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Navigating the vast universe of Alan Rickman's filmography is a bit like exploring an old, majestic library – every corner you turn, you find unexpected treasures, and some of the best books aren't the ones displayed in the front.
As we spotlight 15 of Rickman's underrated masterpieces, we're not just talking about the usual suspects like the silky-voiced villain in 'Die Hard' or the heart-wrenching portrayal of Snape in 'Harry Potter'.
No, we're digging deeper, unearthing those cinematic gems where Rickman's performances were as quietly powerful as a whisper in a thunderstorm, yet somehow didn't get the standing ovation they deserved.
1. "Eye in the Sky" (2015) Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% A tense military thriller revolving around a drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, which escalates when a young girl enters the kill zone, leading to an international dispute over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare and drone strikes.
2. "Something the Lord Made" (2004) Rotten Tomatoes score: 93% Based on a true story, the film chronicles the groundbreaking and turbulent partnership between white surgeon Alfred Blalock and black lab technician Vivien Thomas, as they defy racial barriers to develop heart surgery techniques that save the lives of "blue babies."
3. "The Search for John Gissing" (2001) Rotten Tomatoes score: 89% An American businessman, Matthew Barnes, travels to London for a career-defining meeting but is undermined by his British counterpart, John Gissing, leading to a series of comedic misadventures as he attempts to salvage his career and marriage.
4. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (1990) Rotten Tomatoes score: 76% A woman, Nina, devastated by the death of her beloved partner, Jamie, finds him returning as a ghost, leading to a bittersweet and quirky romance that helps her to confront her grief and move forward in life, only to realize that Jamie's presence is preventing her from doing so.
5. "Close My Eyes" (1991) Rotten Tomatoes score: 67% In 1980s London, a sexually charged and controversial love affair unfolds between a young man, Richard, and his sister, Natalie, set against a backdrop of political and social change, leading to a dramatic exploration of forbidden love, morality, and family dynamics.
6. "Snow Cake" (2006) Rotten Tomatoes score: 65% Following a tragic car accident, Alex Hughes forms an unlikely friendship with Linda, an autistic woman, and becomes involved in the life of her neighbor, Maggie, leading to a journey of self-discovery, healing, and an exploration of the complexities of human relationships.
7. "The Winter Guest" (1997) Rotten Tomatoes score: 63% Set in a frosty Scottish seaside town, the film delicately interweaves four stories, focusing on a recently widowed woman, Elspeth, and her daughter Frances, as they navigate their complex relationship and the concept of letting go, amidst encounters with local residents.
8. "Dark Harbor" (1998) Rotten Tomatoes score: 61% A troubled couple, David and Alexis, rescue a mysterious young man, who becomes entangled in their strained relationship, leading to a dangerous love triangle filled with deceit, betrayal, and ultimately a shocking revelation.
9. "Mesmer" (1994) Rotten Tomatoes score: 57% This historical drama portrays the life of Franz Anton Mesmer, an 18th-century Austrian doctor known for his unconventional treatment of patients using magnetism, exploring his rise, the controversy surrounding his methods, and his fall from grace in the scientific community.
10. "Bottle Shock" (2008) Rotten Tomatoes score: 48% The story of the early days of California winemaking, featuring the now-infamous blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that pitted American wines against the French, leading to a dramatic and heartwarming tale of underdog victory and the birth of Napa Valley's world-renowned wine industry.
11. "An Awfully Big Adventure" (1995) Rotten Tomatoes score: 40% Set in post-war Liverpool, a teenage girl, Stella, joins a local theater company and becomes entangled in a complex web of romantic and sexual relationships with the older members of the troupe, revealing the harsh realities behind the theater's glamour.
12. "The January Man" (1989) Rotten Tomatoes score: 24% A disgraced former cop, Nick Starkey, is reinstated to track down a serial killer in New York City, using unconventional methods and engaging in romantic entanglements, leading to a suspenseful and humorous hunt that challenges the police department's norms.
13. "Blow Dry" (2001) Rotten Tomatoes score: 19% A small English town becomes the unlikely venue for the British Hairdressing Championship, where a former champion, Phil Allen, his estranged wife, and their son reunite to compete against an unscrupulous rival, leading to family reconciliation and humorous situations amidst the competition.
14. "Gambit" (2012) Rotten Tomatoes score: 18% An art curator, Harry Deane, disgruntled with his abusive boss, plans an elaborate con involving a fake Monet painting, with the help of a Texas rodeo queen, but the scheme spirals out of control, leading to unexpected twists and comedic situations.
15. "The Song of Lunch" (2010) A middle-aged, unnamed book editor reunites with his former lover, now married and living in Paris, for lunch at an old haunt in London, leading to a poignant exploration of memory, longing, and the passage of time, told mostly in verse.
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