9 Criminally Underrated 2013 Films You Probably Missed

5. Shield Of Straw

The reality of Cannes film festival is not what you might think: instead of lounging around drinking martinis in the blazing sunshine and catching next year's Hollywood blockbusters, attendees are instead herded like sheep into dark cinemas showing horrors and circus freakshows that will never actually see a release, and for good reason. And there are usually lots of erect penises. But occasionally in amongst the field of oddness and genitals that make up the screening schedules, there are genuinely entertaining movies. This year, Only God Forgives was not one of them, but Takeshi Miike's tension-filled Shield Of Straw certainly was. Both of those films came with expectant baggage - Winding Refn's of good prospects, and Miike's of suspicions of silliness - but it was the latter which was the superior, and by some distance. It probably shouldn't have been up for the Palme D'Or, but Shield Of Straw is probably Miike's most commercial and conventional movie, following a special police force's attempt to transport a high-profile (and brilliantly evil) murderer cross-country to his trial, with corruption and internal deception standing in their way at every turn. It's hugely entertaining, and it's an absolute travesty that the film hasn't yet been introduced more broadly to Western audiences, especially given that Miike already has a fanbase here. Why You Didn't See It It hasn't seen a major US or UK release yet, which is baffling.