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Confessions of a Lapsed Writer

 
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Sandy
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:21 am    Post subject: Confessions of a Lapsed Writer Reply with quote

Confessions of a Lapsed Writer

https://www.writebynight.net/abcs-of-writing/write-every-day/

Discussion questions: Are there days you don’t want to write? If so, is there any pattern to them, or trigger? Do you try to force yourself to write anyway? Do you feel guilty on days you don’t write? Where do you suppose that guilt comes from?

We’re told to write every day. Without fail.

A writer writes every day, we’re told.

So, are you not a writer on days you don’t write? Or worse, are you not a writer *at all* unless you write every single day? “I really want to be a writer but I’m not there quite yet — I write only six days a week.”

It’s been more than 100 days since I’ve written. Has it been more than 100 days since I’ve been a writer?

Once I start again, after how many consecutive days of writing can I again claim to be a writer? Seven? Seven thousand?

Last week a college student asked me “Are there days where you don’t want to write?”

Here’s a part of my response:

We’re always told to write every day… which is great, if that’s a groove you’re able to get into and life allows you to do so. But when taken as an imperative — if being told “A writer writes every day” to you means “I *must* write every day or else I’m not a writer” — it applies a lot of unnecessary pressure.

I used to apply that pressure to myself. If I went a few days or weeks without writing, I’d be wracked with guilt. As if the world is waiting on the edge of its seat for my words. As if I owe it to myself to force myself to write when I don’t want to.

Most of us have days when we don’t want to write. Some of us write on those days anyway; others of us don’t. There’s no universal right or wrong. There’s only you, and finding the approach that best fits.

And most of us have days where we legit can’t write. Life laughs at the idea of “write every day.”

For me, in late October life started laughing hysterically. I haven’t written a word since then. In theory, I’ve had time. But I haven’t had the capacity. The necessary headspace.

I’ve learned not to beat myself up over these things. Once I get through this phase, I’ll write again. On the days I feel like it. And sometimes — but only sometimes — on the days when I don’t.

This blog has been pretty thin lately, as I’m sure some of you have noticed. I miss you guys! And these discussions. I’m going to try to post more frequently again.

I’m going to try to get back to writing, too. It’ll take some effort. This post has taken me more than two hours; my word count is about 450, and I doubt it’ll be nominated for best blog post of the year.

But I’ve done it. On one of these I-don’t-want-to-write days.

Do you have days when you don’t want to write? If so, do you recognize any pattern in them?

When you don’t want to write, do you try to do it anyway?

Do you feel guilty when you don’t write? Where do you think the guilt comes from?

Do you feel like you have to write every day to be a writer? What other kinds of pressure do you put on yourself?

david blogWriteByNight co-founder David Duhr is fiction editor at the Texas Observer and co-host of the Yak Babies podcast, and has written about books for the Dallas Morning News, Electric Literature, Publishing Perspectives, and others.

WriteByNight is a writers’ service dedicated to helping you achieve your creative potential and literary goals. We work with writers of all experience levels working in all genres, nationwide and worldwide. If you have a 2021 writing project you’d like a little help with, take a look at our book coaching, private instruction and writer’s block counseling services. If you have a manuscript that’s ready for some editorial care, check out our various critiquing, editorial, and proofing services. For your FREE writer’s diagnostic, “Common problems and SOLUTIONS for the struggling writer, join our mailing list.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

TOP 50 Best Fashion Designers

By Devine Blacksher

https://www.lovehappensmag.com/blog/2020/07/02/top-50-fashion-designers/

1. Coco Chanel

Born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, “Coco” was an exquisite French fashion designer and founder of the well-known CHANEL brand. Her modernist thinking, practical design, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important and influential figure in 20th-century fashion. Coco Chanel was the only fashion designer to be named on the Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century.

2. Donna Karan

Donna Karan’s love of fashion was instilled in her at a young age, shaping her brand in a number of ways. The renowned fashion designer launched Seven Easy Pieces with her first collection in 1984, transforming the way women dressed and examined style. Donna Karan’s understanding of the needs and desires of the modern woman is conveyed through every fabulous piece. The fashion visionary is the sole creator of the DKNY label (Donna Karen New York), flourishing as an iconic creative mind and designer throughout the past three decades.

3. Giorgio Armani

The outstanding Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani, is famous for the clean, tailored lines of his menswear collections. He established Armani, the fashion powerhouse, in 1975. With the aid of his success, he was acclaimed as the most successful Italian designer by 2001. “Successful” is an understatement for Giorgio Armani as he has earned an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a personal fortune of $7 billion as of 2012. Armani is the first designer to ban models who had a Body Mass Index under 18, revolutionizing the fashion industry and transforming how the industry perceives body image. Giorgio Armani is truly a living legend.

4. Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein has dominated the fashion world as a top house for over 75 years. Born in 1942, the Bronx native studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, before apprenticing as a coat and suit designer at a manufacturer in the New York garment district. When he established his company in 1968, he transformed style at an age where hippie-style clothing was all the rage. His timeless aesthetic is portrayed in his collections, emphasizing classic modernity with simple yet trendy and fashionable pieces.

5. Donatella Versace

After the murder of Gianni Versace in 1997, his younger sister Donatella Versace took the reigns in leading the Versace name to new heights and vast fame. She ensured that Versace stores and boutiques would cater to different fashion centers around the world, particularly Milan and New York. Prominent celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez and Madonna, have endorsed the company’s fabulous collection of clothing, accessories, fragrances, and home furnishings.

6. Ralph Lauren

Worth $7.5 billion, Ralph Lauren is celebrated for his exquisite fashion sense that embodies chic sophistication, classic innovation, and style. In 1970, the first Polo logo was showcased in Ralph Lauren’s ground-breaking line of women’s suits that were designed in the classic men’s style. Two years later, the famous short sleeve shirt with the renowned Polo emblem appeared again, becoming a classic. The shirts have since prevailed, permeating throughout the world.

7. Christian Dior

Born in 1905, the iconic French designer was eminent for his distinctive “New Look” silhouette. Debuted in 1947, Christian Dior suits and dresses revolutionized the way women dress and consider fashion following World War II. The fashion house made headlines in July of 2016 as Maria Grazia Chiuri was named the first female artistic director in Dior’s seven decades of male leadership. In two short years, the former Valentino co-creative director has already made an incredible impact on the fashion house, using the runway as a platform to spread messages of women empowerment, feminism, and the arts.

8. Tom Ford

Tom Ford, deemed as one of the most famous contemporary designers, has created high fashion, high-end accessories, and clothing that we can’t get enough of. The designer has served as creative director for both Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci before creating his own fabulous label. The Texas-born icon aspired to be an actor, but fate had other “designs” for him. The icon’s popularity reached its peak in 2000 when he won the award for Best International Designer.

9. Pierre Cardin

The Italian-born Frenchman is praised for his 20thcentury pieces that exuded a futuristic flair. As Pierre Cardin rose to fame in the age of the space race, his creations embodied the perfect touch of innovation, inventiveness, and modishness. His ‘bubble dresses’ radiated science fiction, combining earthly elegance with out-of-this-world colors and avant-garde design.

10. Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent gained popularity in the world of fashion due to his creativity in redesigning masculine clothing into beautiful, feminine pieces for women. Perhaps one of the most renowned designers in France, Yves was the first designer to introduce “power dressing” for women in the form of trendy, high fashion power suits in 1966. The visionary is credited with designing the men’s smoking jacket. His refreshing concept of ready-to-wear fashion has allowed him to make history during his legendary time.

11. Christian Louboutin

Born in France in 1963, Christian Louboutin has flourished as a top fashion designer for over two decades. The icon was expelled from school at age 16, a blessing in disguise in that he was able to work for the brilliant and talented shoe designer Charles Jourdan. In the early 1990s, Louboutin launched his own line of women’s shoes, adding his bold, legendary bright red sole in 1993. The Christian Louboutin brand is a crowd favorite as it enchants women by the striking high heel and eye-catching red sole.

12. Karl Lagerfeld

One of the most acclaimed fashion designers in the world, Karl Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg, Germany. As a teenager, Lagerfeld worked at Balmain for four years before moving to Jean Patou where he became artistic director at 21. His prolific portfolio now encompasses Chanel and Fendi along with his own house. Known for his bold designs and constant reinvention, he’s been hailed by Vogue magazine as the “unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment.” King Karl, the one-man multinational fashion phenomenon.

13. Roberto Cavalli

Born in Florence, Italy in 1940, Roberto Cavalli exuded artistic talent early on. Roberto showcased his first collection in 1970, shocking the world with his beautiful, lavish-printed, colored-leather gowns and denim. Exotic elegance was his signature, enchanting fashion lovers with wild prints and bohemian glamour. He has designed red carpet pieces for exclusive celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham.

14. Marc Jacobs

Born in 1963, New York designer Marc Jacobs has taken the fashion world by storm with his bold, high fashion pieces worn by Cara Delevingne, Dakota Fanning, Kate Moss, and Lady Gaga— to name a few. Since he established his successful label in 1986, Marc Jacobs has never gone out of style, continuing to impress fashion lovers across the globe.

15. Betsey Johnson

The Connecticut-born designer spent her childhood in dance classes, inspiring her exuberant, vivacious label that rocks the fashion industry due to unique, one-of-a-kind designs since the 1960s. Betsey Johnson’s creativity and imagination are apparent in her pieces, constantly ever-changing with the times, but remaining true to herself and her personal design aesthetic, embodying enthusiasm, fun, and fervor.

16. Sandy Powell

British costume designer Sandy Powell has won numerous awards for her incredible, inspiring creations that exude personality and individuality of character. The impressive, Oscar-Winning costume designer has also won three Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, and has been nominated a whopping 12 times for the award. She crafts beautiful, breathtaking masterpieces that elevate the meaning of fashion design in the film industry.

17. Domenico Dolce (R) and Stefano Gabbana

British model Naomi Campbell (C) smiles next to Italian designers Domenico Dolce (R) and Stefano Gabbana during a party marking the 25th anniversary of her career in downtown Shanghai October 28, 2010.
For Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, women empowerment is a significant mantra to live by, demonstrated through their strong designs that emphasize the womanly shape. The duo debuted their collection in Milan in 1985, establishing them as a new luxury brand to be reckoned with. Dolce&Gabbana express a new form of elegance, adding touches of modern classicism that evolves, but steer away from their original timeless creations. Dolce and Gabbana are arguably the most influential designers of our time, revolutionizing the fashion world.

18. Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen perfected his tailoring skills at reputable names such as Anderson & Shepherd, Barmans & Nathans, and Romeo Gigli before launching his own brand in 1992. Alexander McQueen was highly regarded in the fashion industry, recognized for his iconic sense of style, extravagance, and extraordinary design. It came as a devastating surprise when McQueen took his own life in 2010, shocking the fashion world and beyond. The Alexander McQueen label designed Kate Middleton’s wedding gown showcased in 2011 and was praised across the globe for its beautiful craftsmanship.

19. Valentino Garavani

Born in Italy in 1932, Valentino Garavani studied fashion design at a young age, training in Paris in 1950 and starting his own fabulous line in Rome in 1959 after working for impressive houses like Dessus and Laroche. Valentino is celebrated for his profound ability to make women look utterly glamourous. The Italian maestro dressed influential women, such as Jacqueline Kennedy, and goes down in history for his signature fabric shade, Valentino Red.

20. Miuccia Prada

Born on May 10, 1949, one of our favorite Italian fashion designers, Miuccia Prada was once a member of the Italian Communist Party and a mime student. The amazing designer first dazzled the fashion world in 1985 with a series of black nylon handbags and backpacks. Prada has flourished as a billion-dollar company, transforming the fashion world through stylish minimalism based on pared-down design, innovative fabrics, and computer-enhanced patterns, become influentially iconic.

21. Tommy Hilfiger

Known as the champion of star-spangled glamour, Tommy Hilfiger‘s favorite trends go from red, white, and blue. Since introducing his first collection in 1985, no designer has become more closely associated with Ivy League prep than Tommy Hilfiger. After building his company on the modernization of all-American men’s wear and winning the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 1995, Hilfiger introduced women’s wear in 1996 and sold the company for $1.6 billion ten years later.

22. Carolina Herrera

Fashion icon Carolina Herrera has a keen eye for beauty. Her elegant yet dynamic sense of style was shaped at a young age as she was exposed to international culture and global fashion trends in her home country of Venezuela. The style expert and fashion aficionado launched her renowned label in 1981, quickly gaining reputable attention for her refined yet chic designs. Carolina Herrera flourishes in her career as she is celebrated for her classic modernity in dressing celebrities and influential leavers throughout the world.

23. Jean-Paul Gaultier

Born in 1952 in Val-de-Marne, France, Jean-Paul Gaultier thrives as a French fashion designer as he exudes a sensual, irreverent style that continually challenges stereotypical femininity. His style ignores traditional gender roles by embracing androgyny and the freedom of sexuality. At age 18, he joined the house of Pierre Cardin before moving on to Jacques Esterel and Patou. Gaultier’s collection was launched in 1976, but his own design house was established in 1982.

24. Herve Leger

Herve Leger became the most famous when its iconic bandage dresses took the fashion world by storm during its initial production in 1989-1997, and again from 2008-present. Herve Peugnet’s fashion resume is nothing short of impressive. At only 23 years old, Herve Peugnet gained recognition from talented fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld and was sought after by designers, such as Chanel, Lanvin, Fendi, Diane von Furstenburg, Chloe, and Swarovski. When he created the Herve Leger Line at age 28, the fashion world was astounded and inspired by his signature bandage dress, which debuted at Herve Leger‘s 1989 runway show. An instant sensation, the bandage dress is still coveted today.

25. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney’s signature sense of style is sharp and sophisticated when coupled with natural confidence and sexy femininity. Born and raised in London as well as the English countryside, Stella McCartney graduated from Central St. Martins in 1995. Two years later, she debuted two collections and was appointed the Creative Director of Chloe in Paris. The hip fashion icon launched her fashion powerhouse in 2001. Since then, it has grown in fame for its chic designs and the brand’s opposition to leather and fur. The now 51-year-old designer’s collections include ready-to-wear accessories, lingerie, eyewear, and fragrances.

26. Ralph Rucci

When Ralph Rucci launched Chado Ralph Rucci in 1994, a new standard was established for lavish dress coupled with an artistic twist. Ralph Rucci’s work extends beyond trends while he is the quintessential American couturier. Rucci is a forever favorite among high society socialites due to his sculptural silhouettes, impeccable craftsmanship, and to-die-for materials.

27. Salvatori Ferragamo

Born in 1898, Salvatore Ferragamo made his name working with top celebrities and Hollywood stars in the 1920s. The Italian shoe designer established his iconic brand in 1927, changing the way people thought about shoes altogether. His scientific and creative approach to shoes inspired many innovations such as the wedge and cage heel.

28. Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo is an iconic luxury lifestyle designer defined by an empowered sense of glamour and a confident sense of style. Born in 1948 in Penang, Malaysia, Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat designed his first pair of shoes at the young age of 11. The London-based designer traveled to England in the early 1980s to study at the Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney. After graduation, Jimmy Choo remained in England where he established Jimmy Choo Ltd in 1986 with good friend and British Vogue magazine accessories editor Tamara Mellon. The Malaysian icon has created shoes for many prominent figures, such as Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, and Renee Zellweger.

29. Alexandre Herchcovitch

Since launching his collection in 1994, the Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch has turned heads in the fashion industry with bold looks and striking, politically charged ensembles. Alexandre Herchcovitch is a Brazilian icon, celebrated for his famous skull print collection and punk roots. His avant-garde aesthetic and daring taste make him a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world.

30. Mossimo Giannulli

American fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli is world-renowned for his famous youth clothing line, Mossimo. The brand has flourished since its creation in 1986, thriving for its contemporary pieces and fresh collections that are ever-changing with the latest trends. The designer is married to Full House star, Lori Loughlin, and lives in Newport Beach, California, where he founded his company more than three decades ago.

31. John Varvatos

Before launching his career in fashion, Detroit-native John Varvatos had his heart set on teaching science. Fate landed him in retail in 1983, where he began working for Polo Ralph Lauren. Later, in 1990, he was promoted to head of the department of menswear at Calvin Klein. In 1995, Varvatos returned to Ralph Lauren as the design head for menswear and introduced the Polo Jeans line. This success drove him to create his own menswear brand in 2000. Today, John Varvatos continues to prosper, gaining much of his fashion inspiration from his rock-n-roll obsession and favorite artists.

32. Daphne Guinness

Daphne Guinness was born in 1967 to brewery heir Jonathan Guinness and prominent French beauty icon Suzanne Lisney. The legendary UK designer is an heiress, socialite, muse, and mother and has been a fashion stylist, film producer, designer, and perfumer. Guinness is celebrated for her love of couture and extravagant personal style.

33. Jonathan Jony Ive

Sir Jonathan Ive was born in 1967 in London, England. The British designer studied art and Newcastle Polytechnic, paving his way to becoming a successful industrial designer and one of Apple Inc.’s most valued executives. Apple’s Chief Design Officer crafted many of our iMac computers, ensuring its power, speed, and easy-to-use features due to his flawless attention to detail.

34. Kate Spade

Known for her distinctive aesthetic, Kate Spade was celebrated for her modern, sleek, and vibrant, colorful designs. The fashion designer businesswoman was born in 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri. She gained fame for her line of Kate Spade handbags in 1993. Her company expanded soon after, including several brand retail stores and her handbags showcased in many high-end boutiques. In 1996, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honored Kate’s timeless designs by selecting her for the “America’s New Fashion Talent in Accessories” award. Kate Spade New York is known over the world for its bold and stylish designer clothing, designer shoes, women’s fashion accessories, and more. The iconic designer tragically passed on June 5, 2018, due to apparent suicide.

35. Christian Audigier

French entrepreneur and fashion designer, Christian Audigier, was born in France in 1958. Christian Audigier has designed the trucker hats, jeans, t-shirts, bags, jackets, shoes, perfumes, motorcycles, furniture, and many other things for his brands such as Ed Hardy, American Outfitters, Guess, and Von Dutch. An international sensation, Audigier’s iconic designs are sold in more than 3,000 stores around the world.

36. Allegra Versace

Allegra Versace was born in Italy and has an estimated net worth of $800 million dollars. Being the niece of legendary designer Gianni Versace allowed Allegra Versace to receive 50% of the Versace design empire after her uncle’s murder in 1997.

37. Diane Von Furstenberg

Fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg is best known for her use of bold color and unique fits, such as her debut wrap dress which launched her career in 1974. Today, in what Diane calls her “third-act”, she is highly focused on using her voice to empower women around the world through philanthropy, mentorship, and The DVF Awards.

38. Michael Kors

Michael Kors was born on August 9, 1959, in Long Island, New York. The prominent designer moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology but dropped out after two semesters. Kors launched his women’s collection in 1981 and became a judge on Project Runway in 2004. His collections are vastly worn worldwide, even First Lady Michelle Obama posed in a Michael Kors dress for her first official portrait.

39. Tory Burch

Famous for her preppy-bohemian, tunic-style over the past 13 years, Tory Burch has turned her brand into a global household name, a celebrity favorite, and has gained billionaire status! Growing to over 100 freestanding stores, a presence online, and in over 1,000 department and specialty stores, Tory Burch has learned firsthand the obstacles women in business face. This realization prompted her to launch the Tory Burch Foundation in 2009, which provides programs and initiatives to help women-owned small businesses.

40. Phoebe Philo

British fashion designer Phoebe Philo is known for her stunning yet understated designs. Her love of fashion started at a young age, prompting her to go on to study design at Central Saint Martins. After graduating, Philo moved to Paris to join the house of Chloé as Stella McCartney’s design assistant. She took over from McCartney as creative director of the label in 2001, where she presented her first ready-to-wear collection in October of that year. In 2002 she launched the label’s accessories line. Five years later, in September of 2008, she was appointed creative director of French fashion house Céline.

41. Oscar de la Renta

Born in the Dominican Republic in 1932, Oscar de la Renta dressed arguably every important woman throughout his six decades as a fashion designer. From Hilary Clinton to Sarah Jessica Parker, La Renta had arguably every dress any woman wanted to have. The unique tone of red from his dresses became to be known as “de la Renta red”. The designer will always be remembered as the man who knew what women wanted and desired. An old fashion gentleman, Oscar de la Renta lived to dress women and make them feel amazing.

42. Zac Posen

Zac Posen is world-famous for his modern American glamour that combines couture techniques and profound innovation. Born in New York City, the designer attended London’s Central Saint Martins University in the womenswear degree program. He debuted his first runway show at the young age of 21. In Fall 2014, the designer was announced as Creative Director for the prominent brand, Brooks Brothers, a signature women’s collection and accessories.

43. Riccardo Tisci

Relatively new in the fashion world, Italian-born Riccardo Tisci is already making quite the impact. Having graduated from London’s Central Saint Martins Academy in 1999, he was soon picked up as Creative Director for Givenchy womenswear and haute couture.

44. Vera Wang

Bridal gown connoisseur Vera Wang began her career as the youngest editor for Vogue, where she spent 17 years. It wasn’t until age 40, and after 2 years working for Ralph Lauren, that she launched her own collection. Since then, Vera Wang has become a lifestyle brand offering a variety of fashion and home products.

45. Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant was born in 1967 in Paris, France. The fabulous designer never planned on falling in love with design, but after collaborating with good friend and Hermés creative director, Christopher Lemaire, she changed her current plans. Isabel decided not to study economics and switched her course to study design at Studio Berçot fashion school. She created her own brand in 1994, setting up her studio in the Marais in Paris. The designer is known for her bohemian, tomboyish design aesthetic. Isabel Marant offers effortless chic and is practically a uniform for off-duty models and movie stars in the know.

46. Esteban Cortázar

Colombian fashion designer Esteban Cortazar made his name for being the youngest fashion designer in history to debut at prestigious New York Fashion Week. Esteban Cortazar is a Paris-based designer whose career includes his eponymous line CORTAZAR, a tenure as chief creative director at Emanuel Ungaro, and much more. Vogue even deemed the designer as “the most uninhibited designer showing in Paris.”

47. Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Isabel Swire was born in England on April 8, 1941. Considered one of the most eccentric and candid fashion designers in the world, Westwood rose to fame in the late 1970s when her early designs helped shape the look of the punk rock and grunge movement. Her daring sense of style has made her an iconic fashion figure who will go down in history. Vivienne Westwood is truly a living legend in the fashion world.

48. Paul Smith

Born in 1946 in Nottingham, England, Paul Smith‘s childhood ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist. However, at age 17, he suffered a serious accident that put an end to his dream of racing. Ironically, his time in the hospital allowed him to befriend local art students who would introduce him to the world of art and fashion. His design aesthetic is synonymous with classic British tailoring and style. Simplicity is the designer’s mantra, along with designing “well-made, good quality, [and] simple cut” fashion.

49. Jil Sander

German fashion designer, Jill Sander, created her first collection in 1973. She soon became celebrated for designing sophisticated, stylish workwear that was expertly tailored and made in lavish fabrics. Her collections had neutral color palettes and focused on simplicity and wearability, which stood in stark contrast to the brightly-hued, highly embellished looks that would follow in the 1980s.

50. Anna Sui

American fashion designer Anna Sui is famed for her boho-chic style aesthetic and several ready-to-wear collections. The Detroit native has mastered the art of pairing bright colors with black. Her designs are also famous for using bold fabrics that reflect her Asian culture and individual creativity.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 19 Most Underrated Movies on Netflix

https://time.com/6110264/underrated-movies-netflix/?utm_source=pocket_discover

By Stephanie Zacharek
October 26, 2021 4:17 PM EDT

What makes a movie underrated? The word raises so many unanswerable questions: Underrated by whom? Assessed by what scale? A film considered underrated in one country can be a huge hit in another. The term and the concept are both faulty.

Yet they are convenient, at least as an expression of support for works that have a spark of something yet have somehow become forgotten, if they were ever appreciated at all. For this list of films that are possibly underappreciated by viewers, I propose the more tempered adjective underloved. Some of these films were at least moderately popular when they were released in theaters but have somehow been forgotten in the year-in, year-out waves of new releases. Others are pictures that received largely negative reviews upon their release but deserve a second look. And one is a largely overlooked gem, made in 2020 and released in the United States in 2021, a picture that has earned a great deal of praise from critics but still hasn’t benefited from any groundswell of popular support. At the very least, taken collectively these movies are an invitation to dig deeper into your queue in search of lost wonders. Movie lovers are, after all, treasure hunters at heart.

The Disciple

Writer-director Chaitanya Tamhane has fashioned a gorgeous, quietly affecting film about an aspiring star in the world of Indian classical music (played, superbly, by Aditya Modak) whose gifts may not be enough to earn him the respect and acclaim he craves. Is it possible—or even a good idea—to live for art? The Disciple—one of the finest films of the 2021 release year—weighs both the joys and the consequences of trying to do so.

By the Sea

Upon its release in 2015, this melodrama for grown-ups, written and directed by Angelina Jolie, received plenty of scoffing reviews. But in addition to being gorgeous to look at (thanks to its French seaside setting, and cinematography by Christian Berger), this story of a complicated, unraveling marriage—starring Jolie and Brad Pitt, at a time when their own marriage had hit rocky shoals—has a dreamy, moody shape. It’s a story about people in trouble, charting their own risky way out.

Croupier

Mike Hodges—director of the icy-great 1971 Get Carter, as well as the gloriously mad 1980 Flash Gordon—has been a maddeningly un-prolific director, disappearing for years, if not decades, between movies. In 1998, Hodges re-emerged practically from the ether with Croupier, in which Clive Owen gives a sterling performance as a coolly ambitious aspiring writer who, in order to make a living, returns to a line of work he both detests and excels at. The picture was an arthouse hit (remember those?) upon its release in North America. It’s great enough to deserve rediscovery.

Atlantics

French director Mati Diop’s swimmy romantic dream of a movie won a Grand Prize of the Jury at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, and earned ecstatic reviews from critics. But this drama of two lovers in Dakar, played by Mame Bineta Sane and Traore, separated when one strikes out across the sea in search of a better life, casts such a luminous spell that it deserves a wider audience. See if you’re not caught up in its starry net.

Letters to Juliet

This luminous, gentle 2010 romantic comedy, directed by Gary Winick, was treated as a throwaway upon its release. Time to change that. Amanda Seyfried (who is finally being recognized as the terrific actor she is) plays a young woman seeking the wisdom of Shakespeare’s tragic heroine in the Italian countryside. Instead, she meets an older woman—played by perhaps our finest living actress, Vanessa Redgrave—who is herself in search of a lost love. If I tell you that that erstwhile lover is played by Redgrave’s own real-life lost—and then found—love Franco Nero, and that the two are spectacular together, will you watch?

The American

In 2007, Anton Corbijn—who first made his name as a rock’n’roll photographer—gave us the superb drama Control, which told the tragic story of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Corbijn’s second feature, The American, from 2010, wasn’t nearly as acclaimed—maybe because a contemplative thriller that’s low on explosions, car chases and even dialogue seems an unlikely picture for a rock photographer to make. But the movie’s austere stylishness deserves a second chance. George Clooney plays a secret operative with specialized skills, hiding out in the Italian countryside. He’s a man who, it first appears, has no center—and watching Clooney wander toward his character’s lost self is one of this movie’s great pleasures.

Christine

In 1974, Christine Chubbuck, a 29-year-old news reporter in Sarasota, Fla., committed suicide while on the air. Antonio Campos’ sensitively handled 2016 film tells the story of events leading up to that tragic incident, and Rebecca Hall is extraordinary as Chubbuck: It’s tempting for a performer who’s playing an alienated, isolated person to just put up a wall of inscrutability. But Hall’s Christine draws us closer rather than pushing us away—this performance is a quiet, multidimensional marvel.

Get On Up

Chadwick Boseman was an extraordinary performer whose career came to a heartbreaking halt just as it was getting started. His greatness was apparent even in his early film performances, among them his turn as James Brown in Tate Taylor’s 2014 biopic Get on Up. The movie is a bit of an experiment, and not everything in it works. But Boseman is wondrous to watch, giving us a portrait of a man whose staggering gifts—accompanied by grand show-biz braggadocio and boldness—made him a royal among American performers.

Double Jeopardy

Got a pile of ironing to do, or some other soul-killing household chore? Time to fire up this 1999 firecracker of a domestic thriller, directed by Bruce Beresford, in which Ashley Judd plays a woman who’s framed and imprisoned for her husband’s murder—and who hatches a revenge plan when she learns he’s still alive. Bruce Greenwood plays the sexy—but evil—spouse. Tommy Lee Jones brings premium cragginess to his role as a by-the-book parole officer. Nothing in Double Jeopardy is remotely realistic, but you’ve probably got enough realism in your life already. That pile of shirts isn’t going to iron itself.

Crimson Peak

Guillermo del Toro may be an Academy Award winner, but that doesn’t mean every one of his films has gotten the notoriety it deserves. Crimson Peak, from 2015, is a work of spectacular, lurid lunacy involving a young newlywed and novelist (Mia Wasikowska) who’s plunged into a whirl of intrigue involving a tumble-down mansion, various unsavory family secrets and some grisly, menacing ghosts. Pour yourself a of goblet of blood-red cranberry cocktail and dive right in.

Stardust

In this delightful 2007 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel, Claire Danes plays a star who falls from the sky, and she’s a valuable commodity. More than a few people want what she’s got: Charlie Cox is the lad who tries to capture her to impress the woman he thinks he loves (Sienna Miller); Michelle Pfeiffer is a witch who needs certain celestial components to recapture her youth. This dreamy romantic fantasy is gentle and funny and just a little bit wicked.

The King

David Michôd’s The King, from 2019, is an entertaining riff on Shakespeare’s Henriad, with everyone’s Tiger Beat crush Timothée Chalamet as the prince who will become Henry V, if only he can stop partying and carousing. But the real star of the show is Joel Edgerton’s Falstaff. Grouchy and wary and tender, he’s a sozzled hedonist seemingly out for himself—though his party-animal facade is just a mask for his bottomless generosity.

Loving

Only in 1967 did interracial marriage become legal in all 50 states. Director Jeff Nichols’ Loving, from 2016, tells the story of the couple whose case brought that legislation into being, Mildred and Richard Loving, played superbly by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga. Although Negga was nominated for an Academy Award, this stirring movie never really found the audience it deserved—and it may be even more resonant five years after its release, as a reminder that our country is hardly as progressive as we’d like to believe.

Lingua Franca

In this 2019 film, writer-director Isabel Sandoval stars as an undocumented Filipina working as a live-in caretaker for the elderly Olga (played by the late Lynn Cohen), in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. Olivia is also a trans woman, which adds layers of complexity to her life: To obtain a green card, she’s seeking to marry a U.S. citizen, a quest that becomes even more complicated when Olga’s roguish grandson, Alex (Eamon Farren), moves in. This is a gorgeous, delicate picture about finding your place in a setting that may not always be hospitable; in other words, it’s simply a film about living in the world.

Rush

Director Ron Howard tells the story of the rivalry between English racecar driver James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the Austrian-born speed demon Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) in this lively, sporty movie from 2013. If Howard, the guy behind tony prestige pictures like Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, seems an unlikely choice to direct a movie about hotheaded racing rivals, remember that he did make his directing debut with Grand Theft Auto, for shlock impresario Roger Corman, way back when.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Before New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi became part of the Marvel directors’ stable—but after he made the glorious vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows—he brought us this buoyant, expansive coming-of-age story. Twelve-year-old Ricky (Julian Dennison) seems to be a juvenile delinquent in the making, until he’s sent to live in the middle of nowhere with Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her gruff, laconic husband Hec (Sam Neill). What follows is a wilderness adventure and a story of how mismatched personalities learn to connect with one another, all garnished with Waititi’s characteristic, oddball stamp.

Mudbound

Adapted from Hillary Jordan’s 2008 novel of the same name, this 2017 film, beautifully directed by Dee Rees, is an intimate epic about two American farming families, one Black and one white, working the land in the Mississippi Delta in the 1940s. Mudbound works as a thumbnail picture of midcentury American racism and injustice, and as a reminder of how slowly things change in this country. And the superb cast—including Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige and Carey Mulligan—ensure that every minute is deeply felt and believable.

Bright Star

In this radiant film from 2009, director Jane Campion offers a fictionalized version of the love affair between the poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and a woman who was, quite literally, the girl next door, Fanny Brawne (Abby Cornish). The duo’s relationship was relatively short but deeply passionate, largely recorded in letters that Brawne kept. Campion fashions it all into an unfussy and gently erotic love story that never tips into sentimentality.

The Bank Job

In Roger Donaldson’s dazzling 2008 heist movie, Jason Statham plays a family man with a shady past who’s pulled back to a life of crime by an old neighborhood friend (Saffron Burrows). Set in 1971 London, and based on a real-life robbery, the picture captures the vibe of its time, evoking a Great Britain caught in the limbo between post-swinging London and pre-punk. But if The Bank Job is lively and clever, it’s also brushed with an aura of desperation, thanks in part to Statham’s soulful performance, which proves that he’s a much better actor than many of his movies require him to be.
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