Before I go any further with this column, I'd like to send my condolences to Joel Siegel's family. Joel Siegel was the film critic for "Good Morning America." Joel was probably one of the funniest film critics out there. He was always funny, entertaining, and full of one-liners. He will be missed by many. Here's to you, Joel. In honor of Joel, I'd like to take a look at five very underrated films.

In today's cinema world, it's very easy for a film to get overlooked or lost in the shuffle. That being said, I hope this column encourages you to seek out these films. While some of these films might be well known, that doesn't mean that everyone has seen them. If you're looking for something different, I think you'll enjoy this column. It's always nice to enjoy some good movies over the 4th of July weekend. I encourage you to have some hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoy some movies! You don't have to deal with annoying moviegoers! Still, you have to deal with your annoying family! Oh well. You can't win em' all!

The Crossing Guard (1995) Did you know that Sean Penn was also a director? Yes, I'm being serious. He directed some very, very good movies. Not only that, Sean Penn used Jack Nicholson in a lot of his films. The two teamed up together in 1995's "The Crossing Guard," which was released by Miramax Pictures. The film also featured strong work from David Morse, Robin Wright Penn, Priscilla Barnes, and Anjelica Huston. It's a complex film about revenge, rage, and dealing with guilt. Jack Nicholson is nothing short of amazing in "The Crossing Guard." He won't rest until he kills David Morse. In "The Crossing Guard," Sean Penn gives his actors plenty of room to breathe and plenty of room to show off their acting chops. The scenes with Morse and Nicholson together are very chilling. "The Crossing Guard" is also not your typical Hollywood revenge story. It's much smarter than that. The film deals with the real issues at hand. Is revenge always the answer? What's accomplished? Penn asks a lot of good questions in "The Crossing Guard." He also offers us no easy answers. "The Crossing Guard" is a thoughtful piece of film-making that will really get to you.

Fearless (1993)
I think it goes without saying that Jeff Bridges is probably one of the most underrated actors of our generation. While he's probably best known for his work as "The Dude," my favorite Jeff Bridges film is "Fearless." The film is also very relevant to our times. Jeff Bridges survives a plane crash, and then has trouble connecting with the people around him. It also gives him a sense of power and a sense of confidence. He fears NOTHING. The film also features Rosie Perez and Isabella Rossellini. "Fearless" is a powerful piece of film-making. I think we should all live our lives fearlessly. We always worry about what could happen or what did happen. Instead, we should focus on what IS happening. "Fearless" shows us the power of living in the moment. Jeff Bridges is also a very commanding leading man. I wish that more films would give him the chance to show off his range and power. Instead, it seems like he's stuck in supporting roles. "Fearless" is a film not to be missed. Whenever I'm feeling down or worried, I always pop in "Fearless" for a little pick-me-up.

Dear Frankie (2005)
Ah, I remember being a young pup and watching Ebert and Roeper every Saturday at 10:35pm on ABC 7 Chicago. Wait .. I still do that! I've only aged two years, actually. It feels like ages ago! On Ebert and Roeper, I remember hearing a glowing review for "Dear Frankie," a film about a single mom with a deaf kid. In the film, Emily Mortimer hires Gerard Butler to pretend to be Frankie's father. You see, Frankie's real father was kind of a loser. Does it sound corny? Oh, it is. Even so, the film is told with such warmth and affection. Mortimer and Butler also have fantastic chemistry together on screen. It's hard to believe that Gerard Butler has gone from sweet but rough lover in "Dear Frankie" to angry gladiator in "300." I love actors with range. If you're looking for a movie to enjoy with the whole family, you need to check out "Dear Frankie." It's not your typical Hallmark movie. "Dear Frankie" is a lot tougher and wiser than that. Did I mention that I have a "Dear Frankie" poster in my room? I'm not lying.

Films like "Havoc" need to be seen by more people. In the end, I'm not exactly sure why "Havoc" went straight to DVD. It's A LOT better than most of the films that get released through the studio system. The film was also written by Stephen Gaghan, the same guy who wrote "Traffic." Gaghan also penned "Syriana."

Carlito's Way (1993)
Believe it or not, not a lot of people have seen "Carlito's Way." In my opinion, it's a better film than "Scarface." That being said, the film doesn't get a lot of attention or praise. What's better than Al Pacino and Sean Penn in the same film? The film's also directed by Brian De Palma. It's hard to top that. Sean Penn completely camouflages himself as David Kleinfeld, a lawyer with a serious drug problem. Pacino is also his usual commanding self as Carlito 'Charlie' Brigante. Even to this day, it shocks me that "Carlito's Way" is not talked about more. It really puzzles me. Why didn't this film catch on with people? It's well-made, well-acted, and a lot of fun to watch. If you STILL haven't seen "Carlito's Way," you need to rent it over the weekend. Hell, you need to BUY IT. What the hell are you waiting for? Stop reading this column and go buy "Carlito's Way." NOW. I promise you that you won't regret it.