10 Underrated Ridley Scott Movies Deserving More Love
"Are you not happy?"

Ridley Scott has now been making feature films for nearly half a century. Even into his 80s, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as indicated by a particularly busy 2021, with two of his films coming out just months apart. He's tackled all types of projects and produced some undeniably classics (Blade Runner, The First Alien, Gladiator, Thelma & Louise, etc.).
However, due to the wide variety of films, it is understandable that not all of Scott's films won awards. Even those films that are somewhat successful or critically acclaimed, if you're lucky, become cult films years after their initial release. They should also spend time with their son.
'The Last Duel' (2021)
Updated on December 30th, 2022, by Hannah Saab:

The Last Duel is a historical epic and one of the most unfairly overlooked films of 2021, so it naturally has to be included among Ridley Scott's most underrated films. It tells an important, brutal and hard-to-watch story of revenge and abuse among women in medieval France, which in many ways is still true in today's era.
The Last Duel's way of traveling through time - loosely based on real events - to Commenting on the present is one of the things that makes it so interesting. This structure also helps to play a series of events three times, each time from a very different angle, before the final angle reveals the truth, just as the film builds to a harrowing and unusually intense climax. The entire cast also has great attention to detail and impeccable performances; why the film didn't even get an Oscar nomination remains one of 2021's biggest mysteries.
'Matchstick Men' (2003)
Available to stream on Hulu and HBO Max.

Released in 2003, Stickman is in an awkward no-man's-land for the film's age. It's not new enough by any stretch of the imagination to be considered a "new" movie, but considering it's less than 20 years old, it doesn't feel like it's been around long enough to be a classic.
Other than that, even though it's a bit old, it might not be a "classic", but it's a pretty good movie, and one that feels unique in Ridley Scott's filmography. It's a comedy-heavy crime film about two crooks and the complications that arise when one of them is suddenly reunited with his teenage daughter. with stars nicolas cage and sam Rockwell at their best - and with their elements perfectly incorporated - you know you're looking for a good watch.
'Kingdom of Heaven' (2005)
Available to rent on Apple iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.

Presenting the Crusades on a scale never seen before, Kingdom Come is one of the largest epics in recent memory, rivaling the genre's heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. With a complex plot, numerous characters and spectacular battle scenes, it is a gripping movie.
This is a lesser-known Ridley Scott film, and the main reason it isn't always mentioned among his greatest works is that its theatrical release hurt it. When it was first released as theatrical cut, it ran for 144 minutes, providing spectacle but ruining the flow of the story and leaving too much to explain. A later director's cut drastically changed the perception of the film, adding roughly 45 minutes to the running time and making the story more cohesive and satisfying. Having to find a better version of the film affects its accessibility and may lead to Kingdom of Heaven being still underrated despite its relatively recent release and positive reviews from those who have seen the director's cut.
'Prometheus' (2012) & 'Alien: Covenant' (2017)
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Perhaps it is incorrect to refer to Prometheus and its sequels as aliens: Covenant, is underrated in the traditional sense. Each film has received positive reviews from critics, with the former having a lackluster release and causing quite a stir thanks to it representing Ridley Scott's return to the Alien franchise, where he played an important role in the opening remarks in 1979.
But perhaps Prometheus was overly scrutinized as an Alien prequel, and that wasn't its main focus; more about telling another story in the Alien world. Then, when Alien: Covenant returned more directly to the series' roots, fans seemed to reject it as a parody of something they'd seen before. For Prometheus' unique sci-fi approach and Alien: Covenant's update to the classic Alien formula, each deserves more love...or at least than a few since their respective releases. A little less hate in years.
'American Gangster' (2007)
Available to rent on Apple iTunes.

The popularity of true crime stories has certainly not diminished in recent years, nor have biopics about real people. Denzel Washington is still as popular as he was in 2007. Denzel Washington's performance was all but forgotten, despite the critical acclaim it received since its release, and that's the situation with American Gangster. Here's hoping it doesn't go away entirely, as it's well-acted and backed by an ambitious and compelling story. But for now, Ridley Scott's film catalog is another movie that's lost in the crowd simply because there's already so much good stuff out there.
The Duelist is Ridley Scott's feature debut, and while it may be far from his best, it's still a compelling first film. It centers on a rivalry between two French lieutenants who engage in a series of duels over several years but never beat each other, with the result that all of their feuds continue and escalate.
'The Duellists' (1977)
Available to stream on Peacock Premium.

It has two great lead performances from Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine, showing how Ridley Scott is always good at getting great performances from his actors, even from the start . It also features some very pleasing visuals, the intense attention to detail and solid action that have continued in Scott's many films since The Duelist. ^1492: Conquest of Paradise It coincides with the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, which is what this film is about. It takes a romanticized, almost mythological approach to history, portrays Columbus as heroic and shuns his dark side, making 1492: The Conquest of Paradise a difficult film to accept. movie of.
When viewed as a concrete account of the story with less concern for historical accuracy, it is largely effective as it has gorgeous visuals, a great soundtrack, and is full of exciting, memorable scenes , and has the proper mythic feel to it. But withholding the truth can be risky — even irresponsible — when it comes to historical figures like Columbus. Therefore, it is completely understandable why "1492: Conquest of Paradise" is not liked by everyone. Still, the filmmaking and technical quality as a whole is phenomenal. Pair them with a story willing to tell history with total honesty, and 1492: The Conquest of Paradise could well be considered one of Ridley Scott's best. For now, however, it's certainly an intoxicating visual and audio experience, and the story won't please (and in fact won't please) everyone.
'1492: Conquest of Paradise' (1992)
Available to stream on Kanopy.

Black Rain is a neo-noir action thriller starring Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia and Kate Capshaw. Set in New York City, the film follows several cops accused of bringing a Japanese mafia boss back to Japan for prosecution. They encountered a series of problems and conflicts as they traveled through the underbelly of the Japanese mafia.
Praised for its stylized visuals and action sequences, as well as the lead performances, it is one of the most underrated Ridley Scott films to fade into the background over the years. While it didn't hit all the right marks in terms of character development or atmosphere, it's still worth a second watch today for any fan of the buddy cop genre.
'Black Rain' (1989)
Available to stream on Kanopy.

All the Money in the World is a 2017 crime drama film based on the true kidnapping of John Paul Getty III. The film follows Paul's mother Gail Harris (Michelle Williams) as she tries to negotiate his release after he is kidnapped by Italian gangsters. Despite pleas from the victim's billionaire grandfather, J. Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), she initially refuses to pay the ransom, forcing Gail to seek help from a former CIA agent.
Exploring themes of loyalty, family, and the consequences of greed and excess wealth, the film delves into Complicated relationships and power struggles in the protagonist's family. It's one of the most underrated of Ridley Scott's recent films, and deserves more attention for its stellar portrayal of tense events.
'All The Money In The World' (2017)
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+.

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