Top 10 Summer Movies Sandwiched Between The Studio Blockbusters
Written
on 15/5/08
While Killer Film will be previewing each month this summer blockbuster by blockbuster, after I saw “Redbelt” I got the feeling like there’s going to be some gems sandwiched in between the big studio films. So this list will work outside of our Box Office Previews from May to August and will focus on titles that are unique and interesting. We all are going to be seeing “The Dark Knight”, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” and every other blockbuster, but I know some of us are going to want a meal after some popcorn, so this list is for you. I’ve compiled a list of what I personally think should be worth a visit to the theater but knowing that everyone has different tastes, expect to see a variety. Enjoy and of course, stay here for reviews of these films.
10 – Mother of Tears (director: Dario Argento, limited release in June): This might be the weakest film on my list in terms of story and content, but Argento fans have been waiting for his conclusion to the Three Mother Trilogy since 1980’s “Inferno”, he second chapter of a loosely based supernatural series. Early word is its okay but not “Suspiria” the 1977 first film in the series, but at least it’s not as bad as some of his latter films I’m just hoping its entertaining like his “Jenifer” episode in the Masters of Horror Showtime Anthology. It’s ultra-gory and features Asia, his daughter; I’m here if it comes near my area. Currently, it’s just going to be sprinkled across a few U.S. cities. This film is strictly for the horror fan reading this list.
9 – Sukiyaki Western Django (director: Takashi Miike, limited release in August): If the director’s name rings a bell to you, then you’ll be seeing this, if it doesn’t, well, Miike is a strange filmmaker. Here’s a film that mixes Japan in the Middle Ages and the spaghetti Western styles, with Miike’s own brand own sick visuals and gore. It should be strange, weird, bloody, and essentially that is what we expect from this filmmaker. This is just one of those niche genre films that I can only recommend to people in the know, all others will be scared for life and add Quentin Tarantino as an actor in the film, and well it sure looks like Miike is on target for another trippy ride. “Django” is a character’s name from a popular series from the Italian Western canon in the ‘70s, so I can’t wait to see Miike’s connection to that.
8 – My Winnipeg (director: Guy Maddin, limited release in June): One of Canada’s more unknown directors here in the States, has created a personal documentary of Winnipeg. It’s funny, historical, and heart-warming not to mention gathering a lot of positive buzz out of the Toronto Film Festival. This is recommended for the art-house and documentary crowd seeking something worthwhile during all of the blockbusters.
7 – Hounddog (director: Deborah Kampmeier, limited release in July): You might’ve heard about this one for a while now. This film had created a lot of press and controversy due to it featuring a child being raped in it. Early word out of Sundance last year was it was profane and ultimately a bad film, while Robin Wright Penn claims the media snowballed the negativity and she stands by the director and film claiming we are not seeing it with a clear mind. Young Dakota Fanning stars as the little girl who gets her innocence taken away. Whether it’s good or bad, I’m eager to see what should be a griping drama with powerful acting. Its subject matter might scare off many people though.
6 – Baghead (director: Jay and Mark Duplass, limited release mid-summer): I seen the trailer for this and thought “WTF”? It’s about some independent film crew wanted to create something worthwhile and during the production things go astray. Shot on a tiny budget, the film could be one of those indie films that sneak up on you and the trailer blurs the tension with laughs. I’m not sure what to expect but that’s a good thing. Currently, it’s getting good word-of-mouth.
5 – Flight of the Red Balloon (director: Hsiao-hsien Hou, limited release now): If you have been reading the site as of late, you might know that I love 1956’s short film, “The Red Balloon”. Taking the basic elements of Lamorisse’s masterful short film, Hou has elaborated upon the premise for a feature length film that is equally as gripping and powerful. I can’t wait.
4 – The Visitor (director: Thomas McCarthy, limited release now): A slow but powerful film about friendship from the director of the “Station Agent” could be a highlight you’ll miss out on. Featuring understated acting and direction, the film shifts from humorous stereotypes about Americans perception of the Middle East to gripping scenes of friendship, this looks like a winner.
3 – Choke (director: Clark Gregg, limited release in August): I love Chuck Palahniuk. But outside of “Fight Club” Hollywood hasn’t been banging down his door to adapt his books into films. I’ve read the book and it’s equally as smart, darkly humorous, and intelligent as “Fight Club”. My biggest hesitation is the director, who’s a first time writer/director. Can he handle Palahniuk’s cynical, minimalist story? I think the film might fail if it’s handled as a straightforward drama. He has Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston in it and the story is so out there; Victor is struggling to keep his mom happy at this expensive nursing home. To support her he chokes at restaurants hoping for a Good Samaritan to save him with money donations. While doing that he’s going to Sex Addiction classes to screw the girls there. Oh, and along the way he discovers who his father is. I can’t tell you but it’s out there in that beautiful Chuck Palahniuk way.
2 – Son of Rambow (director: Garth Jennings, limited release now): This is the movie “Be Kind Rewind” wanted to be. Two kids from the dawn of the VHS age discover how awesome “First Blood” is and in turn, like any good piece of art, inspires them to act or in this movie’s case, create a sequel to the film. It’s a light-hearted tale that should be in a lot of critics Best of 2008 lists, no doubt.
1 – The Fall (director: Tarsem Singh, limited release in June): Remember a little horror film like from a decade ago called the “Cell” with J. Lo? Well, after all this time Singh has finally made his sophomore follow-up, this time with David Fincher producing. If you liked the “Cell” then you instantly noticed his visual flair. If you didn’t like it, then I still think this is worth seeing as the story centers on a paralyzed man and a little girl, in which he starts telling fantastical stories to. Her imagination and his stories start to develop into a blurred line between reality and fantasy. I think this looks to be one of the best non-blockbuster films this summer and see what I mean by seeking out the trailer.
10 – Mother of Tears (director: Dario Argento, limited release in June): This might be the weakest film on my list in terms of story and content, but Argento fans have been waiting for his conclusion to the Three Mother Trilogy since 1980’s “Inferno”, he second chapter of a loosely based supernatural series. Early word is its okay but not “Suspiria” the 1977 first film in the series, but at least it’s not as bad as some of his latter films I’m just hoping its entertaining like his “Jenifer” episode in the Masters of Horror Showtime Anthology. It’s ultra-gory and features Asia, his daughter; I’m here if it comes near my area. Currently, it’s just going to be sprinkled across a few U.S. cities. This film is strictly for the horror fan reading this list.
9 – Sukiyaki Western Django (director: Takashi Miike, limited release in August): If the director’s name rings a bell to you, then you’ll be seeing this, if it doesn’t, well, Miike is a strange filmmaker. Here’s a film that mixes Japan in the Middle Ages and the spaghetti Western styles, with Miike’s own brand own sick visuals and gore. It should be strange, weird, bloody, and essentially that is what we expect from this filmmaker. This is just one of those niche genre films that I can only recommend to people in the know, all others will be scared for life and add Quentin Tarantino as an actor in the film, and well it sure looks like Miike is on target for another trippy ride. “Django” is a character’s name from a popular series from the Italian Western canon in the ‘70s, so I can’t wait to see Miike’s connection to that.
8 – My Winnipeg (director: Guy Maddin, limited release in June): One of Canada’s more unknown directors here in the States, has created a personal documentary of Winnipeg. It’s funny, historical, and heart-warming not to mention gathering a lot of positive buzz out of the Toronto Film Festival. This is recommended for the art-house and documentary crowd seeking something worthwhile during all of the blockbusters.
7 – Hounddog (director: Deborah Kampmeier, limited release in July): You might’ve heard about this one for a while now. This film had created a lot of press and controversy due to it featuring a child being raped in it. Early word out of Sundance last year was it was profane and ultimately a bad film, while Robin Wright Penn claims the media snowballed the negativity and she stands by the director and film claiming we are not seeing it with a clear mind. Young Dakota Fanning stars as the little girl who gets her innocence taken away. Whether it’s good or bad, I’m eager to see what should be a griping drama with powerful acting. Its subject matter might scare off many people though.
6 – Baghead (director: Jay and Mark Duplass, limited release mid-summer): I seen the trailer for this and thought “WTF”? It’s about some independent film crew wanted to create something worthwhile and during the production things go astray. Shot on a tiny budget, the film could be one of those indie films that sneak up on you and the trailer blurs the tension with laughs. I’m not sure what to expect but that’s a good thing. Currently, it’s getting good word-of-mouth.
5 – Flight of the Red Balloon (director: Hsiao-hsien Hou, limited release now): If you have been reading the site as of late, you might know that I love 1956’s short film, “The Red Balloon”. Taking the basic elements of Lamorisse’s masterful short film, Hou has elaborated upon the premise for a feature length film that is equally as gripping and powerful. I can’t wait.
4 – The Visitor (director: Thomas McCarthy, limited release now): A slow but powerful film about friendship from the director of the “Station Agent” could be a highlight you’ll miss out on. Featuring understated acting and direction, the film shifts from humorous stereotypes about Americans perception of the Middle East to gripping scenes of friendship, this looks like a winner.
3 – Choke (director: Clark Gregg, limited release in August): I love Chuck Palahniuk. But outside of “Fight Club” Hollywood hasn’t been banging down his door to adapt his books into films. I’ve read the book and it’s equally as smart, darkly humorous, and intelligent as “Fight Club”. My biggest hesitation is the director, who’s a first time writer/director. Can he handle Palahniuk’s cynical, minimalist story? I think the film might fail if it’s handled as a straightforward drama. He has Sam Rockwell and Anjelica Huston in it and the story is so out there; Victor is struggling to keep his mom happy at this expensive nursing home. To support her he chokes at restaurants hoping for a Good Samaritan to save him with money donations. While doing that he’s going to Sex Addiction classes to screw the girls there. Oh, and along the way he discovers who his father is. I can’t tell you but it’s out there in that beautiful Chuck Palahniuk way.
2 – Son of Rambow (director: Garth Jennings, limited release now): This is the movie “Be Kind Rewind” wanted to be. Two kids from the dawn of the VHS age discover how awesome “First Blood” is and in turn, like any good piece of art, inspires them to act or in this movie’s case, create a sequel to the film. It’s a light-hearted tale that should be in a lot of critics Best of 2008 lists, no doubt.
1 – The Fall (director: Tarsem Singh, limited release in June): Remember a little horror film like from a decade ago called the “Cell” with J. Lo? Well, after all this time Singh has finally made his sophomore follow-up, this time with David Fincher producing. If you liked the “Cell” then you instantly noticed his visual flair. If you didn’t like it, then I still think this is worth seeing as the story centers on a paralyzed man and a little girl, in which he starts telling fantastical stories to. Her imagination and his stories start to develop into a blurred line between reality and fantasy. I think this looks to be one of the best non-blockbuster films this summer and see what I mean by seeking out the trailer.
