25 Odd Little Films Worth Seeing
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- DirectorTom DiCilloStarsJohn TurturroSam RockwellCatherine KeenerAn engineer finds his first gray hair, takes 6 days off from wife, son and work, rents a car and meets different people.John Turturro is awesome, but Sam Rockwell steals this quirky show...
- DirectorAlan ParkerStarsMatthew ModineNicolas CageJohn HarkinsAfter two friends return home from the Vietnam War one becomes mentally unstable and obsesses with becoming a bird.Nicolas Cage is young and plays vulnerable tough as well as can be, and Matthew Modine is scary-good as his weirdo buddy in this touching story of friendship and nightmares...
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMatt DillonMickey RourkeDiane LaneAbsent-minded street thug Rusty James struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days of gang warfare.S.E. Hinton simple story of a wannabe gang leader with no gang. Matt Dillon is the clueless thug, Mickey Rourke is his real deal but aloof brother, and a cool cast including Vince Spano, Lawrence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Dennis Hooper, and Tom Waits round out the people who confuse and frustrate Dillon's character.
- DirectorMichael DinnerStarsDonald SutherlandAndrew McCarthyJohn HeardA new transfer student to St. Basil's Boys' Prep School tries to fit in while romantically pursuing a troubled young girl.Andrew McCarthy is the new kid at St. Basil's school for boys. As he struggles to find his way, he befriends a handful of colorful students and a girl who runs their hangout. Worth seeing, especially if you went to a Catholic school...
- DirectorMatt MulhernStarsHallie FooteMatt MulhernKara SilverMatt Mulhern stars as an out of work sit-com actor visiting his empty childhood home on the Jersey shore while struggling to make sense of the loss of his father, his past, and, for one funny and heartbreaking week, himself.A poignant look at a failing actor who returns to his recently deceased father's New Jersey Shore house to settle some affairs. He meets a woman who gives tours at a hotel shaped like an elephant and thinks get more confused.
- DirectorJohn FlynnStarsRobert HaysKathleen BellerNed BeattyTwo mental patients in an institution fall in love and plan to escape in the search of a normal life.Robert Hays, of Airplane fame, plays a patient at a mental facility who heads out of his own, finding work as a heckling clown in dunk tank on the Wildwood boardwalk. The acting is subpar, the story moves slowly, but this odd little flick has its charm.
- DirectorMark HermanStarsBrenda BlethynJane HorrocksMichael CaineA shy reclusive lady is convinced by an invisible entity to sing. Subsequently, she finds herself noticed by a sleazy talent agent and her talent being showcased on-stage. She also meets a kind but nervous man who becomes her best friend.Jane Horrocks plays a strange, painfully shy young lady who lives for the records that remind her of her deceased father. When her mother realizes that her daughter has talent emulating the sings on those records, she wants her payday. Horrocks does all of the singing, and that alone makes this film amazing.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsRichard GereJoan AllenCary-Hiroyuki TagawaProfessor Wilson discovers a lost Akita puppy on his way home. Despite objections from his wife, Hachi endears himself to the family and grows to be Parker's loyal companion. As their bond grows deeper, a beautiful relationship unfolds.Seems cheesy enough; Richard Geer in a made for TV movie about a dog. But, when you consider that the story is based in truth, and is compelling and fairly emotional, you may just get past that and enjoy a sweet, touching film that will stay with you.
- DirectorAlan J. PakulaStarsAlbert FinneyMatthew ModineKevin AndersonBrothers Treat and Philip have lived alone since they were kids. Interdependent, they dwell in a loft house and live on little thefts, until an aging minor criminal moves in with them and takes over the role of a father.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsRichard FarnsworthSissy SpacekJane Galloway HeitzAn old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.
- DirectorJohn D. HancockStarsMichael MoriartyRobert De NiroVincent GardeniaThe story of the friendship between a worldly-wise star pitcher and a half-wit catcher as they cope with the catcher's terminal illness through a baseball season.A tragic story of a mediocre baseball catcher dying of Hodgkin's disease, and the star pitcher who wants him to go out with dignity in spite of his rural, innocent nature.
- DirectorNagisa ÔshimaStarsDavid BowieTom ContiRyuichi SakamotoDuring WWII, a British colonel tries to bridge the cultural divides between a British POW and the Japanese camp commander in order to avoid bloodshed.David Bowie excels as prison of war Jack Celliers, a defiant captive who intimidates camp command Yonoi. Ryuichi Sakamoto plays the disciplinarian Yonoi, oddly androgynous and conflicted by his fear, respect, and possible love for Celliers. Takeshi Kitano is absolutely superb as the hardlined Sgt. Hara, who has no compassion for the cowardly prisoners who would rather surrender than die with honor.
- DirectorThomas CarterStarsRobert Sean LeonardChristian BaleFrank WhaleyA group of teens adores forbidden music in Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War II.Considered to be one of Christian Bale's worst films, this story about young men in Nazi Germany trying to hang on to their music and their identities isn't really bad at all, once you can get past the tagline "In a world on the brink of war, you either march to one tune or dance to another," you'll find that the story is strong and the dancing (which is based on truth) is a metaphor. Worth watching with an open mind.
- DirectorRobert RedfordStarsWill SmithMatt DamonCharlize TheronA down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddie.Panned by nearly every critic, this simple story borrows its message from the Hindu epic Bhagavad-Gita, exchanging the battlefield for a golf course. There is genuine emotion to be found, as well as some fine performances from the smaller characters.
- DirectorTony BillBarry L. YoungStarsDudley MooreDaryl HannahPaul ReiserA bitter ad executive who has reached his breaking point lands in a mental institution, where his career actually begins to thrive with help from his fellow patients.Dudley Moore, Darryl Hanna, and a cast of kooks that actually makes this film warm and funny. A lot of folks passed on this film, but some of the one liners are classic.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsGene TierneyRex HarrisonGeorge SandersIn 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted and forms a unique relationship with the ghost.I don't know if this is a "little" movie, as it spawned TV series, but it is odd and charming and remains one of the coolest "ghost" movies ever made.
- DirectorCampbell ScottStanley TucciStarsTony ShalhoubStanley TucciMarc AnthonyNew Jersey, 1950s. Two brothers run an Italian restaurant. Business is not going well as a rival Italian restaurant is out-competing them. In a final effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on an evening of incredible food.
- DirectorWilliam Peter BlattyStarsGeorge C. ScottEd FlandersBrad DourifA police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.
- DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsGene HackmanAl PacinoDorothy TristanAn ex-con drifter with a penchant for brawling is amused by a homeless ex-sailor, so they partner up as they head east together.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsThomas JaneMarcia Gay HardenLaurie HoldenA freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.
- DirectorSean PennStarsEmile HirschVince VaughnCatherine KeenerAfter graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsJames CaanAnjelica HustonJames Earl JonesA Sergeant must deal with his desires to save the lives of young soldiers being sent to Viet Nam. Continuously denied the chance to teach the soldiers about his experiences, he settles for trying to help the son of an old Army buddy.
- DirectorJacob TierneyStarsNick StahlGary FarmerStephen McHattieA queer "Oliver Twist" update set in the hustler district of modern-day Toronto.
- DirectorIrwin WinklerStarsHayden ChristensenKevin KlineKristin Scott ThomasWhen a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsNicole KidmanPaul BettanyLauren BacallA woman on the run from the mob is reluctantly accepted in a small Colorado community in exchange for labor, but when a search visits the town she finds out that their support has a price.