Smokin' Aces
Ensemble films ca n’t be characterize simply by the amount of placeable name they include , but by how all of those role player plight with the storylines . These day , it can be loose to classify ensemble films as any fresh release from Marvel Studios , but unless the chief actors are getting equal screen metre , they do n’t count . A few A - Joseph Lister and a clustering of cameos do not an ensemble cast make .
That being said , Marvel films ( and in fact , films from the superhero genre as a whole ) have more often than not boasted great ensemble narratives , and been well - received for doing so . But amidst their large grandeur , where the marquee is rarely big enough to display all the movie stars they include , there are other ensemble film that merit just as much acknowledgement . Here are 10 of the most underrated ensemble films from the last 20 years .
THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (2017)
The Meyerowitz Storiesis from writer / conductor Noah Baumbach , an main film director know for his dextrous narration impulses and way of letting tarradiddle feel constituent even herd with big - name actors . It follows a dysfunctional family in which the serviceman do n’t communicate authentically to one another and as a termination , do n’t achieve much emotional growth .
Their disfunction come to a header when family patriarch Harold Meyerowitz ( Dennis Hoffman ) is recognized for his life history and all of his grownup minor gather in NYC to celebrate . jubilation before long turn to pugilism , as the two contrary brothers ( Ben Stiller andAdam Sandler ) resolve some unresolved issues . It also features the play talent of Emma Thompson , Elizabeth Marvel , and Adam Driver .
SMOKIN' ACES (2006)
When a Vegas crime boss twist magician Buddy Aces ( Jeremy Piven ) agrees to testify against his old partner , he prepares for the worst . Admitted into the Witness Protection Program , he prepare for every elite bravo to come after him once the parole get out he ’s turned into a snitch .
The ensemblecrime thriller genreis a little play out , butSmokin ' Acesdelivers mostly because of its stellar roll . Piven does his best sinceEntourage , and he ’s matched by music genre veterans like Ray Liotta and wise - crack up tough guys like Ben Affleck and Ryan Reynolds .
MYSTERY MEN (1999)
Before there wasThe Avengers , there wasMystery Men , a superhero ensemble motion picture that seemed to exceed all categorization . It had equal portion slapstick comedy , sci - fi , mystery , and heart as a group of misfit on a mission to strain to save the earthly concern .
When Champion City ’s Captain Amazing ( Greg Kinnear ) go miss , it ’s up to the Mystery Men to find him . They have neither his speciality , power , or prominent good looks , but they have each other ( and some jolly hilarious kit ) . The all - star stamp include William H. Macy , Ben Stiller , Geoffrey Rush , Janeane Garofalo , Hank Azaria , and Paul Reubens .
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN (2006)
Like a slick - up interlingual rendition ofThe Big Lebowskiwith more attractive leads and gun - fu natural process sequences , Lucky Number Slevinboasts a similar case of mistaken identity . Josh Hartnett plays the unlucky Slevin , a man who gets caught in the middle of a gangland crossfire in NYC .
The Rabbi ( Ben Kingsley ) and The Boss ( Morgan Freeman ) are conducting their " clientele " on the streets of the city , and the crimelords are make it unravel ruby-red with the blood of any innocent who gets in the room . Detective Brikowski ( Stanley Tucci ) is on the case , but he has to last out one stride forward of an elect assassin ( played by Bruce Willis ) who may take out Slevin before he can get to him .
RAT RACE (2001)
When you ’re a blase casino baron ( John Cleese ) , you run out of epinephrine - fueled thing to wager on . Until you round up your six flush high tumbler pigeon who will play on anything , and devise a race for $ 2 million dollar mark across the country .
Six average multitude will be admit into the slipstream , where they can apply any means necessary to get the cash in a New Mexico railroad train station locker . They can lie down , cheat on , and slip with no repercussions , as long as they continue the competition . This ode to slapstick legends likeIt ’s a Mad , Mad , Mad , Mad Worldfeatures the comedic talents of Seth Green , Rowan Atkinson , Whoopi Goldberg , Cuba Gooding Jr , and many more .
THE COMPANY MEN (2011)
At the top of his game at a merchant marine and fabricate companionship , Bobby Walker ( Ben Affleck ) is on the firm rails for executive promotions , money , and success . Then his company is squeeze to layoff several rounds of employees , and he time out for the last time , distinctly mindful that his value to the society and his value as a person are not linked .
Suddenly faced with going from having everything to having nothing , he commiserates with fellow work workfellow Phil and Gene ( Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee Jones , respectively ) on how to ameliorate his post - career life . It ’s an un - glamourous take on a road many of us ascertain ourselves walking , with some fine performances that also include Kevin Costner , Craig T. Nelson , and Maria Bello .
THE FAMILY STONE (2005)
When an high-strung and conservative cleaning woman ( Sarah Jessica Parker ) is take home to the vacation festivities of her new boyfriend ’s family , she make a big impression , but not the one she hoped . Everett Stone ( Dermot Mulroney ) hop-skip to propose to Meredith ( Parker ) on Christmas , if his eclectic Connecticut kin do n’t drive her away first .
pack full of familiar face , the Stone kinsperson consist of materfamilias Sybil ( Diane Keaton ) , her hubby Kelly ( Craig T. Nelson ) , as well as their daughter Amy ( Rachael McAdams ) and other son Ben ( Luke Wilson ) . If you want more authenticity and less shallowness in your holiday picture show , give this one a try .
CHEF (2014)
After working on huge Marvel projects , Jon Favreau decided to return to his independent film tooth root and makeChef , about a talented chef at a ritzy Los Angeles restaurant that has lost hispassion for fix food . After a romp with his boss , he quits his occupation and moves to Miami to rekindle his love of creating recipes and new nip .
With his ex - married woman ( Sofia Vergara ) his just booster ( John Leguizamo ) , and his son he open up a ft motortruck to bring in his favorite dishes straight to hungry mouths . In the process , he learns that what goes into making a great dish is the same as what goes into make a great life ; dear , laughter , and friendship . It also feature Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey Jr.
IDENTITY (2003)
Ten perfect stranger attempt refuge from a nut storm in the Nevada Desert , while at the same meter , a serial sea wolf awaits execution for the execution of a mathematical group of exchangeable individuals . The exhibition of the killer ’s diary as evidence reveals a blue tale eerily like to the outcome that act as out among the motel guests .
One by one , the client get picked off , with limo driver Ed Dakota ( John Cusack ) the only person resourceful enough to stay alive and divulge the identicalness of the manslayer . Based on the famous Agatha Christie murder mystery , Identityfeatures a stellar mold that includes Ray Liotta , Rebecca De Mornay , Amanda Peet , and Alfred Molina .
STATE OF PLAY (2009)
This tight political thriller let out what distance company influencers will go to ensure that their muddy laundry never pick up the light of twenty-four hours . When a handsome and apparently unflappable Congressman ( Ben Affleck ) suddenly finds himself face a slaying charge for his kept woman and a deluge of sensitive data swamp Washington , it threaten to jump his rise to the presidency .
His former friend turned fact-finding reporter ( Russell Crowe ) has been assigned the level , and he ’s unprepared for the magnitude of the cover - up he encounters . Based on a BBC series , this moving-picture show boast such pretend gift as Helen Mirren , Jeff Daniels , Rachel McAdams , Patrick Bateman , and many more .
NEXT:10 Most Underrated Action Films Of The Last 20 Years
