Overlooked Gems on HBO Max: 20. The East 19. Blindness 18. Epic 17. Hobo with a Shotgun 16. Eraser 15. 28 Weeks Later 14. Bad Words 13. Kajillionare 12. Take Me Home Tonight 11. Early Man 10. Killerman 9. Trance 8. Hacksaw Ridge 7. Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind 6. Unleashed 5. Watership Down 4. The Last Duel 3. Let Him Go 2. Argo 1. Blood Simple Visit www.AthleticGreens.com/flickconnection & get a 1 year supply of Vitamin D + 5 individual travel packs FREE with your first purchase! _______________________________________
@justaguy61002 жыл бұрын
My favorite reviews you do is of those under-the-radar, obscure, or otherwise underrated movies. You've helped me find some gems that I wouldn't have known existed. Kudos, for real.
@davidpesci66052 жыл бұрын
Where can I get the shirt you were wearing in the video? Awesome!
@justaguy61002 жыл бұрын
I also agree that Affleck was egregiously overlooked for his direction in "Argo."
@MrBeerszerker2 жыл бұрын
didn't sam raimi help out on blood simple?
@caman12 жыл бұрын
Background music source
@baddassbeccaonig81882 жыл бұрын
HBO has ALWAYS been the GOAT for movies 🔥🔥
@lbwlawyer2 жыл бұрын
While TRANCE has its issues, what stands out to me is that it REALLY sticks the landing in my opinion. Very satisfying and kind of charming.
@squirlmy2 жыл бұрын
I feel exactly the opposite. It's the ending that ruined it for me. Maybe partly because for several years I was actually a therapist. You can't get people to do what they don't want to do under hypnosis. You can let them fantasize, but... while I was willing to put that aside, I mean it's just a movie, the ending was so contrived, and so much story was compressed at the end, it ruined the tone. It broke the pacing of everything else. I don't know, I guess you might have been hypnotized into thinking it was good? lol
@lbwlawyer2 жыл бұрын
@@squirlmy I can respect that, if not share it. There are a million lawyer movies I can’t watch without cringing having been a criminal defense lawyer for over 20 years.
@mybraineatseverything74042 жыл бұрын
Many moons ago, I worked at a video store. When Watership Down came out on VHS, lots of people with kids would rent that movie, thinking since it was a cartoon, it was for kids. WRONG! We employees took it upon ourselves to ask anyone with kids renting the movie if they knew what it was about. If they said no, our response was, "It's NOT for kids. The bunnies die." If the children were present, we'd whisper that last part. I think we saved many children from being traumatized!
@eascott92942 жыл бұрын
Made that mistake.
@mybraineatseverything74042 жыл бұрын
@@eascott9294 Oh no!
@elleemann2 жыл бұрын
I saw Watership Down in the theater as a child with my parents. I was absolutely horrified 🙀🙀🙀🙀😖
@eascott92942 жыл бұрын
@@mybraineatseverything7404 oh yeah. He's 30 years old and still remembers.
@michaellacy85102 жыл бұрын
Completely agree. Watership Down is an adult fantasy. Both book and movie. Good, but not for kids.
@reeldeal32272 жыл бұрын
Trance is such an underrated and underseen (and under-analyzed) gem. It takes at least two sittings to really sort out, but I suggest that for the first watch just sit back and enjoy the ride. Visuals, score and performances are all great.
@squirlmy2 жыл бұрын
It's the ending that ruined it for me. Maybe partly because for several years I was actually a therapist. while I was willing to put the hypnotism b.s. aside, I mean it's just a movie after all, the ending was so contrived, and so much story was compressed at the end, It broke the pacing of everything else, ruined the tone. We also get a guy doused in diesel who miraculously doesn't catch fire... I don't know, I guess you might have been hypnotized into thinking it was good? lol
@yesitislikethat2 жыл бұрын
Oh, I *definitely* remember Jeremy Renner being in 28 Weeks Later. I was so unhappy with the fact that his ‘eye wink’ shot from the trailer was cut from the film. 😩
@coryjones9152 жыл бұрын
Watership Down was my first introduction to childhood trauma
@wellnesspathforme62362 жыл бұрын
And it was all about the trauma that awaited you from people in power abusing their power. I read the book and it was excellent and put me in the right frame of mind to reject the political false dichotomy and discern the Money Power Families that finance these talking heads as their fronts, as per the advice of Machiavelli in his book The Prince.
@TheBottlenose332 жыл бұрын
Can confirm Watership Down is "scarring" for kids as I watched it in the 80s and haven't slept a full night since.
@wellnesspathforme62362 жыл бұрын
I read the book around 1980. No book has been more influential in developing my theory of human nature as it relates to people's pathological money seeking, and their ultimate Money Power Masters. That book is really about humans in animal form... and its basic premise is spot on...
@aavv18182 жыл бұрын
BLOOD SIMPLE- GREAT MOVIE!
@calmjungle78602 жыл бұрын
Blue Ruin is also a great movie found on HBO Max ....great list
@osareafallire2 жыл бұрын
This is one of the few lists DVD has put out that DOESN'T have Blue Ruin on it. Dude loves that flick and so do I.
@georginatoland2 жыл бұрын
I make it a point never to watch movies with sexual assault themes, which is why I avoided going to see The Last Duel in the theaters. But me and the husband watched it last night on HBOMax and it is really too good of a film to miss. As for the actual assault scenes, it is clear that Adam Driver is very gently carrying and whirling around the female lead. Looked like dancing. I imagine such scenes are very carefully choreographed. Driver is a big, tall ex-Marine-he could do a lot of damage accidentally. Jodie Comer is electric in her role in the last hour of the film. As I said, Driver looks like he’s being very careful…but she sells it as The Worst Thing Ever. I hope to see her in many more films.
@BOOGiNS2 жыл бұрын
The last duel was a masterpiece. Very overlooked.
@Mark-oo2nh2 жыл бұрын
Long Good Friday is on HBO Max. 1980 Bob Hoskins. Fantastic Neo Noir.
@ericrawlins84442 жыл бұрын
Watership Down is NOT a "children's book" (for god's sake, it's almost 500 pages long in paperback form!). Richard Adams himself said he did not intend the novel for children (the allegory and social commentary are too subtle for pre-adolescent minds), even though it grew out of stories he would make up to tell his own children on long drives. Is Animal Farm a children's book? It has talking animals in not, just like WD. Is Lord of the Flies a children's book? 99% of the story involves only children. Sheesh!
@S1L3NTG4M3R2 жыл бұрын
THANKS - - all these save me so much time looking for something to watch...
@S1L3NTG4M3R2 жыл бұрын
I was even more ready this time :)
@stuffnuns2 жыл бұрын
“The Last Duel” is Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” in Mediaeval Europe.
@Pammellam2 жыл бұрын
And Rashomon is better!
@bennygerow2 жыл бұрын
I need me some more Bateman. Yup! Take Me Home Tonight was really awesome! Nobody talks about it and I think it flew under the radar, but it's just a really perfectly made movie for what it's trying to do. Ok Hacksaw Ridge was way better than I thought it was going to be. I didn't really think it looked great from the trailer, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was dragged to see it.
@EtonieE252 жыл бұрын
Hey Benny as another Batemen fan have you seen ‘The Ex’? It was panned by the critics back in 2006 but pmsl at Batemans roll as his usual grumpy self 😆 I luv him in ‘Identity Theft’ too 😆
@dandyx122 жыл бұрын
I loved the 78 version of Watership Down. freaked me out a bit as I was only 6-7 at the time but how it got a U (suitable for all) certificate in the UK is a mystery to this day
@jodirook712 жыл бұрын
I had nightmares for years, I will never watch it again
@wellnesspathforme62362 жыл бұрын
It is even scarier when you realize the message is about power and greed corrupting humans, and is 100% spot on... I have not read a more influential book, and it probably set the foundation for my distrust of Big Brother, as another author put it. When one looks for corruption, it is all over the place!
@squirlmy2 жыл бұрын
There were undertones of WWII through it, as a remember. The opposition bunny clan were basically Nazi bunnies! I wonder if this inspired the graphic novel, Maus? Anyways, I'm guessing the potential "censors" probably remembered WWII and thought, the younger generations need some awareness of this. In contrast to America, where Baby Boomers and Gen X were raised to be Cold War warriors (at least that's how I feel looking back, on the inconsistent censorship ).
@GTTemperd2 жыл бұрын
Nice1 especially the Nausica nod I'd absolutely recommend it too and if u like make sure to watch Princess Mononoke by same studio Ghibli you'll love it I think anyone would it's such a great tale. Poignant with the subject matter too. Cheers
@MaxHarden2 жыл бұрын
I watched "Nobody" today. It was awesome.
@zorro84102 жыл бұрын
Loved the OA. Almost cried when they canceled 😢
@RWalters812 жыл бұрын
This is a great great list. I've seen most of these, but look forward to seeing a few I haven't even heard of like Killerman
@timbo_slice862 жыл бұрын
Eraser was great and definitely overlooked. Cool list bro
@xtcplays35402 жыл бұрын
Funny story: Here in Canada the movie Epic was on Netflix for years BUT they mistakenly had it rated TV-MA so the parental controls would hide it on the kids side. I reported this to Netflix several times but they ignored it and so it largely went unwatched for the duration of its time on the service up here. Good lesson for Netflix but one they didn't learn as the same thing is happening again with other titles.
@MrLando02 жыл бұрын
I love everything Brit Marlene does, including The East.
@DarrenVanDam2 жыл бұрын
If you know her back story you'd lover her even more. Apparently she got tired of auditioning for bogus roles and getting nowhere so she started writing her own scripts which became Sound of My Voice, Another Earth, The East, and The OA.
@rustyshackleford60352 жыл бұрын
I loved the movie Sound of my voice I got a copy at my local Library so don't know if it's on any streaming services but worth looking up I thought when I watched it was just going to be a movie about a cult turns into something way different highly recommend it ! 😁
@justaguy61002 жыл бұрын
I liked this far better than "The OA" to be frank.
@Idellphany2 жыл бұрын
I am also a big Brit Fan and shocked that I missed one of her movies :D
@HylianEvil2 жыл бұрын
Curious about your workout plan! Great video
@omarhaleem742 жыл бұрын
love the music score in your intro, care to share the source? its awesome.
@willj64702 жыл бұрын
The music in Trance is amazing one of my favorite movies
@j.n.jacksonjr.1702 жыл бұрын
Just watched The last duel last night, enjoyed it very much!
@MMAGamblingTips2 жыл бұрын
Darn, you are the first person I’ve seen recommend Let Him Go and I have no idea how it didn’t/isn’t getting more acclaim. It’s absolutely a fantastic film. It almost have the feel of a Wind River to it with its pacing and narrative. Very underrated.
@martinjeeves4442 жыл бұрын
I agree. 'LET HIM GO' (and Diane Lane) was criminally underrated. Great great film.
@fredroc92472 жыл бұрын
I was about to cancel my HBO Max sub. But you just sold me. 💯 Thanks for the recommendations.
@benwith1n5282 жыл бұрын
Just as general guidance, HBOMax has a decent amount of Criterion releases, and they're all generally good. Speaking of Bob Hoskins, I watched The Long Good Friday recently, and it was fantastic. Also, definitely check out Withnail & I.
@Plantlady702 жыл бұрын
If you liked The Long Good Friday you should check out Mona Lisa.
@kamikazekunze2 жыл бұрын
Bad Words is AWESOME. 😎😎😎
@andreashaynes33462 жыл бұрын
That was great, Darren. Some real quality hidden gems. Hobo With A Shotgun, 28 Weeks Later, Hacksaw Ridge, Unleashed, Watership Down and Argo certainly stand out as must-sees. Many thanks for sharing with us. Your critiques are invaluable. Catch you on your next Flick Connection 🌟🌟🌟
@brockgangell57592 жыл бұрын
Hobo with a shotgun was great
@doublet1472 жыл бұрын
Hacksaw Ridge is a great movie. This is an ABSOLUTE must own on 4k blu-ray if you have a home theater. So many demo worthy scenes. A perfect digital transfer for an amazing picture. The Dolby Atmos audio is mixed to perfection.
@tommydowd77182 жыл бұрын
Great stuff once again! Shared this w some friends
@davidpesci66052 жыл бұрын
Where can I buy that shirt, Darren!?
@beanguy2 жыл бұрын
I would also recommend "Man Bites Dog" and "Breaking the Waves" on the HBO Max.
@scottd992 жыл бұрын
Really liked last duel, Wearing all that heavy armor and trying to swing a sword or axe must have made fighting extremely cumbersome and difficult.
@tylerjolley97922 жыл бұрын
love the content. I'm sure you hate when people suggest what to do on the channel. But I'd love to see a list of which movies you watch multiple times and why.
@tammywinter66082 жыл бұрын
Great list. A few I'd seen and enjoyed but had forgotten about plus some new ones. Off to HBOMax. Thanks again Darren. As always, you are spot on for my tastes. Thanks for awesome reviews
@saafewolf692 жыл бұрын
You mention Nausicaa, and I just had a thought that I don't think I've seen you talk about the '80s animated movie, Heavy Metal.
@klimtkahlo2 жыл бұрын
I did like “Let him go.” Also Hecksaw Ridge. Both brilliant!
@wesschubert64772 жыл бұрын
100% agree on Eraser. Good call van
@dhanib2 жыл бұрын
20 best forgotten "Best Picture Acadamey Award Winners" sounds like an amazing list with the likes of "The Deer Hunter"
@patrickchong65792 жыл бұрын
Let Him Go and Blood Simple, on my next to watch list.
@michaellacy85102 жыл бұрын
"Epic" looks a lot like a children's book I read to my kids. I think called "The Leaf Men." Any connection?
@Weemdog2 жыл бұрын
Yes, it is based on that William Joyce book. The name got changed by the president at the movie studio for some reason to Joyce's chagrin. Then the pres of the studio left shortly after and it was too late to change the name back. Kinda sad.
@WarTheory2 жыл бұрын
Loved the last duel....the three different ways people see and view themselves is really good
@Plantlady702 жыл бұрын
Blood Simple was my introduction to the genius of the Cohen Brothers. Frankly anything they do is worth a watch.
@pablolaureano32862 жыл бұрын
Where can we get the shirt homie!!???
@RTFM702 жыл бұрын
Great list! Thanks 👍
@bobjolly77952 жыл бұрын
Darren... thanks again you always come through... it saves me hours of wasted time
@rustyshackleford60352 жыл бұрын
Cool cat 🐈 picture !
@DarrenVanDam2 жыл бұрын
Glad to help
@meltz872 жыл бұрын
Watership Down scared the hell out of me as an 11yr old in 1980 when it was on HBO. Jebus a bunch of rabbits get suffocated to death in the first 2 minutes! And that's just a warm-up to all the other disturbing things that happen! It was a good movie though lol
@rustyshackleford60352 жыл бұрын
I don't have HBO MAX but I do have HBO channel so I'm going to look up title's later today and see how many are on cable thanks for the movie list just in time for the weekend too 😁
@DarrenVanDam2 жыл бұрын
Many of these should be on basic HBO, but not all
@rustyshackleford60352 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the like DVD I have been a fan of your channel for years 1st time I got a like from you 😁!!!
@jayp65532 жыл бұрын
Just watched The East thanks for the recommendation! Awesome movie!
@dianes.37182 жыл бұрын
Darren, nice list although I don’t have HBOMax. I saw Blood Simple a long time ago and I liked it quite a bit hacksaw Ridge I actually gave that movie to my dad as a Father’s Day gift and I sat down and watched it with him and I enjoyed it thoroughly I just bought the last duel but have yet to watch it but I haven’t known how unappreciated it was I decided to buy it since I didn’t feel real comfortable going to cinema to see it.
@MrMisuma2 жыл бұрын
A lot of great titles you mentioned, but quite a few is not on HBOMAX…maybe because I’m in Denmark though.
@Smashmilk2 жыл бұрын
Take me home was odd because that song isn't in the movie if I remember.. all ways thought that was odd probably copyright issues
@sadrequiem2 жыл бұрын
Great recommendations !
@tonykari51242 жыл бұрын
Perfect Timing once again Darren. I'll be definitely watching few of these this weekend
@jenkins805262 жыл бұрын
Brian Downey from Lexx fame plays such a great over the top villain in this movie. Lexx is an obscure Canadian - German Sci Fi TV show that ran from 1996 to 2002 and not a lot of people have heard of it. If you ever get a chance, watch it! I found it playing on the Sci Fi channel back in the day and I can't recommend it enough! And Xenia Seeberg is a real hottie!
@edjackson43892 жыл бұрын
The Last Duel is literally about the fight at the end. The whole movie is a pretty slow build up to a truly badass, gritty, gut wrenching clash of swords between Damon and Driver.
@mikmack14492 жыл бұрын
Great job as always
@kanpitcha542 жыл бұрын
Just saw Bad Words. It was so good. Great recommendation!
@mistrdevine2 жыл бұрын
Oh wow, I’d forgotten all about Unleashed. I loved that movie.
@bradhend2 жыл бұрын
Darren's videos are therapeutic. Just watching these makes me happy.
@dougm19712 жыл бұрын
superb darren....my go to guy for recommendations...never pass your videos when they pop up........btw...in all your videos have you ever mentioned "judgement night" (1993) a personal favourite of mine that i think is very overlooked and forgotten about.
@timsmith10432 жыл бұрын
I am rewatching Discovery of Witches on Amazon Prime and Netflix Ozark, these shows are golden.
@intrepidvirgo9382 жыл бұрын
Well done DVD. Keep up the great work man!
@Chunkhead2 жыл бұрын
Holy shit... "Let Him Go" Diane Lane and Kevin Costner - the Kents? As in Superman's parents? Awesome. I had no idea.
@donHooligan2 жыл бұрын
Last Duel was truly amazing. antiestablishmentarianism has always been the way.
@jodirook712 жыл бұрын
I am 50 and I still remember how horrifying Watership down was, still creeps me out to this day. The world has changed a lot, I thought it was a war, seeing their throats ripped out, buried alive, following the dead floating bunny SCARED
@bimmerella2 жыл бұрын
Omg riiiight? There's a DEFINITE empathy triggering field of vision this movie requires of people to "get" it. Great pick tho...Darren is so damn good at this...
@elleemann2 жыл бұрын
This movie traumatized me as a child 😅😅
@bimmerella2 жыл бұрын
@@elleemann its like your earliest memory of true sadness...a more emotionally mature human's Old Yeller & Bambi
@WilliamNeish2 жыл бұрын
Great list !
@thomasconnell15562 жыл бұрын
Bad words is one of my favorite movies. Highly recommend.
@RicoSoprano_2 жыл бұрын
Darren I also came to the conclusion last year the HBO max has better movies than Netflix……only real movie lovers will see threw all filler Netflix puts out
@DarrenVanDam2 жыл бұрын
They also don't have endless pages of crap nobody wants to see.
@bimmerella2 жыл бұрын
Honestly, I'd probably be all set w HBOMAX, Disney & Netflix. I may have to rethink my subs! 🤔 Oh, but then Darren reminds me why I keep all the ones I have....they should pay him for his evaluations! HBOMAX is #1 for me. No contest.
@KnightFall812 жыл бұрын
I’m honestly thinking of dropping Netflix just for this reason
@bimmerella2 жыл бұрын
@@KnightFall81 you'll have to not click on Darren's what's new on Netflix videos. I blame him for still having Netflix...🤭🎯
@KnightFall812 жыл бұрын
@@bimmerella I did see the last one I own all but like two of them and I have no interest in them
@cynthiastrawbridge63762 жыл бұрын
Wow. I like your taste in movies. (Not the zombies) I also like the length of your videos. They last longer. Your opinions about actors and stories are a welcomed change of favor. See you next time. Good morning 🌞 Thank you 🙏
@mr.nobody96972 жыл бұрын
I absolutely hated Uncut Gems.
@theverbingnoun2 жыл бұрын
i still could just never get over how the zombies are released in ‘28 Weeks Later’
@user-ik4br3nk2w2 жыл бұрын
timestamps?
@Parlor..2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely loves “The OA” hated to see it come to an end.
@outlawstar33112 жыл бұрын
Good to see you getting your workout on DVD I need to step it up myself lol great recommendations!
@michaelsigismondi56032 жыл бұрын
Bad Words is definitely an underrated comedy!
@jaydoubleu34192 жыл бұрын
add fruit to your greens it will give it flavor
@Minkah602 жыл бұрын
"Let HiM Go" took a turn down a dark road but I just kept going !!!
@natural20crit2 жыл бұрын
I'll stick with my athletic kratom.
@increase98962 жыл бұрын
Thats my answer when someone asks me what im drinking at work... just easier than trying to explain the real answer. Oh, thats athletic greens... a vitamin supplement
@tommcdaniel22082 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this! You just saved me from spending money on HBO Max.
@CantankerousDave2 жыл бұрын
19:40 - Nausicaa takes place on Earth. It *is* post-apocalyptic. It's right there in the opening.
@Bacon4202 жыл бұрын
Watership Down. Had this on VHS in 85-88 and watched it with my little sister like a million times. We were 10 and 8. We had no idea what was going on, but it had bunnies! SCARY ASS BUNNIES. I loved it.
@TheABElia2 жыл бұрын
‘Unleashed/Danny the Dog’, has a great soundtrack from Massive Attack.
@maureengannaway86352 жыл бұрын
Love the movie list....🤯 $99 for the greens. I'm all for staying healthy in this craaaazy times, but wow.
@devonbrian21842 жыл бұрын
Drop Dead Gorgeous and Easy A are both very funny smart teen flicks with plenty of quality actors.
@citizenx38012 жыл бұрын
This movie review channel is above all others.
@davidcruze37362 жыл бұрын
Criminal is currently being streamed on Tubi which IMHO is a huge hidden gem and shocked how overlooked this film has been. Thx
@KUDOS_2_YOU2 жыл бұрын
I always struggle finding movies to watch so TY for the recommendations!! :D
@charrinho2 жыл бұрын
If you guys like 19. Blindness, You should also see Denis Villeneuve's 2013 Enemy, its also adapted from a book of Portuguese nobel prize winner, writer José Saramago.
@DerykRonk2 жыл бұрын
I loved The Hunt! It's on there for a few more days.
@MMAGamblingTips2 жыл бұрын
Can’t be an accident that Darren Van Damme‘s initials is DVD while coincidently recommending movies. 🤔 Lol at any rate, thanks for the list DVD. 👍🏼
@Tartersauce1012 жыл бұрын
Ah, The Last Duel. I was hesitant to watch it because I hadn't heard anything about it but I'll give it a go 👍
@barbara8320012 жыл бұрын
It's honestly a very good movie, I went to see it in theatres. The subject matter is too much for some people though.
@lucidrogue17342 жыл бұрын
Your recommendations help my SO and I find movies we can both enjoy. Just wanted to say thank you.