10 Criminally Underrated Films Turning 10 Years Old In 2020

5. A Prophet

Jennifer Lawrence Winter's Bone
UGC Distribution

Future Palme d'Or winner Jacques Audiard fired his first shot across our bows with this simmering crime masterpiece.

Following the fortunes of Algerian small timer Malik El Djebena, Audiard's movie grows into something far more complex as what starts out as a relatable protagonist soon goes fully Corleone on us as Djebena's slow integration into the Corsican mafia (nasty bunch) sees his lofty ambitions bloom on the screen with destructive effect.

At 155 minutes long this crime opus never outstays its welcome thanks to Tahar Rahim's star-making turn and a screenplay which keeps hitting us with moments of unflinching violence and a finale which makes you ponder what a sequel would look like. Not since La Haine have we seen a French crime drama pack has much grit and punch as this.

In this post: 
Winter's Bone
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Shaun is a former contributor for a number of Future Publishing titles and more recently worked as a staffer at Imagine Publishing. He can now be found banking in the daytime and writing a variety of articles for What Culture, namely around his favourite topics of film, retro gaming, music, TV and, when he's feeling clever, literature.