The Raid: Berandal (directed by Gareth Evans)Ĭinematographer Jeremy Saulnier used a Kickstarter campaign to fund his first attempt at writing and directing his own feature - and man, was that money well spent. Johansson’s usual flat delivery is perfect here.ġ5. The result is a disturbing, hallucinatory exercise in tone that remains compelling even as it tries one’s patience.
Under the Skin (directed by Jonathan Glazer)Ī loose adaptation of Michel Faber’s strange novel about an alien seductress who preys on the unwary men she picks up, the movie dispenses with much of the book’s back story and focuses mainly on seeing our world through the eyes of its emotionless main character (Scarlett Johansson). Can’t wait to see what Wheatley has done with his upcoming adaptation of High Rise.ġ6. Part historical drama, part British pastoral horror, part experimental filmmaking, A Field in England is uncategorizable and also unforgettable, with several sequences that haunt you for days afterwards. One of the U.K.’s most talented and provocative filmmakers makes another sharp turn with his fourth film, a black-and-white waking nightmare set in a sinister field during the English Civil War. A Field in England (directed by Benjamin Wheatley) They really don’t make ‘em like this anymore.ġ7. Barrett’s script is smart and tense, with great characters, and Wingard makes the low-budget esthetic work in his favor. Dan Stevens is terrific as David, the soldier who comes to visit the family of his dead buddy and is invited to stay - until his true nature comes to the surface. The director and his regular screenwriter Simon Barrett, who teamed on the fun but overrated You’re Next, hit a home run with this homage to sci-fi action films of the 1980s. Best of all is Jodorowsky himself, still full of piss and vinegar at the age of 85 and quite willing to fail spectacularly rather than do nothing at all. This documentary chronicling the legacy of eccentric cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s unproduced adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel Dune - an adaptation that could have been either a consciousness-raising cinematic masterwork or a disaster of epic proportions - is a fantastic and inspiring exploration of art, creativity, filmmaking and the film business. Jodorowsky’s Dune (directed by Frank Pavich) But in terms of budget, content and philosophy, these are still “indie” films in the truest sense. Two quick disclaimers: first, there are probably a number of titles missing from this list that we have simply not seen yet, and second, some of these movies are distributed through the “indie” arms of major studios, like the always tasteful Sony Pictures Classics. We’ve compiled a list below of 25 independent movies that we saw in 2014 that were all very good and often outstanding, proving that film can mean so much more than just merchandising and box office. But for cinephiles who want more than capes or toilet humor, independent films are where it’s at.
The indie scene is still where you can unique, provocative, disturbing and sophisticated material (both homemade and imported) that might not play well on multiplex screens for tired shoppers looking for a laugh. That leaves a lot of ground that the studios are not covering, which is where the independent film scene comes in. The big Hollywood studios are increasingly focusing on just a few areas of filmmaking: 1) superhero “universes” and other tentpoles based on anything from toys to the Bible, 2) comedies based around the kind of humor enjoyed by 12-year-old boys, and 3) the diminished but still standard staple of star-driven action or drama vehicles.