In this captivating coming-of-age story with an offbeat edge, 15-year-old Oliver Tate has two big ambitions: to save his parents’ marriage via carefully plotted intervention and to lose his virginity before his next birthday
Based on a true incident, this tense drama unfolds as a prank caller pretends to be a cop and convinces a restaurant manager to interrogate her teenaged employee about a supposed theft from a customer — a situation that soon spins out of control
A top-secret government agency sends a 16-year-old half-vampire to an American military base to ferret out a powerful demon who’s masquerading as a student in this live-action version of the 2001 anime film of the same name
Only Jim Jarmusch could direct a Western like this: a poetry-loving American Indian mistakes accountant William Blake (Johnny Depp) for the English writer by the same name, while bounty hunters take Blake for a murderer. Jarmusch packs his independent-minded film with an unlikely collection of castmates, including Iggy Pop, Gabriel Byrne, John Hurt — and Robert Mitchum, in one of his final big-screen roles
The Do-Deca-Pentathlon is now streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. The film, directed by Mark and Jay Duplass, is the latest from the brothers to reach Netflix. Most of their films over the years have made it onto movie streaming service. Here is a primer on this 2012 indie-comedy: Two brothers resurrect a two-person, 25-event “Olympics” (whose sports include pool and
It was indie week on the podcast. We discussed the movies Young Adult, Myth of the American Sleepover and Take This Waltz. We also drank and reviewed a beer from Founder’s Brewery called Red’s Rye P.A. If that sounds delicious then plug in and give the show a listen. Cheers. Download: InstaFlicka Podcast S3E49: Indie with A Side of Romance
In this riveting indie tale set in coastal Maryland, the Tyler household’s structure begins to crack when 11-year-old Emma (Tara Devon Gallagher) develops an ear problem requiring surgery that the Tylers can ill afford. As long-buried family squabbles come to the surface, Emma turns to an emotionally haunted young woman (Sarah Paulson) for solace and friendship. Cherry Jones (Tony Award winner for “Doubt” and “The Heiress”) and Robert Knott shine as Emma’s parents.
CONSENSUS: “Indulgent? Yes. Entertaining? More or less. Worth watching? Sure. You can pick this movie apart if you want, but it is a pretty cool fictional travelouge that will make you want to drop out of your life for two months. The Way is also a lovely movie if you are big fan of Martin Sheen.” INSTAFLICKA INDEX 3.50
CONSENSUS: “Will Farrell gives a solid performance in Everything Must Go, but the rest of the movie has trouble maintaining its dramatic punch all the way to the end. There are definitely some nice, earnest moments in this movie. Don’t expect Farrell to being running around in his underwear. This is not that kind of movie.” INSTAFLICKA INDEX 3.17
In this dark tale, a young college student takes a decidedly offbeat job: As a “sleeping beauty,” she’s paid to be fondled or otherwise handled by strangers while in a sedated slumber. Soon, however, she begins to wonder what she’s submitting to.
CONSENSUS: “Christian Slater is a surprise in this nice independent walkabout of a film. He Was a Quiet Man is a story you probably won’t soon forget. It makes an impact. It is not a great film, but it does a great job at being good.” INSTAFLICKA INDEX 3.75 Cubicle worker Bob is a resentful outsider who’s started carrying
Visioneer George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis) lives a comfortable but monotonous life in this slightly futuristic black comedy. But when people start exploding from stress and George is showing early symptoms, he’s forced to examine his life. Taking a look at his prestigious job, his sexless marriage and his resistance to life coaching, George reconsiders the philosophy of happiness through mindless activity
In this offbeat indie tale, Hollywood screenwriter Charlie Kaufman battles immense feelings of insecurity and impotence as he struggles to adapt The Orchid Thief — a book about a mercurial orchid poacher named John Laroche.
CONSENSUS: “Joss Whedon? Check. Neil Patrick Harris? Check. Awesome? Check. We believe this is the perfect recipe for a cult classic and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog proves it.” INSTAFLICKA INDEX 3.83 When he’s not busy breaking the law or trying to get close to his secret crush, Penny (Felicia Day), supervillain wannabe Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) boasts about
CONSENSUS: “Ed Harris kills it in this obvious passion project. His direction, his acting and even his painting are wonderful. It is one of the best bio-pics that we have seen. Pollock is especially good if you have an interest in 20th century American art.” INSTAFLICKA INDEX 4.50 This riveting biopic follows abstract painter Jackson Pollock — who’s alternately
