Bug (2006)
Directed by: William Friedken
Starring: Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr.
Academy Awards (winners in bold): None
Academy Awards it should have been nominated for: Best Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score
Why this movie is underrated: This movie came out to limited fanfare and I think most people didn't really understand or relate to it. I watched this movie one night and discovered that it is truly a great film and most people will choose not to see it.
For more details and a (spoiler ridden) plot review, see my review of the movie here. As I state in that review, this is a movie that just sticks with you. You will come away from it with one of those "what the eff just happened" looks on your face and won't know what to make of it. However, upon reflection and really thinking about it and working things out in your head, I think most people will realize the greatness of this film.
I think the film didn't appeal to most people due to the nature of it. It is a movie you definitely have to think about to get, and since it was based on a play it is limited in it's scenery, pretty much contained completely to a hotel room. Also, the title of the movie is unappealing. Yet, this movie shows why William Friedken was once considered a master of his craft and may represent a return to form for him.
The tension is constructed perfectly and the actors are directed to give phenomenal performances. It takes a special director to create this much tension and emotion in a movie given the limited set and, predominantly, interaction between only two actors for the majority of the movie. This is what makes this movie so brilliant. Friedken is able to keep the tension taut and keep us guessing. Some people will complain about the ending but I think the ending only adds to the brilliance of the film and it is definitely worth everyone's time.
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