FILMS THAT DESERVED BETTER is an ongoing feature here on The Movie Blog of movies that failed to attract an audience at the theaters and failed to perform well at the boxoffice, yet were exceptional films. We just want to give out a hardy slap on the back and say “We love ya anyway”.
Who would have ever thought that the guy who played the little weasel used car salesman in True Lies could turn out to be a fantastic director? Bill Paxton completely knocked it out of the park with his first attempt behind the camera with Frailty. A combination of horror and psychological thriller, Paxton weaves together a thoroughly creative and original story with such tension, atmosphere and pacing you are completely and helplessly engaged the whole runtime.
Paxton and Matthew McConaughey turn in fantastic performances, and to be honest I don’t think McConaughey has ever been better that he was in Frailty.
In speaking about “twist” endings, I’m not sure that any film has ever had a twist at the end that was both as surprising, and thoroughly satisfying at the same time. I thought about this film for days after seeing it just for the way it all ended.
What astounds me is that Paxton can direct a film like this one… then show some diversity by doing a respectable job directing Shia LaBeouf in “The Greatest Game Ever Played”, and yet hasn’t been handed anything else to helm. Even though “Greatest Game” wasn’t a fantastic film, as far as I’m concerned Paxton is 2 for 2 and I’d be happy to hire him if I were producing a film.
Sadly, Frailty failed to find a large audience only pulling in $13 million… what’s even sadder is that unlike Office Space (which also did poorly at the box office) it also never really found an audience on DVD either… which is a DAMN SHAME. This is a SOLID and worthy film. Do yourself a favor and run out to grab this puppy… and watch it with the lights on.
Weird, I’ve actually seen this movie and couldn’t agree more. In a land of movies that leave no real impression on viewers. This movie actually played an excellent orchestra of events which in the end turned you around in your seat and left you thinking…as you said for days (results may very).
After hearing such great things about this film, I bought the dvd and… Wow! What an overated piece of shit!!
Sorry for sounding so nasty, but it’s not that it was ‘bad’, as in an awful film, but it was…hmmm….’forgettable’ I guess is the word I’m thinking of.
It was a film which wasted minutes of my life, and then I moved on…(except when making comments like this).
At times, I think that being ‘forgettable’ or ‘blah” is even worse than a bad film.
Love this movie. Its one of my favorites. McCaughney can be either or and that is what is so great about his character.I love what happens with the two brothers as well. Paxton knocks the ball right out of the park on his first attempt. I remember the commercials for Frailty with all those quotes from other directors praising the film. The praise was well deserved, its fate was not. Its too bad something original gets treated that way while PG-13 horror movies and remakes get top billing.
No way, the ending was so good. All the time you believe they are just crazy murders and then…
spoilers
They are actually working for God to destroy demons. BRILLIANT!
Frailty I enjoyed, but noone knows this movie exsists. And i feel that there better movies that should get a mention First! for Example one of my favourites Narc (2002).
I was one of the handful of people who caught this movie in the theater and have recommended it to people many times over.
Frailty was a good film, but I have to agree that it was very conflicting, and the ending was frustrating at best.
One of the most manipulative and conflicting movies ever made. i really loved it, but the ending absolutely doesn’t fit in with the rest of the film and just adds a big fat question mark on the purpose of the film.
I remember seeing this in the theatre on the first week of it’s run, there were THREE other people there.
Awesome choice! This movie was fantastic! McCaughney, Paxton, and Boothe were all solid, and the kids’ performances in the movie were some of the best I’ve seen!
good call, this movie is fucking amazing.
Indeed a very good movie. Bill Paxton’s not only a competent director, but also gives an excellent performance in this. The story is chilling and Matthew McConaughey has a really great narrating voice.
I was super excited to see this movie and while it started off amazingly well, I thought it because very formulaic very quickly and the ending was goofy. Good premise, a little bit poor execution.
I remember running to the store on dvd Tuesday, to buy it, and my friend thinking I was a little off my rocker. Loved this one, even though I thought it tried to be a bit too twisty at the end.
Never even heard of this. I’ll rent this.
I saw this movie a long time ago and it was great. I was just thinking about it the other day and was wanting to watch it again b/c I remember that I liked it so much.
Saw it in the theater and loved it. But I remember it really wasn’t advertised. I had to convince my friends, who are also pretty big movie buffs, to go, because they hadn’t even heard of it. Too bad. Great flick, and near the top of my collection.
Thanks for the recommendation I rented it today and just finished it. Now I am going to add it to my collection!!!
Cheers
Yeah, this was a great movie…the next one you should mention is Memento…
Well, i must be one of the few that have seen this film and own it on dvd … and thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I loved the story telling as well as the surprising twist at the end …
a film that deserved better.
– … out
One of my favorite movies. Already in my collection. The only movie I can stand watching Matthew McConaughey in. Him and Bill Paxton were great but don’t leave out the kids. They also turned in really great performances I thought. Especially the younger kid. I can see why it never got a big audience. I think it’s one of those strange movies that only a few people can appreciate just how great it is.
Yeah I recall watching this earlier this year for the first time, wasn’t really to sure about it since Bill Pullman was directing but in the end I was pretty impressed and thought it was a pretty original plot that you don’t see much.