Non-mainstream movies that are actually really good

[Bgrade]

I think all B-movie lovers every once in a while want to watch a good movie.  But since they can't turn to Hollywood for this they rent a non-mainstream movie that is really good.

I know the are main hidden gems but what would be your ONE choice to make others watch. What little known film do you feel deservea real recognition but really has not gotten it.

For me it's "Jonny got his gun."  A near masterpiece.
Anyone else like this movie .

What are your hidden gems.

[eeeee5]

.            Since this is a place for b-movies and dystopian films are always fun, I liked "Laughing Dead."  Hokey, but deadly serious, if that's what you mean by "Non-mainstream movies that are actually really good."  WELL MADE, zero-budget director, actor, writer, producer, type thing.  "Alarmist, The;" "Pi;" "Suicide Kings;" are non-genre type films, or at least different, that I've convinced people to watch.



Post Edited (02-16-04 03:01)

[dean]

I love foreign films, which I consider non-mainstream in the sense that they aren't exactly released widely, because of the language thing, but some reccomendations are:

Get ready to be boysvoiced:  A Norweigian mockumentary of Boy bands, kinda like Spinal Tap I guess.  Funny as hell.  Video clips are great: The song called 'Cousin' is especially good.

For the B Movie fans out there, another two favourites are:

Killers Condom: can't remember where its from, but is about a detective investigating a series of murders in a seedy hotel by a killer condom.  It has teeth, ouch.

Killer Tongue: Some girl gets mutated by meteorite and has a killer tongue, need I say more? :P

[Vermin Boy]

One of my favorite hidden gems is Complex World. It's pretty hard to find-- It only ever played in Providence and Boston, and it was only on video for a while before relations soured between the filmmakers and the distributors-- but it's worth tracking down. The plot is pretty convoluted, but it basically revolves around terrorists, government conspirators, and bikers all trying to blow up a nightclub on the same night. Hilariously deadpan, offbeat humor. No big names except for Captain Lou Albano as the lead biker and NRBQ as a Beatles cover band. Once you see it, "I Married a Tree" and "Why Do We Feed the Broads?" will be stuck in your head for days.

[Evil Matt]

I don't know if it's considered non mainstream or not, but as far as indie film goes, I thought that "The Boondock Saints" was friggin' awesome.

[AndyC]

I usually try to get them to watch Cube. Nice piece of filmmaking on a small budget, with minimal sets and props. A few very effective special effects, but mostly interesting characters and a story that makes you think. I've recommended it to a few people who have enjoyed it, but I have yet to convince my wife that it's not cheesy-bad, it's not strictly sci-fi, and while it's weird, it's weird in a good way. I suppose I'll have to offer to submit to a period drama or a musical in exchange for her watching it with me.

[Vermin Boy]

I couldn't tell you if it's mainstream or not-- I live in Boston, so EVERYONE I know knows it. ;)

[trekgeezer]

Happy Accidents -  Vincent D'onofrio and Marisa Tomei

Is it a chick flick  with pyschological elements or a Sci-Fi movie.  A girl who has so much trouble with relationships that she is constantly seeing her  therapist meets a quirky guy who seems to good to be true.  She starts to think he is when he admits to being a time traveler from  the year 2470.  Is he nuts or not?

My wife, daughter and I caught on the  IFC one night surfing for something to watch.  It's good one to watch with the wife.

[trekgeezer]

     http://www.happy-accidents.com/

[Neon Noodle]

I will agree on CUBE - hence my new sig!

but I would say that MEMENTO was one of the best non-mainstream films of 2001.

I wrote a review of it and then rewrote everything backwards. Whenever anyone read it, they'd give the typical WTF response - then they saw the movie and it made sense.

[Anonymous User]

Today I saw a movie I liked okay...Equilibrium.  I'm not sure how mainstream it is or isn't...but I'd never heard of it before.  I watch a lot of movies...it's hard to pick just one or two that are top.

[JohnL]

Final - Dennis Leary wakes up in a mental hospital with no memory of how he got there. He's convinced that it's several years in the future and that the doctors there are planning to kill him. Is something strange going on, or is he just nuts?

[Mr_Vindictive]

21 Grams

Although it had some Hollywood actors (Sean Penn, Naomi Watts) this film is completely UnHollywood.  It deals with the lives of three people that become strangely intertwined after a severe traffic accident.  Amazing film which plays with time much like Memento.  


Although Evil Matt beat me to it, I'm gonna mention Boondock Saints.  Fantastic film about two brothers who believe that God has told them to kill the Russian mob in Boston.  Fun, amazingly shot film with Ron Jeremy as a mob boss.  What else could you want in a film?

Battle Royale is another way off mainstream film that is much better than any of the trash to come out of Hollywood.  As most of you know the film revolves around a class of 9th graders sent to a deserted island by the government to battle each other to the death.  Highly intense and darkly gripping, it is one of the best films I've seen come out of Japan.  As for Battle Royale 2, I should be acquiring a copy within the next few days.  Review soon!

[Grumpy Guy]

Amelie

I suppose it only barely qualifies as non-mainstream.  It's a French romatic comedy about a dreamer in search of love.  That description just doesn't do this wonderful film justice.  See it.

[Andrew]

I'd go for "Delicatessen" if we want to delve into this little batch of movies.  "Amelie" is probably my favorite out of the bunch, but "Delicatessen" has a gritty and lovely weirdness to it.