If you've read my
Top 100 list of favorite dramas, I think you'll find that a lot of the biggest, most popular, and most hard-hitting films made my list, but there is still a whole world of drama films that fell just a bit short for me personally. That is not to say that any of them aren't worthwhile, or even that they're any better or worse than what's on my list. I would like to take the time now to list the films I've considered for the final list, or recognize as great dramas worth seeing. These honorable mentions are interesting and invoking in their own right, and I think most of them should be worth checking out.
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A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan Insaeng): This film's focus on character is what compelled me to list it as a great crime drama. However, with the sheer level of action, suspense, and emotion, I was never fully comfortable listing this film on a drama list. I decided it's best classified as either a thriller or action film. The same can be said for other Korean crime films, such as
OldBoy,
I Saw the Devil,
Memories of Murder,
The Housemaid,
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and
Mother. Man, that thrillers list will be epic...
A Picture of Dorian Gray (1945): This is a good-looking film, and an interesting story worth seeing. It does drag a bit though, and its supernatural premise might make it a better pick for my
list of favorite horror films.
American Gangster: I remember it's generally good, but after all these years, I've rarely bothered to revisit it. It was described to me as quintessential when it was released, and I can see why, but it doesn't quite surpass the other gangster movies I've seen that made the list.
Awakenings: Not always a thrilling film, but Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro offer good performances, and their fight to cure neurological disorders is pretty interesting. Just not quite as big of a standout to make my top 100 list.
The Birdman of Alcatraz: I just recently got a chance to see this film, and it is a good-looking film with quality characters to care for. It got edged off my list just slightly.
Black Narcissus: It is a good-looking film with interesting themes of sin and temptation, but despite all its quality, it doesn't quite resonate as well in the long run.
Blue Valentine: Best known as one of the most frank and uncompromising romance films ever made. No sugar coating, just a full-on exploration of all the ups and downs of relationships. It is a somber film worth seeing, but on repeat viewings, I found it a little less captivating.
Casino: Hey, I had loads of other Scorsese films on the list, so why not this famous piece of work? Truth is, I found
Casino to be really good, but a little less endearing thanks to Sharon Stone's constant screaming.
The Deer Hunter: This is a heck of a story worth seeing. For me personally, it tends to drag at spots, so it falls a little short of the drama list. It will surely be listed on a top 100 war movies list though.
The Departed: I could probably justify this as a crime drama in the same vein as others that made the list, but for whatever reason, I feel it's better suited for a list of thrillers. I have to admit though, I keep forgetting about this movie; I remember it's great (and I might even like it better than the original film it's based on:
Infernal Affairs), but I've yet to give it a re-watch to see how it holds up.
Doctor Zhivago: I've always been fond of this movie, and it probably should have made my list. But, I feel its best at home listed among other historic epics.
The Double Life of Veronique: This deserves a mention for being one of the most beautifully-shot movies I've seen. Unfortunately, I always felt its plot is very uneventful.
Drive: Was on the list originally, somewhere in the middle. Despite having solid character work, I decided the film is better classified as a thriller.
Fargo: Was originally close to the top of my list, but I decided it's better classified as a thriller rather than a drama.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: Deserves props for being wild, surreal, and bat-s&#t crazy. It makes the movie a standout, but at the same time it can be a bit overbearing, and wears the plot thin.
The French Connection: It is a good, gritty cop thriller, but despite all it's dramatic aspects, I figure it's best classified as a thriller (or, maybe even an action film).
Friday Night Lights: As you can probably tell, I don't really follow sports, so sports films are a rarity for me personally. I did find this one enjoyable. Just not quite enjoyable enough to make the top 100 dramas list.
Ghost: A decent film and a decent story. The only really bad thing about it is the sentimentality, which is through the roof.
Go: Not really sure if it's even considered a drama. It has comedy, sure. It has thrills. It has...stuff. Seriously, what is this film?
The Godfather Part III: That's right, I don't think this is all that terrible like people make it out to be. Doesn't mean I consider it good enough for the top 100 dramas, but I remember enjoying the film well enough.
Gomorrah: This is possibly the most realistic mafia film ever made, shot on location in Naples to show a more grounded portrayal of thug life. It is an interesting film that is often violent and disquieting, but it's pacing can be rather slow.
The Hate (La Haine): Probably should have made my list. It's not usually the kind of movie I like - it is a random plot - but the characters and their clashes with the law keep it interesting. The film overall is just plain good.
Heat: There is plenty to love about Michael Mann's epic drama that entwines cops, robbers, and their families' livelihoods. My appreciation of the film improved on the last viewing, but it is still a film that drags for me personally.
Lord of the Flies: The story is a literary classic, so the movie is worth seeing for story alone. The actual filming is okay.
The Machinist: I recall this being a pretty good, albeit surreal and mind-bending film with its own industrialized environment and its own sense of cause and effect. I just couldn't recall if this is truly a good drama, or just a good thriller.
127 Hours: Was originally within the top 10 or so, but after some consideration, I decided to classify this as a thriller film rather than drama, even though there is some drama to this and the film technically falls into both genres. But really, with the film's intensity and focus on survival, I felt it's more at home among films like 2011's
Frozen.
Only God Forgives: Expressionistic to the point where it'll likely lose audiences and strain their attention span. I personally find it noteworthy for its visual oomph and themes, but I figure it's better on a list of thrillers.
Over the Top: A half-way decent, feel-good sports movie, but it is rather cheesy and outdated.
Persepolis: A fairly interesting animated film that offers some semi-autobiographical insight on life in Tehran and Islamic culture, and how it compares to the West. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize I probably should have put it on my list, because it is a good film overall.
Quadrophenia: Was always a hit-and-a-miss with me personally. I can dig the soundtrack, the occasional outbursts and scenes of protest, and the finale along the cliffs of Dover. Everything else is rather uneventful.
The Room: .....psyche! Just kidding. This movie sucks.
Slumdog Millionaire: Never thought this was a bad film, although I'm sure people will still gripe about it being overrated. However, it is a film I've only seen once and never really bothered to revisit, leaving its long-term resonance questionable.
Spun: Only just now got a chance to watch it, after making the top 100 list. It is a very wacky, trippy, and weird film that drags the audience through the grungy ups and downs of substance abuse. It's easily comparable to
Requiem for a Dream, but I find the latter more profound.
Varsity Blues: Same as with
Friday Night Lights, I found this film to be decent, but not quite a big enough standout for me personally to list it as a favorite drama.
