Favorite Indie Flics

Ed Norton's best! A powerful story told beautifully about a young man whose journey into and out of the Neo-Nazi movement grabs hold of the viewer and doesn't let go. Be warned- there is no happy ending to this film. One of the best films ever made.....

I loved this film! Each character is perfectly flawed, dysfunctional and loveable. They are so loveable. From laughter to tears and back again, this film hooks you from the beginning and doesn't stop until it's reeled you all the way in at the finish. I haven't laughed so freely with a film in a long time. This is true comedy. Stellar performances from Breslin, Arkin, Kinnear, Carell, Collette and Dano!! Dano and Breslin stole the show for me. Charming, delightful, funny, dark, emotional--- what a joyride of a film. This is one for the DVD collection.

If you ever enjoyed music by the Beatles, like to be visually entertained, and can just suspend reality for a bit, you will be engrossed by Across The Universe. There are such diverse reviews of this masterpiece by Julie Taymor, but I was blown away. Musicals aren't my 'cup of tea', but this one just comes together. The characters are delightful, the songs blend right into the script and the romantic story is very touching.

One of the most visually beautiful movies I have ever seen. The cast could not have been better selected. The Polish brothers (Michael & Mark) have written the gem of the century with Northfork. The movie is filled with symbolism and some of the most delightful dialogue ever filmed. This is a must see for any true movie buff. For others, it may not impress. Watch with an open mind and an open heart...

A film unlike any other in 2007.... Paul Thomas Anderson delivers a knockout punch with There Will Be Blood! The cinematography, writing, scripting, directing, scoring and acting blend the story of a lust for power into a cinematic masterpiece. Daniel Day Lewis has no rivals. He is the ultimate actor. A film everyone should see, just to say they've seen it. Even if you end up hating it. (Seems the reviews are split on this one.) Once There Will Be Blood releases on Blu-Ray, it will become a centerpiece in my collection.

A complex masterpiece which is not a movie for escapism fans... An intriguing, masterfully woven blunt look at racism which will reel you in and not let go until the movie is over. Even then it will not let go and you'll be taking a closer look at yourself and those around you. A must see film!

A film with a highly provocative subject matter that should have received much more distribution and recognition.... Ryan Gosling shines as Danny Balint. This film demands you think about its subject matter. The beliefs and views in this film are portrayed strongly. Agree or disagree with the viewpoints, you cannot help but realize you have just watched a masterpiece of work.

Probably one of the best films ever made about racial prejudice and being unjustly accused of a crime. The script and actors are exceptional. This is one movie I will always hold dear to my heart for one of my strongest passions in life is that all men should be defended equally, without prejudice and receive a fair trial by a jury of their 'true' peers.

An excellent smart quirky comedy that still finds a way to creep into the tender side of your heart... Ellen Page rocks this poignant film about a teenage pregnancy from writer Diablo Cody. Page brings the cocky and smart Juno to life in a way I don't feel any other actress could have done. Oscar cheers to Page for making Juno one of the best films of 2007. Jason Reitman directed the film brilliantly, and the supporting cast was perfect for their respective roles. With a story that has been overdone many times, Juno brings heart and comedy in a 'Napoleon Dynamite' way. Don't miss seeing this one....

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a work of art. Extraordinary script, exceptional character portrayals, impeccable direction, and striking visuals combine to enthrall viewers with the intricacy of the human mind and all of its majestic possibilities. This film is an unparalleled contrivance in movie making.

From the profound screenplay by Dan Futterman to the exquisite editing by Christopher Tellefsen, Capote is a preeminent film about the life of Truman Capote during the years in which he researched and wrote In Cold Blood. The novel by Capote is heralded as the break through true crime novel and catapulted Mr. Capote to international fame. This film tastefully takes you into the narcissistic world of Mr. Capote, yet flawlessly embodies the spirit of the man that made him quite 'the life of the party'. Phillip Seymour Hoffman's sterling portrayal of Capote was mesmerizing. Bennett Miller's impeccable direction was definitive throughout the film. The supporting cast of Catherine Keener, William Cooper, Clifton Collins, Jr., Mark Pellegrino and others consummated this masterpiece of a film. The engrossing cinematography and unerring costuming added the perfect relish for this historical and captivating gem of a movie.

**note~ Lovers of true crime will probably enjoy this film more than the average movie watcher. Seeing Capote interact with the two killers illustrates why In Cold Blood was lauded as the break through true crime novel.

This shockingly menacing film about a serial killer which is cleverly written, brilliantly directed, and seductively evil will haunt your thoughts for days after viewing. This may be the best serial killer film ever made. Outstanding performances from a stellar cast combined with the dark subject matter make this a must see psychological thriller.

Sean Bean is extraordinary in this film about a British SAS patrol caught behind enemy lines. Based upon actual events which occurred during the Gulf War in 1991 this film is a tribute to the men who served in the unit whose call sign was Bravo Two Zero. This has to be one of the best war films ever made. Without all the Hollywood embellishment, the film focus is on the men on the ground. This is their story of survival in a war zone. A must see for any military movie buff.

Irish playwright Martin McDonagh has written and directed a brilliant film. Kudos to Mr. McDonagh for his most unique story. The mood and contrast between the lead characters (superbly portrayed by Farrell and Gleeson) worked on so many levels, and you can't walk away from this film without caring for them. The humor, the sensitivity, and the moral complexity of this film weave together to make an almost perfect drama/comedy. The Bruges setting is shot fabulously for the storyline. This first film from Martin McDonagh is impressive in the extreme. In Bruges may truly be my favorite black comedy of all time.

The Coen brothers have another masterpiece film to add to their repertoire. No Country For Old Men is film noir at its best, classic cinema and masterfully dark and funny. Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem make this film wrap itself into your psyche while viewing. Tommy Lee Jones shines as usual, but his character is used sparingly throughout the film. Simplistic, yet complex, No Country For Old Men is an unforgettable mind challenging gem of a movie.

Scott Kossar wrote a masterpiece, Brad Anderson brought it to life on film, and Christian Bale executed the lead role perfectly. This film is a must see for lovers of the 'psychological thriller' genre. Throughout this moody and atmospheric journey of insomnia with Trevor Reznik (Bale), you just know there have to be answers at the end. This film has an ending, and oh what an ending it is! If you like twists, you will not want to miss this film.

GBG is not just a film about a missing little girl. This film is filled with twists and turns galore. Moral dilemmas feature heavily throughout the script. Excellently written and directed beautifully, the actors deliver perfectly making this film quite phenomenal. GBG is one of the class acts of 2007.

The true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman (acclaimed Polish composer) which follows his life transformation during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw in WWII is a masterpiece film. Adrien Brody brilliantly portrays Szpilman's sympathetic character. A man, whose guilt at his own survival causes him to fight many inner demons, all the while leading him to have the will to continue to fight for his life delivers insight into human nature. A film filled with beauty and horror that is riveting to view. It may be a bit slow paced in areas for some viewer tastes, but it is a story well worth watching from which much can be learned.

Clay Pigeons is a most under-rated film. A dark comedy that has characters who are more like caricatures, a plot that is strange and weird, yet very engrossing push this film to above average for the genre. A well done directorial debut from David Dobkin, the extremely well written screenplay from Matthew L Healy and surprisingly superb acting from Vince Vaughn make this a must see film for any fans of the dark comedy genre.

A captivating film about the life of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester brilliantly filmed and scripted. Though not a film for all audiences due to the sexual frankness shown throughout, the movie captures the life of John Wilmot with beauty and clarity rarely seen in dramatic biographies. The costuming and lighting of the film illuminate the mid 1600's of England splendidly. Johnny Depp once again delved into a character and made the character come to life. My husband referred to Depp as being erratic in the film, and I disagree. Depp portrayed the most notorious debauchee of the Restoration court perfectly. Kudos to the talents of the supporting cast - John Malkovich (Charles II), Richard Coyle (Alcock), Rosamund Pike (Elizabeth Malet), Samantha Morton (Elizabeth Barry), and Rupert Friend (Downs). An excellent period piece and a must see for Depp and Malkovich fans.

A twist of a story! Pay close attention and you may guess what's going on... Christian Bale shines as a twisted character. Hugh Jackman doesn't quite capture the vengeful side of his character, but his performance doesn't distract from the plot. Well written script, extraordinary costuming which captures the Victorian age beautifully, and a catchy plot make this film. I enjoyed this film more than the Illusionist.

Though not the all out comedy I had expected from the trailers, Lars & The Real Girl is an original and funny, yet absolutely touching look at acceptance of those who are different. With a fresh concept and a new twist on looking at one form of mental illness, Nancy Oliver (writer) and Craig Gillespie (director) have given movie viewers an almost perfect film. Ryan Gosling is hand downs one of todays best actors and he literally brings Lars to life before your eyes. The supporting cast are stellar and each fits his/her character like a glove. Humorous, compassionate and filled with humanity, this is a must see film.

A serious crime has been committed. A baby has been kidnapped. In this screwball comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen almost make you forget that the characters of Nic Cage and Holly Hunter have committed a crime. This is a classic and hilarious film. It offers a well written script, excellent direction, great acting, kicking music, and moves at a fast pace. An eccentric film that kept me in stitches the first time I watched it, and continues to be one of my favorite comedies.

Not having watched a lot of British films, I'd still have to go out on a limb and say this one has to be one of the best. Shane Meadows is a brilliant writer and director, and the actors hired for this film truly make it shine. Though my knowledge of the skinhead movement is from the US, I still feel This Is England is a very realistic look at the recruitment practices exercised by such movements. Aggressive, touching, sometimes brutal and very realistic, this is a gem of a movie.

A second viewing of this film might earn it 5 stars from me. Brilliant acting, scripting and directing set this film apart from so many of the film noir entries. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a most talented individual who seems to just land the strangest roles. The lingo used within this film was difficult to follow in the beginning, but as the film unwound, I found myself following the lingo completely. Alas, a re-watch might just be what I need to up the rating. The film demands you concentrate on the dialogue or you will be so lost you won't understand the premise of the story. As much as I enjoyed the dark dramatic feel of the film, the moments which made me laugh were the best. Dode (Noah Segan) and Tugger (Noah Fleiss) had a couple of classic comic scenes just from the nature of the characters. The Pin (Lukas Haas) was classic comedy at its best. If you dare watch this film, not everyone will enjoy or 'get' this film, please take note of the 2 quick shots of The Pin's shoes. Those quick glimpses will shed light on why The Pin's mother is so clueless. (Not a huge part of the storyline, but so film noir in and of itself.) Kudos? to Rian Johnson for an excellent script and direction.

With a classic "Film Noir" styling, this dramatized recounting of murders committed by Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez and the determined detective, Elmer C. Robinson, who captured them is an excellent movie. Filled with violence and the lowest of human life forms, this is not a movie for family viewing. The script is well written and the direction, cinematography and score all are brilliant. The acting is top notch and very impressive. Travolta, Gandolfini, Leto and Hayek had to have been a directors dream for this film. Dern and Caan were perfectly cast as well in their supporting roles. Hayek and Leto were mesmerizing as this sadistic evil pair of murderers, but it was Hayek who stole the show. Hayek's portrayal of Martha Beck was Oscar worthy. If you enjoy movies based upon true crime, this is a must see.

A unique and quirky film which captivates the attention from the start. The score and cinematography are nothing less than brilliant. The writing, direction and acting are top notch. The bizarre plot threw me off, but the film is mellow, has humor and absolutely fascinates the mind. A must see ...

The Descent went far beyond my expectations. Having gotten used to horror films in which the horror is in thinking about someone torturing you, I was expecting something along the same lines. What a pleasant shock to actually have been taken by surprise and find myself screaming aloud during this film! Six women friends, a mountain getaway, an unexplored cave, creepy crawlers and a brilliant sub-plot entwining the lives of two of the women... Excellent writing, scripting and directing from Neil Marshall! The film contains enough blood and gore to satisfy, but it's the storyline which grabs hold of you. The DVD contains many enlightening special features. If you like horror movies even a little bit, this one is highly recommended.

Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people... The Painted Veil has a perfect tagline. This superbly directed period romance piece stars Edward Norton and Naomi Watts (Dr. Walter Fanes, a bacteriologist & his wife, Kitty) as a young 1920's English couple with a less than perfect marriage on a journey to China during a cholera epidemic. The cinematography is most awesome. The beauty of China is captivating. A love story filled with numerous clichés, the directing, scripting, scoring and acting deliver all the punches to make this a remarkable film.

Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth brilliantly. Michael Sheen captures Tony Blair perfectly. Enjoyable film considering the tragedy which inspired it. The Duke (Prince Philip) was left looking a bit like a dumb bunny, and I don't think this was a fair portrayl. Prince Charles was shown in a better light than he probably deserved during this tragic event. The only thing missing from this movie was Elton John's tribute to Diana at her funeral.

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Steel Toes is a two-character film. Although there are more than two characters, the story is between Danny Dunkelman (Strathaim), a Jewish lawyer and Mike Downey (Walker), a skinhead foot soldier. This is not a film filled with neither action nor court drama. Most of the film is dialogue between Danny and Mike, which revolves around how to defend Mike on murder charges. This is an art house film from beginning to end which was developed from the play, Cherry Docs, written by David Gow. This is a powerful and remarkable film about racial hatred and intolerance in society. The two characters delve deeply into the blackest corners of their psyches to express rage, hatred and finally compassion. Not everyone will enjoy this film as the pace is slow, but this film represents a fabric of society and as such, it is brilliant.

The plot- A futuristic society located beneath the surface of the Earth, in which the authorities have outlawed sex and keep those not in authority drugged... A society where the focus on production and commerce rule the day, keeping all enslaved - but one man, THX 1138 (Duvall), will attempt escape ...

George Lucas completed this film in 1971 and Warner Brothers did not like it. Distribution was not high on their list for this one. They did not get it.

Lucas shows us just what a filmmaker should be with THX 1138 - free thinking, creative and not afraid to do his own thing.

This is not a movie to sit back and munch the popcorn while viewing. For a sci-fi film way ahead of the times, this film is visually a cinematic piece of art.

Slow moving film, but it has a wonderful plot. The slowness keeps the film from being enjoyable. Dennis Quaid fans will see a different side of thier icon.

A solid little black comedy which is the directorial debut of Greg Marcks. Mr. Marcks did a fabulous job of directing and obviously had a small budget, but he made 11:14 work on so many levels. It's intelligently written, well acted and an interesting watch.

A quirky, non-Hollywood film which is engaging because Morgan Freeman is such a charmer. This film is very different and probably will not be liked by the majority. In most respects, it is a pointless film, yet the interaction between Freeman and Paz Vega is priceless.

Felon is one of the best films from 2008. An excellent plot plays flawlessly with the well written script and outstanding acting. Val Kilmer may be one of the best, if not the best actor of all time. Kudos to Ric Roman Waugh for his brilliant direction. Interesting, intense and unforgettable....