40 Movies You Probably Haven't Seen But Should

I hate having to feel the need to include this, but the more I interact with people, the more and more people I realize have not seen this absolutely great movie. Few movies lend themselves like Casablanca to AFI's Top 100 movie quotes, and for good reason. So much of this movie is still ingrained in modern culture, and yet, people don't even realize. Watch this movie and you'll see it, you'll also see how so many movies have taken lessons learned from this great film and applied them to their own movie. Few could own the camera like Bogart, and he owns it well here. I mean, it is only considered by many film experts the greatest movie of all-time.

Unless you've read the book, or had to watch it during your days in school, it's likely you've missed out on Gregory Peck at his absolute best (and you know I'm enthralled with the job he did in Roman Holiday). Dealing with sensitive racial issues at a time when they were the talk of the nation, the movie is phenomenally written and acted, and stays very true to the book itself for the most part. It's a story though that I can't do justice trying to portray to you, but rather let the movie itself tell it. An interesting bit of trivia, Robert Duvall has a role in this movie

Two of the greatest film presences of all-time joined together to produce a memorable tale of a relationship never destined to be, and present a man with a question and decision that brings his morals all the way to the forefront. Few movies overall are as good as Roman Holiday, the performance by both Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck help carry the charming, unlikely couple of a princess and newspaper reporter through a blissful day that each knows is likely to never occur again. The movie itself I believe is aimed to teach us to relish in life's little moments without always having to expect, or even want, them to last forever. Watching this movie is one of those little moments. But this one can happen whenever you want it to.

Suicide is a very touchy subject, and a difficult one to broach in film. Few movies did it as creatively, and as well, as this one. Taking place in what one could deem is a permanent state of purgatory, it's a dark world full of suicide victims. There is no smiling, there is little color. It's not hell, but it's sure not heaven. You're just there. For Mikal however, she believes she's not supposed to be there, that she wasn't attempting to kill herself, and that she's there by mistake. It's her mission to find whoever is in charge and have this corrected. She eventually tags along with the movie's man character, Zia, a young man who killed himself over the break-up with his girlfriend. He has uncovered that she too committed suicide and is now on a mission to find her. Together, Zia and Mikal go about a life changing journey.

Audrey Hepburn is probably my favorite actress of all-time, and I think her role of Holy Golightly might be my favorite. Her rendition of "Moon River" is exceptional, and actually produced an Oscar for the song. It's a story many of us know good and well. Knowing you're the right person for someone, and being right under their nose, unfortunately, they are too wrapped up in other affairs to realize it. One can only hope they realize it in time. I mean, when a movie gets recognized in a popular Top 40 song decades later, it's got some staying power and appeal.

This movie probably has no place on the list, I think most people who really enjoy movies have seen this movie. It's a hard one to miss. It's a great story, great acting, and even better music. The use of Simon and Garfunkel in this movie is as good a job of using music as there has been in a romantic drama. The ending scene with Sound of Silence is one of the best closing scenes in cinematic history.

This another classic movie that's still very much a part of popular culture today, even without people realizing it. Part of this comes from the fact that James Dean only acted in three movies due to his untimely death. It is argued that Rebel Without a Cause was his finest work, and that of his three movies, the better of the three. having Natalie Wood in the movie certainly won't elicit an argument from me. The name of the movie gives away it seems the plot line, except for the fact that Dean's character does indeed have a cause, a cause we see manifest itself throughout the movie. Once again, Dean's acting skills make this movie more than than just a nice story, it makes an epic classic.

This was supposed to be Bogart's show, which, just about everything he did was his show. However, this also happened to be the debut of one Lauren Bacall and she stole a great deal of thunder from Bogart. To this day, I doubt anyone's complaining. Her place as Hollywood sex symbol was entrenched with her stunning and seductive performance in this movie. It was here we first discovered "the look" that she would use to turn heads everywhere for years to come. On a side note, the movie itself isn't too bad either.

Another James Cagney performance that is simply masterful. Cagney plays a man who faces perhaps what is one the biggest fears hidden deep down inside every single one of us, being jailed and imprisoned for something we did not do. In a time before regulations on treatments of prisoners were in place, or enforced strongly, Ross endures a miserable stay in prison for crimes he did not commit. It's a story of suffering and attempt at vindication, and a good one at that.

Marlon Brando is not just the Godfather, which seems to be the mistake among my generation regarding Brando's acting prowess. While I'm no particular Brando buff, as I've yet to have time to watch enough of his movies (perhaps there should be a list of movies I haven't seen but should), I recognize what is considered by many some of his finest work. Not only is Brando outstanding, the writing, and the story is captivating and makes you pull for Brando's character. It doesn't hurt that one of the more memorable lines in movie history, and one many people can probably relate to, is uttered by Brando in this movie.

It's the doomsday scenario that's been ever present since the invention of they hydrogen bomb. While in today's world, the events would probably be different, the fear of what could happen, what might happen, if things go bad, is still prevalent with some, and something to not be completely ignored. The original Fail Safe addresses these with a tense and dramatic thriller that at the days end leaves you wondering, what if...........

I'm hoping most people watched this at some point in school. If not, shame on you. The acting is outstanding, and the manner in which you come to know all 12 people in the room, and how it effects their views on the trial is the case of superb writing. Today's generation doesn't know the star power in that movie as well, though see if you can recognize which juror was also the voice of a certain creature in the 100 Acre Wood.

It's a movie that was well received by movie goers and critics alike, however, it's not one that seems to come up very often in conversation. And that, is a crying shame. Sean Penn has had many great performances in his career, but I can't think of one that tops this one. Susan Sarandon is almost as good. Penn plays a man on death row, who continues with his hardened stance up until the very minutes before death, when he realizes the finality of it. It's a strong reminder of the finality of death, and a peek into what goes through one's mind when it's near.

You put Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Walter Matthau on the same set, you're going to come away with something really good, and that they did. The "caper" thriller is more entertaining than suspenseful, and Grant and Hepburn do a great job playing off one another. While today we so many A-listers unable to find chemistry on set, that wasn't a problem here. The story itself actually does a good job of keeping one relatively in the dark about what is happening. Then again, that could be because Hepburn's charm is always distracting for me.

Two reasons for its inclusion. One, it didn't exactly gross a ton at the box office, so it's not like it hit with a huge release. Two, that genre thing, you know, people trying to shy away from sappy, love story, chick flicks. Well don't shy away from this one. It has some Roman Holiday elements to it, another movie on this list, and the ending is, well, I'll let you decide for yourself what you think of it.

I'd like to think most people have seen this, but I'm thinking they haven't, especially today's younger crowd. If you know me, then watching this movie you'll easily understand my love affair with it. Dry, witty sarcasm at its absolute best. Amazing.

Andy Griffith plays Andy Griffith, or, well, perhaps, more of an Andy Taylor. He plays a country bumpkin enlisting in the Air Force, and from there, the laughs don't end. However, if you're not a fan of dry humor, or sarcasm, or Airplane!, you probably won't find much of the humor in this particular movie humorous. If you are a fan of such humor though, it's a movie you can watch over and over again.

Before Homeward Bound there was Milo and Otis. With its catchy song, "Walk Outside" and scenes of the adorable little pets, it's hard to turn away from. Originally done as a Japanese film, it was translated into English, but unfortunately probably not overly popular among the states, especially with the bigger budgeted Homeward Bound just a few years away from release. However, if you ever get the chance to catch this version, you'll be glad you did. I would say you could borrow mine, but it's pretty difficult to find, and I'm not sure I can let one of my favorite childhood movies of all-time out of my sights.

Natalie Wood. Enough said.

I mean, it is enough said, but I will say more regardless. While not highly popular in the box office, this is often recognized as one of Wood's finest performances. She certainly looks at just about her absolute best, and teams well with Robert Redford.

Wood does a great job of playing a repressed young girl making her way, and making mistakes, all the while chasing that elusive love that seems so forbidden.

In an effort to not spoil the way the movie flows, and ends, I will curtail a lot of what I say. However, this too is one of those movies that more than anything you watch for the performance of the stars.

Redford is good, but Wood is even better. Her character development, and emotion is easily transparent and plays beautifully from set to screen (well, anything Wood does plays beautifully, but I digress).

An interesting side note, see if you can recognize the actress who plays Wood's sister in this movie. You can count the number of films she's been in on one hand, but one is a classic that most everyone has probably seen at this point.

The performances in this movie are well done by both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschanel, and that's maybe being a bit too kind. However, perhaps Zoey Deschanel does too good of a job. Connection to characters can be vital in many movies, and a lack of it can be the death of some. In (500) Days of Summer though, there is no shortage of connection here, and the emotion it draws out of you will probably be different for each individual person based on their own personal life experiences, and this comes via excellent writing and acting.

So often movies have to end happily ever after for us, so it's refreshing to see one try and go a different route at times. Jack Nicholson is phenomenal in his seemingly futile attempts to reel in a big fish in California's political and criminal games. The movie does a great job with a couple well placed twists that seemingly turn the film on its ears. However, ultimately, it's just carried by Nicholson, and concludes with one of the best movie ending lines of all-time.

Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Pompeo, and Jake Gyllenhaal make up a pretty solid trio for the base of a cast, and the movie doesn't disappoint. Again, it's not entirely unpredictable, but the performances by the leads in this movie help carry it. Fortunately, the premise for the story as well is not quite the same, repeated love story, find the right person but run from them, kind of story so many movies seem to be. There are some differences in the plot line that help separate the movie. Despite struggling at the box office, Roger Ebert agrees with me, it's a good movie, worthy of finding on television sometime and checking out. When it comes to coping, and grieving, few movies touch on the realities of how we as people actually are able to do that like this one does.

James Dean played the role of troubled teenager in teenage angst films like nobody before him, or since, has ever done. Dean was equally captivating in all of his films, this one included. Playing the younger brother who feels overshadowed by an older brother, Dean makes the not so original story work because he's just that good. Watching Dean makes you really wonder what could have been if he'd been able to star in more than three movies.

This one too falls into that category of, "I wonder if many have seen it because of the "sappy" connotation to its genre". In any event, the cast is superb, to say the least. Perhaps their performances aren't quite Oscar worthy, but it's a cast of some of my favorite performers of recent years. The story, while not the most original, or most unpredictable tale of movie history, more than holds its own. At times you do find yourself cheering for, or against, certain events. The movie though is fun, entertaining, and yeah, I'll say heartwarming.

So I finally got around to watching this, and as a result, needed to move this up the list. It's one of Hepburn's better acting performances as she plays a blind woman in a house alone being hassled by drug smugglers attempting to obtain a doll they have been using to smuggle drugs with.

Psychologically, and physically, Hepburn faces many fears and challenges throughout the film, culminating in an expected, but yet still dramatic ending.

The movie itself helps shed to light the struggles someone who loses their sight in the middle of their life must face, both mentally and physically, as well as the demands and frustrations of those who live with, and try to help, the blind.

Hepburn's acting is what makes this, as she dominates just about every scene in the movie, and powerfully so. If anything, see this movie just to once again appreciate Audrey Hepburn.

The phrase, "the difference in being a stalker and being a romantic is simply if the other person is attracted to you", never rings truer than in this movie. John Cusack seems desperate, even pathetic, and yet, you pull for him. The things he does are the things that people would look at you like you're crazy for actually doing in real life. You'd be deemed a desperate stalker, but it's the thought, the idea of doing those things, that most of us have probably had at some point, that adds to the appeal to Cusack's character and this movie. Cheesy? Yes. Enjoyable? Absolutely.

Natalie Wood. That's all. Okay, it isn't, but it should be. This movie also stars Elliot Gould and Robert Culp. For its time, it really pushed the limits on how far a movie could go sexually, and does so in an entertaining, yet still awkward (appropriately) way. Natalie Wood is her typical charming, beautiful self, and the story is one that was extremely unique for it's time period.

From the early 80s comes a movie with a cast that years later can be looked on as an ensemble cast. Paul Reiser, Steve Guttenberg, Tim Daly, Kevin Bacon and Ellen Barkin help make up this film that really was he icebreaker that paved the way for the "Brat Pack" movies of the mid 80s. A small trivia note, Ellen Barkin plays the women seducing Matt Damon in Ocean's Thirteen. Talk about managing to age well.........

This is Robin Williams in his comedic element. However, along with Williams' great comedic performance, there comes along with it the emotional, and the disheartening truth of the Vietnam War and what it entailed. The ability to combine humor with such a dark overtone is rather impressive. It's uplifting and depressing all at the same time as it serves as a reminder of just how treacherous war is, and how desperate those fighting are for some sort of temporary distraction. In many ways its a reminder why concerts for the troops, or satellite broadcasts of sporting events are such welcomed events for troops around the world.

James Cagney was just a phenomenal actor, I could probably put all of his movies on this list, though I will try and limit it to a few. This is one of my favorite Gangster movies, and really helped set the bar for how they should be done.

The Lou Gherig story is a rather remarkable one. The people of his life, the accomplishments in it, and the way it ended. Few public speeches are as renown as his "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech he gave at Yankee Stadium. If you're a baseball fan, or just a fan of people hanging on to a dream just as long as they humanly possibly can despite tremendous struggles, Pride of the Yankees is something you should watch.

Ellen Paige is delightful and charming in Juno. She's good in Inception. But until you've seen her in Hard Candy, I don't know you've seen the extent of her acting talents. Using the sickening practice of older men luring young girls into their homes via the internet, the story seems about a sick old man and innocent young girl. Just wait.