So I finally got around to seeing District 9 over the weekend and I was presently surprised by the film.  I went into the theater with the only knowledge about the nature of the movie from what I saw in the trailer.  I was expecting some sort of Independence Day man vs. alien action flick.  However, as many know, that was not the case.  What resulted was a film that explores the brutality humanity has imposed on itself by paralleling events that took place during the apartheid system enforced by South African government between 1948 and 1994.

Politics aside, this film is worth seeing.  A decent plot, surprisingly good acting from newcomer Sharlto Copley, and excellent cinematography make this film a killer combo.  What will surprise me, however, is if this film doesn’t make it to the Academy Awards.  Director Peter Jackson hits another homer with this film.

In Bruges Movie Poster

I saw this film a while ago when it was in theaters.  While flipping through channels I noticed it was playing on TV now and I decided to watch it again.  This is still one of my all time favorite indie flicks.  In Bruges was a 2008 black comedy directed by Martin McDonagh and starring Colin Farrel and Brendon Gleeson about two hitmen sent to Bruges to wait after a contract hit has gone bad.

The movie begins with Ray (Colin) and Ken (Brendon) arriving in Bruges to find out they are stuck there for two weeks.  Shortly after arriving, Ken is notified by his boss, Harry, of the true reason for being in Bruges:  he is to kill Colin as retribution for the bad hit.  We find out that during the hit Ray had inadvertently killed a boy.  Harry informs Ken that Bruges was his favorite city as a boy and he feels Ray would like the “fairly tail” like atmosphere of the city.  Ray of course hates the town and spends his nights in the bars instead of sightseeing.

While walking around one day he sees the stunning blond Chloe, played by Clemence Poesy, and Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), a dwarf who figures in a dream sequence.  He offends both of them but then quickly befriends them (Even though he continues to refer to Jimmy as a midget).

I will leave the rest of the film to the viewer but can promise good action and suspense.  The ending is delightfully ironic showcasing that even professional murderers have their feelings.

This is a great film and I recommend everyone to go see it!

While technically not an “indie flick” per say I saw this movie over the weekend and really enjoyed it.  The movie has reached “cult status” and for those not aware the movie is based on characters from an SCTV show about two Canadians with their own local access cable show (Wayne’s World anyone?)

While predating Wayne’s World by almost a decade, the film has it’s own unique charm.  Not only are the blatant references to Canadian stereotypes funny (eh?), but the horrible plot makes the film amusing.  Also interesting is this was Rick Mornais’s first film.  He later went on to star in several other films including Louis in Ghostbuster’s and the dad in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

So in short: if you have nothing better to do on a weeknight (much like I did the other day) – see this film.  You’ll thank me after you witness how horribly bad/good this movie is.

So a friend and I went to go see the Hurt Locker over the weekend.  It was one of the better films I’ve seen recently and I recommend everyone go see it.  For those that don’t know the film is a war thriller about three army soldiers who are a part of the most dangerous of jobs to offer in the military, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), or a bomb disposal team.

Everything was filmed in Jordan using Iraq refugees for extra realism that gives the movie an almost documentary feel.  The struggles two of the soldiers face as they learn to deal with their new commander – a soldier who seems as chaotic as the bombs they dispose of – is surreal.

As the prologue states: “War is a drug”