Saltzman Sees...Prefontaine (1997)

Prefontaine is the true story of Olympic distant runner Steve Prefontaine.  He died in a car accident before he could return to the Olympic Games and try to earn an Medal in the 3000 meters.  There were actually two movies that came out at the same time about Prefontaine.  The other, Without Limits, came out the following year in 1998. Without Limits only grossed $777,423 in the USA.  

Prefontaine made a measly $532,190 in the USA.  It wasn't nominated for a single award.

It is my choice for Most Underrated Movie in 1997

Saltzman Sees...School Ties (1992)

School Ties is the story of a prestigious 1950s school who bring in a transfer student to help their football team to beat the school's old rivals. This transfer student, however, is from a working class background, so he isn't really "one of them", but seems to fit in perfectly. David, played by Brendan Fraser, is Jewish, and has to keep this a secret from his friends for fear of being rejected.  One of the most remarkable things about this movie is the job by the young cast.  Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, Cole Hauser, and Amy Locane were all no names at the time the movie. Dick Wolf, the creator of the Law & Order franchise, wrote the screenplay.  Fraser is tremendous as the principal character.  Matt Damon is tremendous as well as the jealous and therefore key adversary of Fraser.  Like young up and coming boxers hoping for a title fight, they shine and plant the seeds for future A-List status.

School Ties did not receive a single major nomination, and only grossed $14.7 million worldwide.

School Ties was nominated for my Best Picture for 1992.
It is also my choice for the Most Underrated Movie of 1992.