5 Movies That Changed Your Mind About Directors You Hated

3. Pain And Gain

Although Michael Bay has been the poster boy for everything wrong with Hollywood for the past decade or so (though some could argue that mantle has since been passed onto Zack Snyder), his fall only hit so hard because he used to be known for great popcorn flicks like The Rock and Bad Boys 2.

Of course, Bay's reputation has long since moved past those movies, instead becoming viewed as a soulless corporate shell who continues to pump out brainless shlock. That was, however, until Pain and Gain.

At first glance, the movie has all the hallmarks of a classic Bay misfire. It's got the hyper-masculine leads (literally criminal bodybuilders), focus on relentless, hectically-edited action and a central story that's all about brawn rather than brains.

But unlike some of his more recent work, there's a clear passion - and even a message - that drives the risky thriller. It's Bay's attempt at commenting on the fallacy of the American dream, wrapped in action so nasty that it works well as genuine satire. It's still an acquired taste, but it shows what Bay could be making if he wasn't tied so tightly to Transformers.