“Indie Film” is an overused term that often inaccurately describes its subject. This section is solely for true independent films that were produced outside of a major film studio.
Once (2006)
This micro-budget independent Irish film took me by surprise. The music is so good, the song performances so gripping, that I couldn’t get it out of my mind for weeks after I first saw it. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have since recorded some excellent music under the band name “The Swell Season,” are the type of golden talent that audiences should beg to see.
“Once” is beautiful, touching, funny, engaging, and makes me wonder, “where does all of that Hollywood money go? Why has Hollywood completely lost its touch?”
This film may change your life. Watch the first 25 minutes; If you’re not enraptured, it’s not a film for you.
Mission X (2009)
Made on a shoestring budget, this Scottish film has rightly received a lot of attention about the independent filmmaking process. David Baker wrote, produced, directed, starred in, and is now distributing this movie. He has gone out of his way to educate other would-be indie filmmakers about the lessons he learns through the “Mission X” process, and a lot of the press out there focuses on his ingenuity, resourcefulness and mentoring nature.
That press is well-deserved, but let me talk about the movie.
A cautionary tale dealing with violence, militarism, mercenaries, and the cold realities that accompany the mercenary world, “Mission X” (like “Once”) might change your life, even in a little way. It’s a gritty and way-too-realistic look at the world of violence and revenge, serving as a kind of wake-up call to those desensitized by playing too many hours of Halo. In the days of Blackwater and increasing acts of public violence, this film cleverly deals with sensitive material to cause audiences to think and feel.
As a storyteller, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate stories that are driven by well-developed characters. So many movies rely on every storytelling trick in the book, all the while denying the core of so many great stories: the characters. Great characters are harder to write, more difficult for actors to portray, and consequently an increasing number of writers and directors seek filmmaking strength elsewhere.
Thankfully and to its great credit, “Mission X” is a character-driven story. It engrosses you because the characters are like people you might know. The performances are engrossing because they are sincere and true-to-life. Dialogue about honor and justice carry ironic weight in the characters that deliver them. The story has emotional impact because the characters drive it home.
The film is available to order on DVD or as a digital download on the “Mission X” website for a modest fee.
Want to hear about something you don’t see here? Send me an email!