer who is continuously baffled by the frivolous culture that surround him. The film was written by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness) and directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl).

Labels: movie recommendations