Great Movies You May Not Have Seen
30 July 2010
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The excitement that comes with the summer blockbusters is often met with disappointment when the flaccid remake or superficially plotted material plays out.
At the same time we all know there are hundreds of brilliant smaller films around that will blow us away if we find them. Sometime the big budget movies that is filled with CGI and special effects are not always best.
The films below are some of the best movies that you won't have seen. All of these, and many more great titles, can be watched on the excellent, and legal, free movies site Indie Movies Online.
- Brothers aka Brødre (Drama 2004)
Do you like foreign films? Oh, I love foreign films... Amelie (with the crème brulee) and La Vita e Bella (how sad!) Oh, and La Haine is kick ass! Elevate yourself above the viewing habits of the average filmgoer and watch this quality Danish film... it’s so Danish it even has one of those ‘ø’ letters.
In fact, Brødre is one of the most powerful modern war films you will see. It focuses on the emotional and psychological effects of war and the return to civilian life rather than Hollywood’s all-action, G.I. Joe approach.
You might also recognise the talented lead actress, Connie Nelson (Gladiator, The Ice Harvest), who is Norweigan despite her American career.
Director Jim Sheridan has already remade this incredible film with Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire, once you watch it, you’ll understand why he couldn’t resist.
- Choking Man (Drama 2006)
The Indie credentials for this film are unbelievable. It won the 2006 Gotham award for ‘Best Film Not Playing at a Theatre Near You’ whilst Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven, Erin Brockovich) said, 'Choking Man is everything an indie should be'.
Impressive praise for this gritty socio-political drama. Choking Man analyses the effects of immigration on American society in a moving and, at points, magical way.
If this all sounds a bit heavy, remember, it is directed by Steve Barron who also shot Aha’s classic partially animated music video for ‘Take on Me’. Classic!
- Funny Ha Ha (Comedy 2002)
Funny Ha Ha is a genuinely under-rated gem of a film. It could also be included in lists like ‘Best Actors You’ve Never Heard of’ and ‘Best Genres You Didn’t No Existed’ etc. Ostensibly a classic coming-of-age relationship drama (think The Graduate or Juno) with all the necessary hipster-indie touches (lazy performances, shot on 16mm film).
Funny Ha Ha’s strength is the bumbling, self-effacing and utterly heart-melting performance by female lead Kate Dollenmayer. Kate is a beautiful and very talented actress who has basically made no films since.
The mastermind behind the film (not to mention writer, director and actor) is Andrew Bujalski, a Harvard graduate also known as ‘The Godfather of Mumblecore’.
Mumblecore is genre that needs Wikipediaring to get to grips with but it essentially if you like funny, subtle, unconventional and smart films, then this one is for you.
- Love is the Devil (Drama, 1998)
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