I bloody hate when someone says, “oh, you should totally see that movie”, or “trust me, you’ll love it”. Shows how much they know me :0). I saw Little Miss Sunshine recently and was completely unimpressed and mostly annoyed at the typical silly Indie dysfunctional family flick it was. Imaginary Heroes was much better but not many people saw that. Sure, Mr. what’s-his-face from The 40 Year Old Virgin was good Sunshine, but so what. And, please! with the praises for Garden State! Cutesy is sickening. Long mushy monologues ala that painfully obnoxious car scene from Chasing Amy, is never a good sign. I think Independent films like these are all the rage ’cause they seem so “Indie”. It’s like the resurgence and sudden popularity of Independent film (and documentaries) has left all of us who’ve been watching them since the dawn of their time wondering why even these so called Independent films seem quite formulaic. Indepedent seems to mean “quirky”. The loser winning. The dysfuntional family, functining through l-o-bloody-v-e. I get the feeling many folks who love these new Indie films haven’t seen the earlier ones, the better ones, and the ones still being shown (with narrower release). Syriana was interesting, but it wasn’t spectacular. But no one saw Van Sant’s Gerry, which was quite lovely. But, everyone’s got a definition for everything. My definition for “Independet” film is a great concept (unique or not) carried out by great writing, acting, directing and the chemistry of it all. No unnecessary sex, violence, cheese or anything else superfluous for that matter.
Anywho, here’s a small list of some great truly “Independent” films (in no particular order):

• Morvern Callar
  Morvern Callar stars Samantha Norton who does an amazing job in this character film. Click here for a review I wrote at scenema. I’ll say no more.
• Mysterious Skin
  This is an exceptionally moving film about two guys who shared the same past but while one lived to forget, the other lived to remember it.
• Freeway
  Funny, funny, disturbing. Reese Witherspoon is top notch as a modern trailer trash Little Red Riding Hood. Freeway is both as much of a social commentary on the rich and poor as it just a great black comedy and cult classic.
• The 24th Day
  Remember Cyclops (James Marsden) from the X-Men trilogy? Remember Michael Corvin from Underworld or Ben Covington from Felicity (Scott Speedman)? Both actors give exceptional performances in this small budget independent film based on Tony Piccirillo’s play about a casual gay pickup that turns into a nightmare. It’s done as if on a theater stage, rarely leaving one room. The dialogue is smart and moving. The directing, or perhaps it was the quality given the low budget, was mediocre. Seemed like this movie was shot in the early 90s. But, damn it all, it’s worth watching!
• Gerry
  This is perhaps the most interesting, perhaps the best of Gus Van Sant’s films. I loved My Own Private Idaho and Drugstore Cowboy. Didn’t much care for Good Will Hunting. Nonetheless, Van Sant’s films always have a ruminating mood. A feel for not really wanderlust, but wondering lost. Borderline road films. Gerry is no exception, but it is exceptional in that there’s very little dialogue, miles and miles on landscape, and a great and thought provoking twist at the end.
• Flirting
  Thandie Newton and Nicole Kidman are great to watch in this 1991″before they were famous” coming of age film set in an Australian all-girls school.