It’s hard to watch movies that I’ve never heard of before. Or worse, it’s hard to watch movies with actors I’ve never heard of before. Even when I take recommendations, I wince every time I’m in the checkout line at Blockbuster. What if my tastes are unlike the tastes of whoever suggested the film?
Well, if you haven’t already, check out my previous blog, “A lifetime of movie lovin’,” and see if our tastes match. If they do – even only a little bit – then I urge you to rent any of the films listed below. They’re worth it, and you can take that statement to the bank.
The movies listed here are what I like to call “the unfortunates.” These guys never really had the recognition they deserved. Maybe it’s because they have mostly unknown actors or were produced with a very low budget. Who knows? What I do know is they provide a glimpse into another reality or time, allowing you to forget about your problems for just a little while.
So kick your shoes off, turn on the TV, turn out the lights and enjoy.
1. Stay (2006) iTunes Rental $2.99
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Sexuality Rating: None
Violence Rating: Suicide reference, mild blood
Drug Rating: None
MPAA: R
This is one of these films I hate to even explain because I’ll probably ruin the whole element of surprise. I’ll do my best. But first, let’s point out a few things: this movie is the perfect blend of death, life and everything in between. The transitions from scene to scene are smooth and creative, providing an innovative look into the lives of the two main characters and contributing to the disorientation throughout the film.
It all starts with a car wreck, an event that changes Henry’s (Ryan Gosling) life. After the accident, he gets a temporary replacement psychiatrist, Sam (Ewan McGregor), when his regular doc goes on leave. Henry then makes a bold statement, declaring that he’ll kill himself in three days. As time ticks away, Henry sends ripples through the psychiatrist’s life as Sam tries to find him before its too late.
2. The Fall (2006) Blockbuster Rental $1.99
Genre: Drama
Sex: None
Violence: None
Drugs: Mild
MPAA: R
I love artsy films, and this one surpassed my expectations. Filmed in 18 different countries over the span of four years, this movie is sure to take you out of your living room and into another world altogether. A beautiful example of story telling and amazing cinematography, it’s easily enjoyable.
The movie is set in 1920’s Hollywood at a Catholic care facility where a man named Roy (Lee Pace, “Pushing Daises”) is taken after he breaks his legs while filming a stunt for a movie. He meets a little girl, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), who broke her arm in a fall of her own. As the man and girl grow to know each other, he tells her a story.
This is where the imaginative ideas come into play. Once Alexandria becomes surely hooked on his words, Roy makes a little deal with her – if she gets him more pills, he’ll continue the story.
3. The Chumscrubber (2005) Blockbuster Rental $1.99
Genre: Drama
Sex: Little
Violence: Little
Drugs: Heavy
MPAA: R
Despite the unusual name, I like this film particularly because this sort of storyline probably happens all the time in the real world but is never told.
It takes place in a suburb, where Stanford wives are multiplying and unhappy children and teenagers push the limits of what they can get away with. It shows the interaction between people in the midst of a small town drug dealer’s suicide. The results draw a line between the main character, Dean (Jamie Bell, “Billy Elliot”), and everyone else.
This is a town where emotions are so repressed that, inevitably, little explosions start to happen. Wait long enough, and emotions start to manifest themselves beneath a sheet of pent up anger. Figure that.
4. 11:14 (2005) iTunes Rental $2.99
Genre: Drama
Sex: Brief but mild
Violence: Heavy (very graphic at times)
Drugs: None
MPAA: R
Robberies, vandalism, hit and runs, sex in cemeteries – this one has it all within an hour time frame.
The film uniquely examines a particular incident from multiple points of view. It seems like everything escalates until it all goes wrong at 11:14 p.m. Those are the magic numbers, folks. Every time you watch another character’s point of view, a little more information is revealed. The director doesn’t take you too off course – things are always stuck in this hour-or-so time frame, always in the same city.
I’ve always liked films that have multiple vantage points, but few are made and even fewer are made well. 11:14 has no main character, but the cast includes Patrick Swayze (”Dirty Dancing”), Rachel Lee Cook (”She’s All That”) and Ben Foster (”Hostage”). Swayze plays an overprotective but somewhat still estranged father; Cook, a highly sexual teenager looking for trouble; and Foster, a young hooligan who doesn’t know what he has until he’s… cut off. There’s a pun to Foster’s description. You’ll get it when you watch.
5. Strictly Sexual (2008) Hulu.com Free
Genre: Drama
Sex: Heavy (no nudity or graphic scenes)
Violence: None
Drugs: None
MPAA: R
One thing to keep in mind throughout this movie: it’s not as bad as you think it is. No nudity, no graphic scenes. Yes, I’m serious, and no, it’s not a “Skin-a-Max” type of movie. It places more emphasis on the relationships and interactions than the steamy parts.
Although the writers can get a little cheesy, the important thing to remember is it’s free. So if you absolutely hate it, you don’t feel like you lost $2, only an hour and 40 minutes.
Basic premise: two women are fed up with relationships, so they pick up two men from the bars, take them home and realize that the sex was so good, they don’t want to live without it. The men need a place to stay, the women need some good lovin’ – just make a deal and get it over with.
The men agree to stay at the “pool house” for extra attention whenever the women need it, no questions asked. All is well until emotion seeps into the plotline. Then it gets interesting.
Intrigued yet? You should be. Now, I may be a little out-of-date in my selections, seeing as how the movies listed are mostly from the mid-2000s. I’d be interested in what College Avenue readers watch. So tell me: what’s your favorite movie that didn’t quite make it to the box office and why do you like it? Comment, bookmark and for my sake, keep coming back.
