Recently I’ve watched some good people get bitch-slapped by life, and it got me thinking about under-appreciated and underrated stuff. So here’s a list, roughly broken out into categories.
Most Underrated
Musical group: The Band
They were the group that electrified Dylan. Then they struck out on their own and created gems like “Music From Big Pink” and their eponymous album, “The Band”. Eric Clapton once said that theirs was the music he wanted to play. They had 3 amazing lead singers, all of whom played their instruments incredibly well. Martin Scorcese filmed their last show and made “The Last Waltz”. (The concert included guests such as Clapton, Dylan, Muddy Waters, The Staples Singers, etc.) So, what gives? How come most people born after 1980 have no idea who they are? Why are they never played on classic rock stations? This one remains a real mystery to me.
Sport: Hockey
It’s got all sorts of things Americans love: violence, speed, some strategy. My guess is that
a) it’s a sport that most kids don’t play because of climate and expensive equipment
b) it has rules that loosely resemble soccer (offsides, shoot-outs, etc)
c) it’s played indoors. I realize that basketball is too, but pro and college basketball both trail football and baseball in popularity (even though Americans love it). We like our sports played outdoors.
Actor (living): Gene Wilder
At first you may say, whoa, that’s a little out of left-field. But think about it. He could hold his own next to Richard Pryor, he could sing and dance and be creepy in “Willy Wonka” and was perfect in “Young Frankenstein”. I feel that he didn’t get his fair shake. I’ve always thought he could have been great in some serious dramas.
Actor (deceased): Ray Milland
If you’ve ever seen “The Lost Weekend”, you will know what I am talking about. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better portrayal of an alcoholic.
TV shows:
- Get A Life
Only on for one season, but Chris Elliot really put out a masterpiece. Some people don’t see the genius, but I challenge anyone to think of a better premise for a plot than a 30 year old paperboy living with his parents. Handsome Boy Modeling School, indeed.
- Martin
Does no one else recognize the impact of Martin? Before that show came on the air, the only “black” TV shows that Americans knew were ones like “The Cosby Show” and “Benson”. ”Martin” totally took everything to a whole new level. It was ground-breaking. And it was damn funny.
Comedian: Bob Newhart
The man was an accountant before he turned to comedy. His telephone routines are hilarious. He had two extremely successful TV shows and continues to do shows on the road into his 80’s. Certainly he has had plenty of success, but he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Whenever I hear people talk about influences in comedy, they very rarely mention Newhart. The guy perfected the role of straight man and actually managed to make it funny. But then again, maybe the whole straight man routine died out. If it has, then that is a shame.
Noir movie: Double Indemnity
“The Maltese Falcon” and “The Big Sleep” get a lot of fanfare (and deservedly so) but for my money, I think “Double Indemnity” is the best. There’s that scene where Barbara Stanwyck is sitting down and she and Fred MacMurray (a close runner-up for underrated dead actor) are discussing the crime, and the light filtering in through the blinds looks like prison bars across her face. Excellent.
Teen movie: Dazed and Confused
We all knew a Wooderson in school. We all drank beer and cruised around and hung out at places like the Moon Tower. What makes D&C a great teen movie are the interactions between the seniors and freshmen-to-be. I think it shows the randomness of the events and interactions that shape your time in high school.
There’s more stuff, but I think I’ll stop here for now. The list could really go on and on. Maybe this will become a semi-regular series. Just fighting injustice one post at a time, and all that jazz.
