Gene Siskel was one of the most influential film critics of the 20th century. He reviewed movies for the Chicago Tribune from 1969 til the mid-'80s and was famous for his professional partnership with fellow reviewer Roger Ebert. "Gene Siskel and I were like tuning forks," Ebert has said about the critic. "Strike one, and the other would pick up the same frequency."
Siskel and Ebert didn't always agree, however. Indeed, Siskel championed many movies over the years that were derided by most other critics. From the psychological thriller Pretty Poison to the period drama Ragtime, Siskel had plenty of films that he loved but which were underappreciated in their time, and which many readers might not have seen.
12 'Lone Star' (1996)
Directed by John Sayles
Chris Cooper leads this neo-Western as Sam Deeds, the sheriff of a small town on the Mexico border. After a decades-old skeleton is found in the desert, Sam delves into the case, uncovering long-buried secrets that connect to his own family history and the town's troubled past.
What's memorable about Lone Star is that it also takes a look at the racial tensions of the town, as well as the lasting scars of the Texas-Mexico border conflict. The ensemble cast is great across the board, especially an early career Matthew McConaughey. "I think [Lone Star is] a terrific piece of work," Siskel said on an episode of Siskel & Ebert. "It's a portrait of America but through a mystery plot, and it's just beautiful. This is a fine piece of writing."
Lone Star
- Release Date
- June 21, 1996
- Director
- John Sayles
- Actors
- Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Matthew McConaughey, Kris Kristofferson, Frances McDormand, Joe Morton
- Run Time
- 135 minutes
11 'King of the Hill' (1993)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
King of the Hill is a coming-of-age drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Aaron Kurlander (Jesse Bradford) is a resourceful and resilient 12-year-old boy living with his family in a rundown hotel in St. Louis. He has to fend for himself as his parents struggle to make ends meet.
Apart from Bradford's impressive acting performance in the movie, Soderbergh's unique style and direction also make the movie a must-see drama. "Every scene in the film looks and feels fresh," Siskel said about King of the Hill. "I think the key to the success is that Soderbergh [... does] not treat this little boy as a kid. The pressures in his life are varied and he copes in such inventive ways."
10 'Pretty Poison' (1968)
Directed by Noel Black
Pretty Poison is an unforgettable psychological thriller and black comedy directed by Noel Black, starring Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins. It follows Dennis (Perkins), a disturbed young man who manipulates his high school sweetheart (Weld) into helping him commit a robbery. He convinces her that he's a secret agent, and asks her to join him on a series of 'missions.'
It was a box office disaster, which Black blames on a lack of promotion from the studio, who he says were uncomfortable with the subject matter. Nevertheless, Pretty Poison has since become a surprising cult film and has been recommended by directors like Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino. Siskel embraced it from the get-go, including it among his top ten of 1968.