Movies You May Have Missed
A list of (an ever changing number of) good movies you may have never even heard of, listed in no particular order.
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- DirectorMarianna PalkaStarsMarianna PalkaJason RitterEric EdelsteinA look at the relationship between a lonely introverted girl and a young video store clerk vying for her attention.An independent romantic comedy that paints a realistic, yet touching and hopeful picture of the relationship of two dysfunctional people. Mariana Palka wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film alongside a very charismatic Jason Ritter. And no, there is nobody in the film named 'Dick'.
- DirectorKelly ReichardtStarsMichelle WilliamsLucyDavid KoppellOver the summer, a series of unfortunate happenings triggers a financial crisis for a young woman and she soon finds her life falling apart.A raw, real and heartbreaking film held together by strong performances and an a strong atmosphere.
- DirectorAndrea ArnoldStarsKatie JarvisMichael FassbenderKierston WareingEverything changes for 15-year-old Mia when her mum brings home a new boyfriend.British director Andrea Arnold and newcomer actress Katie Jarvis bring a gritty, realistic, emotionally earnest tale of loneliness, sexual tension, despair and a dream of escape. Arnold chooses to shoot the film in 1.33:1 to intensify the emotional, psychological and at times physical claustrophobia of Mia's world. One of the only examples of deliberate use of the aspect ratio to effectively accentuate the film's feel in contemporary film. Strong performances and a solid script complete the well-put-together package.
- DirectorJ BlakesonStarsGemma ArtertonEddie MarsanMartin CompstonA rich man's daughter is held captive in an abandoned apartment by two former convicts who abducted her and hold her ransom in exchange for her father's money.While it's not the most complex and artistic film ever made, it does manage to bring strong performances, highly effective editing, and a smarter-than-expected script that delivers tension and twists. A very strong directorial debut from J. Blakeson.
- DirectorJay DiPietroStarsJason RitterJess WeixlerJesse L. Martin'Peter and Vandy' is a love story told out of order. Set in Manhattan, the story shifts back and forth in time, juxtaposing Peter and Vandy's romantic beginnings with the twisted, manipulative, regular couple they become. The film explores the question most couples ask themselves... 'How the hell did we get this way?'Romantic comedies are something I stopped watching in my mid teens when I realized that the humor usually drops off at the halfway point and every single one of them follows the same formula. The ones Hollywood was producing at the time were bloated messes with no sense of soul or flair. Peter and Vandy is basically a poor man's (500) Days of Summer. A love story told out of order, that arguably uses the device much more cleverly than the before-mentioned flick. A lot of it is rather raw, the film jumps from a happy couple to a miserable duo at unexpected times. The characters are charming enough, and it unfolds in a way that isn't completely paint-by-numbers.
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittLukas HaasEmilie de RavinA teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in this hard-boiled detective film that happens to revolve around high school students. The film is quite interesting, especially the unique dialogue style and the way in which it's shot. A career-maker for Rian Johnson, who is now working on what looks like a summer tentpole scifi flick starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
- DirectorDavid ZellnerStarsDavid ZellnerNathan ZellnerCaroline O'ConnorA recently divorced man tries to find the one aspect of his marriage that still matters to him: his missing cat, Goliath.Goliath is about a recently divorced man, who's only friend in the world; a cat named Goliath; goes missing. The story unfolds in a slightly comedic nature, but the despair and loneliness is really palpable. It features a five-minute shot of reading and signing divorce papers. No dialogue, no fancy camera move. Just a raw, real, awkward and uncomfortable moment, told with the most sincerity. It was also shot on some form of digital video, so don't expect any of the beautiful intricacies and texture of a nice film transfer.
- DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittCasey AffleckSam ShepardRobert Ford, who has idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the resurgent gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.Probably one of my top films of 2007, though I don't think I saw it until 2009. A lot of people find it "slow-moving" or "boring", but you have to 'read in between the lines'. Yes, it features long scenes with no dialogue...but provides wonderfully crafted performances, some real notable music (by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis), and some just beautiful cinematography. The film is an interesting look at celebrity, jealousy, and....old timey hats.
- DirectorJohn Cameron MitchellStarsNicole KidmanAaron EckhartDianne WiestLife for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident.Based on a play oddly enough from the writer of Robots, Inkheart, and Rise of the Guardians, this is not kids' stuff. The film examines a grieving couple trying to move on with their lives in the aftermath of their son's death. The script is top-notch and full of subtlety and genuine beats that run the emotional gamut from seething rage to morose empathy. The film's real find is actor Miles Teller, who manages to convey the perfect emotion, often times with virtually no dialogue.
- DirectorChristopher MorrisStarsWill AdamsdaleRiz AhmedAdeel AkhtarFour incompetent British terrorists set out to train for and commit an act of terror.A daring and hilarious satirization of bumbling Islamic terrorists. A somewhat obscure British film, yet one of the best comedies of 2010. The humor is often broad, but effective nonetheless.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsWillem DafoeCharlotte GainsbourgStorm Acheche SahlstrømA grieving couple retreat to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage, but nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.Definitely not for the faint of heart, this one. It's dark, intensely disturbing, uncompromisingly graphic, scary, and beautiful. It's fairly slow-moving, but with great performances. The kind of effective psychological horror film that bathes you in dread that will linger for hours or possibly days.
- DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsMichael StuhlbargRichard KindSari LennickLarry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking.The Coen Brothers do it again. With no star power and a plot that isn't 'dynamic' enough to make for a flashy trailer (although the trailer is quite flashy nonetheless), this film kind of got dumped at the Box Office, and never really reached audiences in the numbers it should have. But it's a quirky, funny black comedy/drama with a great performance from character actor Michael Stuhlbarg and an effective supporting cast.
- DirectorHal HabermanJeremy PassmoreStarsMichael RapaportPaul BlackthorneJosh PeckA lonely comic book fan, Les Franken, has a reaction to medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero.Michael Rappaport stars in this offbeat Comedy/Drama Indie flick that puts a new and interesting spin on the concept of super heroes. It's fairly tragic and depressing at times, but it's brutally honest and uplifting in its message.
- DirectorDuncan JonesStarsSam RockwellKevin SpaceyDominique McElligottAstronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.This low-budget Indie stars Sam Rockwell, and the voice of Kevin Spacey and that's pretty much it. As the title suggests, it takes place on the moon, where astronaut Sam Bell is the sole overseer of an automated mining complex. The plot is relatively simple, but all the pieces just fit. The script, the great performance from Sam Rockwell, the music, etc. It's inspired by films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Outland, Silent Running. I won't go into detail about thematic concepts and the plot, but suffice it to say it's primarily a character drama. Fairly low-key, but nonetheless enthralling. A must-see and at times very touching little flick.
- DirectorArmando IannucciStarsTom HollanderPeter CapaldiJames GandolfiniA political satire about a group of skeptical American and British operatives attempting to prevent a war between two countries.Based on a British television show (The Thick of It, also recommended), In the Loop is a political satire/comedy that really stands out from the crowd. Peter Capaldi plays the legendary Malcolm Tucker, a rage-prone spin doctor with a penchant for colorful language (and how he puts it: violent sexual imagery). The dialogue and performances are great, not just from Capaldi, but from the entire ensemble cast including Anna Chlumski and James Gandofini. It's a unique and hilarious look at the dysfunctional characters inside world politics.
- DirectorSebastian GutierrezStarsCarla GuginoAdrianne PalickiConnie BrittonA serpentine day in the life of ten seemingly desperate women: a porn star, a flight attendant, a psychiatrist, a masseuse, a bartender, a pair of call girls, an actress, a masseuse. All of them with one crucial thing in common. Trouble.Don't let the ad campaign fool you. This isn't the kind of softcore porn they'd put on Cinemax late at night in the 1990s. In fact, there isn't even any nudity in it. It's a quirky, funny character dramady that utilizes an almost Tarantino-esque (as myuch as I hate to use that overused term) dialogue style. The first in a trilogy, its sequel is also worth the attention. At the time of writing this, the final film in the series has not been released.
- DirectorPerry LangStarsDolph LundgrenCharlotte LewisBD WongA former Special Ops soldier leads a group of mercenaries to an island in the South China Sea: their mission is obtain the rights to the unusual treasure that the island beholds.Another film that seems to have been dumped on video rather than rolled out in theaters. The plot revolves around a group of mercenaries colliding with ethics on a simple island about to be exploited by rich Americans. As the poster art suggests, this ain't high art. It's an action film, but it has an interesting script and a damned good supporting cast. Superior to The Expendables for my money.
- DirectorMark L. LesterStarsDolph LundgrenBrandon LeeCary-Hiroyuki TagawaTwo L.A. cops with opposing views on what is the best way to uphold the law have to work together to bring down the Yakuza, while trying to protect a beautiful woman.Dolph Lundgren and a very sarcastic pre-Crow Brandon Lee headline this buddy cop movie that doesn't get the attention it deserves. A fun, comedic action romp.
- DirectorTony ScottStarsBruce WillisDamon WayansChelsea FieldA private detective's protected female witness is murdered, prompting him and the victim's boyfriend to investigate the crime that leads to a corrupt politician and a crooked football team owner.One of Shane Black's better scripts, with numerous quotable lines and an underrated movie villain.
- DirectorRenny HarlinStarsGeena DavisSamuel L. JacksonYvonne ZimaSamantha Caine lives in a small town with her daughter. Eight years ago she emerged, two months pregnant, from a nearby river with no memory of her past or who she is. However, she's getting closer to finding out about her past.Another Shane Black-scripted action flick with a great sense of comedy. One of Samuel L. Jackson's breakout roles, and one of his most memorable. Gina Davis gives a great dichotomous performance and Brian Cox steals scenes in a supporting roll.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsMichael DouglasRobert DuvallBarbara HersheyAn ordinary man frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.A classic social commentary film, and proof that Joel Schumacer can make a good movie when he puts forth the effort.
- DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsKåre HedebrantLina LeanderssonPer RagnarOskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.Forget the Hollywood remake, the Swedish original is a coming-of-age drama with horror elements, strong performances and a deliberate atmosphere and pace. Horror for the non-horror fan.
- DirectorJaume BalagueróPaco PlazaStarsManuela VelascoFerran TerrazaJorge-Yamam SerranoA television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.Once again, forget the Hollywood remake. Really, seriously this time do not see that monstrosity. This Spanish original uses the 'found footage' device to craft a truly scary horror experience.
- DirectorJohn WooStarsTony Leung Chiu-waiJacky CheungWaise LeeWhen three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life, they all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever.A spiritual prequel to A Better Tomorrow, and perhaps intentionally so when Tsui Hark made A Better Tomorrow III without John Woo. John Woo directs the action film that should have garnered the same amount of attention as A Better Tomorrow I and II, The Killer and Hard Boiled; yet never seems to get the love it deserves. Give it a watch.
- DirectorLiliana CavaniStarsJohn MalkovichDougray ScottLena HeadeyA dying family man in need of money is persuaded to assassinate a European crime boss.Buried to the point of premiering in the U.S. on IFC, before IFC had any clout. John Malkovich plays an older, wiser Tom Ripley in this sequel to The Talented Mr. Ripley. Malkovich's ruthless, chilling and fascinating portrayal is what makes the movie worth watching.