Intro: Independent movies, often called “indie films,” are made outside of the traditional Hollywood movie-making system. They can be anything from a quirky romantic comedy to an intense drama, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re not as mainstream, or perhaps it’s the storylines and plots that are usually a lot more unique than what you’d find in a Hollywood movie. Either way, if you’re looking for some new indie films to watch or interested in expanding your cinematic horizons, here are some indie films you should watch.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:
This film follows Joel, played by Jim Carrey, as his heart is broken into pieces after being dumped. He decides to have the memories of his ex-girlfriend erased from his mind. The story takes a turn when Joel realizes that he doesn’t want all of the memories gone since some good ones are mixed in with the bad. To get the memories back, he has to track down his ex-girlfriend, Clementine (played by Kate Winslet), and try not to fall in love with her all over again. You will fall in love with this movie that allows you to explore love and its residues. Download this movie from proxy-rarbg to watch it this weekend.
2. Little Miss Sunshine:
This film is about a dysfunctional family attempting to get their youngest daughter to an Orange County beauty pageant. Little Miss Sunshine is about a family that goes on an unexpected road trip to get their young daughter Olive (played by Abigail Breslin) to compete in a child beauty pageant. For this family of misfits to make it to the spectacle on time, they must embark on a road trip from their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, across the country. The characters are all fun and unique, and the movie’s theme says families should stay together no matter how hard it gets. However, the film is also filled with dark humor that makes it entertaining.
3. Beasts of the Southern Wild:
A young girl (Quvenzhané Wallis), who is six years old, learns to make friends and survive in her world after a storm destroys her isolated community. Beasts of the Southern Wild has won several awards, including Best Picture at the Oscars in 2013. The movie centers on Hushpuppy (portrayed by Quvenzhané Wallis) from Louisiana’s Bathtub. When a storm destroys her town and many people die, she is left to learn how to make friends and survive living outside her home with her father, Wink (portrayed by Dwight Henry).
4. Memento:
Up for an Academy Award in 2000, Memento is a psychological drama that shows different scenes in two alternate orders. It focuses on Leonard (Guy Pearce), who cannot store any new memories and continuously looks over his shoulder because he believes one of his neighbors wants to kill him. It is due to memory loss caused by an attack a few years back. As the film continues, the viewer begins to see how Leonard’s past and present connect as he tries to remember who killed his wife. He starts to investigate the death of his wife using notes and tattoos to hunt down the killer but soon realizes that he might not be able to trust even his most precious memories. Watch this movie that plays with the most sensitive and fluid issue of memories and psychology to give you a thrilling experience.
5. Requiem for a Dream:
Requiem for a Dream is an independent drama film about four people in Brooklyn who become desperate to escape their addiction. It’s based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr., and it stars Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, and Ellen Burstyn. A group of drug addicts makes a series of attempts to free themselves from their addiction. The film is about four different people and their battle against drug addiction. Requiem for a Dream shows how complex and deep drug addiction can get. It shows that people will go to any extreme to get what they want, even if it means turning your whole life upside down and losing everything you have. The movie is graphic and not for the faint of heart, so definitely recommended for mature audiences only.
6. Shadows:
Shadow is a movie written and directed by John Cassavetes, and it’s about a struggling actor. He decides to make a film with his friends, and he uses his own money to finance the project, which means that the entire cast is not getting paid. From this point on, they’re working towards finishing their art no matter what happens. Shadows are very realistic, and they perfectly capture the relationships between friends because none of them were professional actors. It’s fascinating to see just how far they will go to get the project done, even though many are starting to resent each other for not getting paid.
7. We Need to Talk About Kevin:
This movie is different. It’s about a kid who grows up to be very evil, and the film follows his mother throughout her life as she tries to make sense of what happened. Tilda Swinton plays the mother (and does an excellent job), and Ezra Miller plays Kevin. The story is shot in a way that makes it seem like one continuous shot, which is impressive.
Conclusion: These are the indie movies you should watch because they are great examples of what can be done on a small budget. Review these three movies, and you will see how different they are not only in their concepts but also in their style. If you like one, try to find others like it! This list is excellent, but it’s not exhaustive; what are some indie movies you’ve seen and liked?
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