Some movies flew under the audience’s radar from the last decade. While the movies to be mentioned have distinct flaws that detract from the quality on screen, they are still worth pointing out for the merits they achieved.
For a film to qualify for this list, they need to have a rotten score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes as of December 16. In this way, these films could be looked at a second time from a different angle. With that said, here are ten movies from the last decade with a rotten score that deserve a second viewing and a second chance.
Captive State (2019) - 45%
While the story of humanity rebelling against their alien captors is nothing new (Falling Skies being the example), it is the central drive for this sci-fi thriller, starring John Goodman, Vera Farmiga and Ashton Sanders.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt has a confident vision that really engages the audience to tension-built situations. And though most of them blend into narrative confusion, it will still leave politically relevant undertones that puts it above its sci-fi contemporaries.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2016) - 45%
Ang Lee is an innovative filmmaker who is able to jump from one genre to another. So, he utilized the 4K resolution of 120 frames per second in this adaptation of the Ben Fountain novel. Not only the visual choice detracted from the experience, its script lacked the veracity that the novel contained.
Nevertheless, it succeeded with a stark view of a soldier jumping from a funeral of his fellow comrade, then a halftime show. The extreme contrasts are remarkable.
Immortals (2011) - 39%
Tarsem Singh has been of the most distinctive visual directors with films like The Cell and The Fall. He then gives his own take of a Greek epic with this loose adaptation of the story of Theseus, played by Henry Cavill. What it fell on its unoriginal, wonky narrative was compensated with a taste of Singh’s signature staging, painting-like cinematography and visual knack on staging scenes.
Immortals may be a blatant rip-off of 300, but it has enough visual heft.
The Losers (2010) - 48%
Between the two mercenary team films that faced off in 2010, The Losers beats The A-Team movie adaptation for its several cool scenes. This is an action movie that rounded up a decent cast, such as a tough Jeffrey Dean Morgan, a scene-stealing Chris Evans, a sleek Zoe Saldana, a sleek Idris Elba and a slimy Jason Patric, who are able to cool set pieces that seemingly translated the panels from the DC comic book series it was based on.
The Monuments Men (2014) - 31%
George Clooney has a spotty record in directing movies, though that doesn’t stop audiences from flocking to most of his films. And yet, moviegoers seemed to miss out on his underrated 2014 WWII heist movie.
Clooney stars in this true story with Matt Damon as two Monuments Men who recruited experts with no military background to dive into war-torn Europe to rescue pieces of art. The cast includes John Goodman, Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban and Cate Blanchett, and they all try to retrieve art pieces before the Nazis do. What it fails in terms of box office numbers, it succeeded in packed chemistry and the fun tone that Clooney and the cast exude.
Papillon (2018) - 52%
This second adaptation of Henri Charrière’s account of his prison escape really fell short from its superior 1973 film version, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
Charlie Hunnam may not be McQueen’s Papillon, but he packed enough punches and grit to give out his own take of the former Parisian safecracker. And he and Rami Malek make for an intriguing double act that loads this biopic thriller with enough immensity to separate it from the 1973 film, despite falling short.
Promised Land (2012) - 52%
Matt Damon joined again with his frequent collaborator Gus van Sant in this environmental drama, where he and Frances McDormand play lawyers who try to buy a town’s drilling rights for fracking operations, all the while dodging an adversary in the form of John Krasinski’s environmental advocate.
The film frankly juggles a crucial environmental message and dramatic twists in its jumbled narrative. Yet, as a movie of the moment, it can be seen as a stark portrait of social urgency
Downsizing (2017) - 48%
Back to Damon again. For this case, he teamed up with Alexander Payne for an existential comedy about a man who signed up to be shrunk down to five inches, only for his wife to back out and leave him purposeless.
This comedy drama had a strong premise that only failed in taking advantage of its world-building and domestic undertones, in vein of Payne’s signature narratives. Yet, it is worth seeing again for its satirical bites and Hong Chau’s star-making performance.
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013) - 51%
When Ben Stiller envisioned his own take of James Thurber’s short story as a feature-length inspirational Nike ad, he only marginally succeeded. Yet it was still a compelling adventure film that pitted Stiller both in the director’s chair and starring role as a worker for Life magazine who goes on a globetrotting search for a missing asset.
While the movie’s unoriginal story and product placement were main detractors, its gorgeous cinematography, bizarre daydreaming scenes and compelling performances makes this worthwhile. In fact, since Stiller is mostly known for his comedic roles, his portrayal of a largely stoic role should be commended.
Tomorrowland (2015) - 50%
Brad Bird is an animation genius who is able to translate his work to live-action, with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol to prove it. He once again proved it with 2015 science-fiction film Tomorrowland, based on the Disnelyand attraction.
Though the final product failed in the box office and garnered a mixed response, it is worth looking back into for its lofty ambitions, Bird’s excellent direction, and positive outlook on unlocking creative potentials. It’s impossible to watch Tomorrowland without thinking that this is how Walt Disney envisioned a technologically creative future.
