Superman Returns. It made my Top Ten Movies of 2006 list, but sadly, I think that was the only Top Ten list it made. I think it is extraordinarily underrated. While not a perfect film, it is beautifully written, shot, and directed. Its real strengths are in its quiet moments, such as when Superman and Lois Lane are talking on the roof of the Daily Planet, or whenever Clark Kent steals a glance or two at Lois when she's not looking. Bryan Singer is an eloquent storyteller, and the film is truly very romantic. Anyone who has had any experience with unrequited love should have some appreciation of this movie.
While Hannibal was loathed by critics, it did pretty well at the box office, probably because it was after eight years a sequel to the Academy Award winning and mega successful The Silence of the Lambs. While it is definitely more visceral and less psychological than its predecessor, Ridley Scott will always produce a visually provocative film and interestingly enough much like Superman Returns the true strengths of the picture are Hannibal's moments of reflection or time in Florence absorbing the culture, or him interacting or writing letters to Clarice. The final act of the film, when Hannibal and Clarice finally meet...the scene in the kitchen, when Hannibal asks Clarice, "Would you tell me to stop?", and Clarice replies, "Not in a thousand years", stuff like that to me is just really brilliant and poetic. The real meat of that film (no pun intended) was the sort of Romeo and Juliet love angle between Hannibal and Clarice. At least, to me. Hans Zimmer's gorgeous score also helps.
While I am not sure if enough time has passed for this to be an underrated film, In Bruges is one of the best films I've seen this year followed only after The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace and Man on Wire. It did pretty poorly at the box office, if I remember correctly, but I think critics loved it. Martin McDonaugh's directorial debut, this little indie starts off in such a wayward fashion, you're struggling what to make of it (Is it a buddy comedy? A gangster movie?) but after the first act it reaches this balance of humor and touching sentimentalism that is a perfect mixture. Plus Colin Farrell hasn't been this good since...I can remember. Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleason round out the supporting A-list cast, and while this will probably not get recongized by the Academy, I hope it does. A truly fantastic film.
