Ink
This indie feature was pointed out to me by my cousin, and I
gladly point it out to anyone who wishes to watch an incredible film. The plot is a little weird, with large
portions taking place on an alternate plane of reality, where a disfigured
monster, Ink, has captured a child and plans to bring her to demons. That description doesn’t come close to how
great the plot is, but what’s important is that this fantasy storyline runs
parallel to the story of a businessman in a depression after the death of his
wife, and the storylines play perfectly with each other and manage to bring out
strong and vibrant emotions.
I rarely cry in films, but Ink is one of the few that has
made me cry (on multiple occasions, actually).
It is simply one of those films that makes such a strong connection
between the characters and the audience that you end up truly caring about the
characters, and soon their battles become your battles. Combine this with great visuals and solid
performances, and you have a film that is one of my all-time favorites.
TimeCrimes
This film is quite the opposite of a Hollywood feature,
having very little flash or effects, and relying instead on a unique storyline
that successfully boggles the audience while remaining accessible and
entertaining. While some time travel
films, such as Time Cops, use a nonsensical approach to time travel and instead
focus on mindless action, and some indie films, particularly Primer, might get
too complicated and lose the audience, TimeCrimes is the perfect middle ground,
staying fun while still being intelligent.
The story is fairly low scale, featuring only 4
characters. The main character, Hector, sees
a naked girl in the woods, and investigates.
He is then stabbed by a mysterious heavily bandaged man, and set off on
a course of events that send him back in time.
It’s impossible to delve too deeply into the plot without giving
everything away, but just trust me that this is a must see, especially before
the Hollywood remake comes out and ruins a very solid film.
Miller’s Crossing
It’s hard to call a Coen Brothers film underrated, but I
believe this one doesn’t get enough widespread acclaim. This film is to film noir what No Country for
Old Men was to westerns. That is to say,
it is a modernized version of the genre that features such extraordinary style
that pays homage to the classics while bringing a more modern gritty feeling
that appeals to today’s audience.
The story follows Tom, a crime boss’s advisor, who gets
mixed up between two criminal factions, and ends up playing both sides. The general story is fairly basic, paying
homage to a classic plotline, but the film’s strength lies in how human the
characters and settings feel. The world
is real, while still maintaining a prohibition-era vibe. Add in great performances, from features man
Gabriel Byrne’s great hardboiled antihero Tom to supporting actors Steve
Buschemi and John Turturro, among others, and you’ve got everything that makes
a classic and one of the best (and least talked about) Coen films.
Brick
Another modern take on the noir style, this film takes an
interesting angle and has the film noir storyline take place in a high
school. When Brendan (played by Joseph
Gordon-Levitt) finds his ex-girlfriend dead, he plays the role of detective and
starts putting together the clues, dealing with informants, femme fatales,
goons, rival factions, and everything else you would find in 1930s noir piece,
except in high school.
The director, Rian Johnson, recently won acclaim for his
film Looper (also starring JGL), and his talent shines here as well. The storyline is not only an interesting take
on the genre, but features enough solid characters and plot twists to be called
a great film on its own merit. Add in
that the film was beautifully shot, with a great blue-grey color scheme, and
you’ve got a film that is smart, entertaining, and featuring a young star.
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