Actor Morgan Freeman, playing himself, is debilitated by his own fear of failure and has not accepted a role in several years. When he begins to contemplate doing an independent film, Freeman heads to an isolated convenience store to do a little research and perhaps find some inspiration. What he finds is Scarlet (Paz Vega), a spitfire cashier, who he ends up asking for a ride home. The two cultivate a brief, unlikely friendship and help one another to grow through their banter and mutual encouragement. Directed by Brad Silberling. With Jonah Hill, Alexandra Berardi and Bobby Cannavale. Categories: Comedy, Drama, Independent Film. Year: 2006.
10 Items or Less
Cristina Peck (Naomi Watts) is forced to suffer the loss of her husband Michael (Danny Huston) and their two daughters, killed in a hit-and-run by born-again ex-con Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro). Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), a college professor dying of heart failure, becomes the recipient of Michael's transplanted heart and is drawn to Cristina out of the debt of life he owes to her husband. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Categories: Drama, Crime, Thriller. Year: 2003.
21 Grams
In the process of coming to terms with the tragic loss of her only son, Esteban (Eloy Azorín), Manuela (Cecilia Roth) leaves Madrid and goes to Barcelona to find the boy's father, a transvestite named Lola (Toni Cantó). But first, she finds her transvestite friend, Agrado (Antonia San Juan), meets Rosa (Penélope Cruz), a young nun bound for El Salvador, and by happenstance, becomes the personal assistant of Huma Rojo (Marisa Paredes), the actress her son admired. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Categories: Drama, Foreign Film. Year: 1999.
All About My Mother
Bobbie (Vincent Kartheiser) is happy making money by breaking into vending machines. But following a botched raid on a college, this drug-addicted teenage runaway is approached by a drug buddy's charismatic uncle, Mel (James Woods), with an offers to bring Bobby into the big-time. Bobbie and his pregnant girlfriend Rosie (Natasha Gregson Wagner) follow Mel and his partner Sid (Melanie Griffith) into the fast paced world of grand larceny, hard drugs and shopping sprees. Directed by Larry Clark. With Peter Sarsgaard. Categories: Drama, Crime, Independent Film. Year: 1997.
Another Day in Paradise
Four actors (Ross Partridge, Steve Zissis, Greta Gerwig and Elise Muller) drive out to an isolated cabin in order write, direct and act in a film that they hope will jumpstart their careers. But, when the main character of their horror movie mysteriously appears and begins to torment them, the four friends must decide who they can trust and just what thye are up against. Directed by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass. Categories: Horror, Independent Film. Year: 2008.
Baghead
Barton Fink (John Turturro) is an intellectual playwright, delving into deep social and philosophical issues in his home city of New York. In 1941, he moves to Hollywood to write a wrestling film when disaster strikes: a severe case of writer's block. Compounded by a series of bizarre of events that keep him miserable and lonely in the mysterious Hotel Earle, not even the attention of his neighbor Charlie Meadows (John Goodman) can lift him from his doldrums. Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. With Steve Buscemi, Judy Davis. Categories: Drama, Thriller. Year: 1991.
Barton Fink
Danny Balint (Ryan Gosling) transforms himself from a religious Jew into a powerful leader in the Neo-Fascist political movement. But, after a stay in a training enclave, another change begins, and as the contradictions multiply something in Danny's soul prompts a complex journey back to Judaism. Directed by Henry Bean. With Summer Phoenix and Billy Zane. Categories: Drama, Independent Film. Year: 2001.
The Believer
For Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), bowling and drinking White Russians are a full-time job. When his rug is ruined by nihilist thugs who mistake him for a millionaire with the same name, he takes time out of his busy schedule to set the record straight. Joined by his bowling buddies (John Goodman and Steve Buscemi), the Dude eventually finds himself in the middle of a big mess after a botched ransom delivery. Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. With John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore and Tara Reid. Categories: Cult Classics, Comedy, Mystery. Year: 1998.
The Big Lebowski
After moving with his family and starting at a new school, Thomas (Rhys Wakefield) is put in charge of looking after his autistic brother Charlie (Luke Ford) when their pregnant mother (Toni Collette) is forced to take it easy. All Thomas wants is to be accepted and lead a normal life, but Charlie's antics cause him trouble at every turn. But, despite the constant frustration, Thomas gradually learns to appreciate his brother with help from his new girlfriend, Jackie (Gemma Ward). Directed by Elissa Down. With Erik Thomson, Firass Dirani and Ngoc Phan. Categories: Drama, Independent Film. Year: 2008.
The Black Balloon
In the Sydney suburb of Maroubra, a notorious gang known as the Bra Boys combine surfing, hard partying, rebellion and brotherhood to deal with the realities of larger society. This documentary chronicles the evolution of the gang's tough, close-knit culture and how the stigma of their surf community has contributed to their social displacement. The film focuses on the Abberon brothers (Koby Abberton, Sunny Abberton, Jai Abberton), who pursue their dream of professional surfing while one of their own is on trial for murder. Directed by Sunny Abberton and Macario De Souza. Narrated by Russell Crowe. Categories: Documentary, Foreign Film, Independent Film. Year: 2007.
Bra Boys
Brendan Frye (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a teenage loner, investigates the death of his ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin) after she reaches out to him unexpectedly just before her disappearance. To find the girl, Brendan must get help from his only peer, The Brain (Matt O'Leary), while staying one step ahead of an inquisitive assistant vice principal (Richard Roundtree). As the evidence begins to pile up and Brendan uncovers more and more secrets, this former outsider finds himself being drawn right into the middle of a deadly high school crime ring. Directed by Rian Johnson. With Nora Zehetner and Lukas Haas. Categories: Drama, Mystery. Year: 2005.
Brick
A love story unfolds between ranch hand Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and rodeo cowboy Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) who meet while driving cattle on a mountain range. Their lifelong connection, and the complications, joys and tragedies they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. Directed by Ang Lee. With Randy Quaid, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway. Categories: Drama, Romance. Year: 2005.
Brokeback Mountain