The Drop is easily a top 5 overall film for me, but I decided to give it the number 1 spot on my Most Underrated list simply because it deserves to be number 1 on some list.  This is a perfect place for a film like The Drop.  It received a decent release, but was still overlooked by most people.  This is especially surprising considering it was James Gandolfini's final film.  Speaking of Gandolfini, he gives one last great performance as a Tony Soprano that never was.  He's a wannabe gangster that gets his bar taken over from his by the local Chechen gang.  Make no mistake about it though, this is Tom Hardy's film.  He gives one of the best performances of the year, a performance that is sure to be overlooked come Oscar season.

I love finding films like this, a film I had never heard of and was no where near my radar until I saw a trailer for it about a month before release.  It's also exciting discovering a new actor on the rise (excuse me, I'm not a Downton Abbey fan).  The Guest is a hard movie to describe, especially without giving away too much.  Simply put, it has tons of style and it really seems to be channeling films from the 80's. The last act of the film has a very strong horror film vibe and the fact that the film takes place during Halloween only adds to that.  Those who give The Guest a chance are bound to be disappointed if they expect a typical story.  For those looking for something a little different, The Guest might just be your cup of tea.

I first learned of Blue Ruin while researching for my Most Anticipated Films list 2 years ago.  All I saw was a single picture.  This picture (it turns out it was a pre-production still taken in order to sell the film to potential financiers) was so intriguing that it stuck with me.  Since the film wasn't coming out that year, I didn't include it on my list.  Of course, I forgot the name of the film and had to dig through the internet to find it.  I'm so glad I did because Blue Ruin is one of the most interesting film I've seen all year.  It's a revenge flick like no other.  It's raw and striking it its execution.  Films like Blue Ruin are a triumph of filmmaking.  It was made for a minimum budget and the filmmakers literally gambled everything to make this film and get it sold to a studio.  They emptied out their savings and put multiple mortgages on their houses.  It's passion like this you can only find in the Indie film genre.

Wow, did Tom Hardy have a great year or what?  As great as he was in The Drop, Locke might be an even more impressive performance. This is mainly because he's the only person who appears on screen. You see, the entire film takes place in a car.  I know what you're thinking, "How boring."  Wrong.  Locke manages be to captivating with just Tom Hardy talking on the phone.  Hardy's character is in the mist of a personal and professional crisis.  We are his passenger as he races against the clock to keep his life from spiraling out of control. Despite the small confines, the director manages to keep the film from looking boring.  Each shot is new and nothing seems recycled. An amazing accomplishment considering what they're working with. Locke won't be for everybody.  There's nothing massive that happens.  It's just a guy on the phone living his life, but boy is it intriguing.

Enemy is one of the more interesting films I've seen in a long time. If you like your films to make you think, with a heavy side of "WTF" then Enemy might be for you. Enemy is directed by Denis Villeneuve, who directed Prisoners, one of the best films of 2013 and also stars Jake Gyllenhaal. Enemy tells the story of a history professor that sees his exact look-alike in a movie. The rest of the film truly keeps you guessing. The film doesn't offer up any answers as to what is really going on in the end, a fact that might enrage a few people. For me, that's what makes the movie great, the endless discussions it will provoke. Enemy is the kind of film that will divide people, but the final scene is one of the most jaw-dropping moments I've ever seen in a film.

Is there an actor working today less interested in making Hollywood films than Guy Pearce?  Sure, he has made his share of studio films, let's not forget he was in Iron Man 3, but he's made a career out of really intriguing Indie films.  The Rover takes place in Australia about a decade after some kind of apocalypse.  Think Mad Max but with less maniacs dressed in S&M outfits.  We aren't given much more information than that.  We aren't given a whole lot of information on Pearce's character either.  He seems weary and tired and just when things can't get any worse, his last possession on Earth is taken from him - his car.  The rest of the film is his quest to retrieve his car. There's more to it than that, but I won't spoil it for those interested in seeing the film. 

Lucy is directed by Luc Besson and stars Scarlet Johansson. Besson has made some of my favorite movies, mainly Leon: The Professional and The Fifth Element, so I was excited to see what he could do with Lucy.  The trailer wanted people to think that Lucy was some popcorn action flick, but Besson has pulled one over on everybody.  Lucy is essentially an art house genre flick disguised as a mainstream blockbuster.  Lucy is filled with subliminal and metaphorical messages, as well as themes of evolution and humanity. Lucy might have been a top 10 overall film for me this year if it wasn't for the ending that gets away from them a little. Regardless, it's worth a viewing.

I feel like I keep saying, "This film isn't for everybody."  I suppose you can say that for any film, but it turns out that is usually the case for films that end up on my underrated list.  Those films tend to be more artsy and not typical of normal Hollywood standards.  That's fine by me, because I get tired of the same old thing from Hollywood. Anyway, Dom Hemingway is not for everybody, it's crude, rude and vulgar.  It also happens to be wickedly funny.  Jude Law gives a fantastic performance as a notorious safe-cracker that was just released from jail after serving a 12 year sentence.  My biggest problem with Dom Hemingway is the second act settles down and deals with Dom as a father and his hopes to forge a relationship with his daughter.

Yikes!  Everything on my list is pretty dark and heavy.  Thankfully Chef brings a little lighter fare.  Chef is written, directed and stars Jon Favreau.  Favreau directed the first two Iron Man films as well as the disappointing Cowboys & Aliens.  It's clear that he was looking for something more personal.  Favreau plays Carl, a chef that works in a prestigious restaurant.  Tired of cooking the same dishes on a dated menu, he wants to prove that he has some amazing ideas for new recipes.  The owner doesn't take kindly and soon Carl is out of a job. He decides to open up a food truck where he can get back to basics and cook food he's passionate about.  Chef is a love letter to cuisine. Many of the shots of food are filmed like a love scene, but this film is more about fatherhood.  Carl takes his son on the road with him and really bonds with him for the first time.  Chef is a really uplifting film and I'm surprised it didn't get more attention.

When something works, Hollywood runs it into the ground.  Ever since Harry Potter, every studio is looking for their Young Adult franchise.  Twilight and The Hunger Games have been the most profitable franchises that have spawned, but there are about a dozen other clones that crashed and burned along the way.  That's why it's understandable why people stayed away from The Maze Runner. Especially since Divergent, another Young Adult dystopian film, came out earlier in the year.  I thought Divergent was kind of mundane, but Maze Runner was full of life and I really found myself having a good time.  The mystery is well displayed and I love the Lord of the Flies vibe.  I was a little iffy on the ending, but it's going to be a series (of course) so we will just have to see where it goes.

Speaking of Divergent and Young Adults books, we come to The Fault in Our Stars, which is based on a popular Young Adult book and stars Shailene Woodley.  Woodley had a big year and also stared in the Young Adult blockbuster Divergent.  She got tons of attention for Divergent, but Fault is a far superior film.  Woodley gives a heart-breaking performance as a teenager dying of cancer.  I know this sounds like a downer of a film, but it's really beautiful.  The film deals with young love and living life to the fullest no matter how short it will be.  It really should be seen by everybody and not just brushed off as a film made for tween girls.