Lost at Sea DVD | Films That Need More Love | 2

The current state of the film industry has seen a drought in both content and profits from the major big budget films in the past few years. As studios pour money into large flashy fare based on classic formulas of romantic comedy meshes and action romps we are continually seeing the box office disappointment of films which do not meet the taste of the general audience. Smaller productions on the other hand are gaining ground with films like American Splendor, The Station Agent, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost in Translation and Donnie Darko doing well critically, at the box office and in retail sales. Indie releases are continually finding a larger audience base via word of mouth, as opposed to the massive amounts of money spent on major motion picture advertising. Hopefully this trend will show the major studios that sometimes the most non-traditional films may sometimes become something really splendid. Let us hope that this trend continues unabated but in the meantime you can take a look at films (and shows) which have slipped under the mainstream radar in the past on DVD.

Once Upon a Time in the West (Special Collector’s Edition)
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It doesn’t get too much more Spaghetti Western than this incredibly composed cinematic masterpiece from the man behind the Dollars trilogy – Sergio Leone. Filled to the brim with terrific set pieces and one-liner dialogue that sizzles on screen this western exhibits all the traits that has made Leone such an acclaimed director. The beautifully shot scenes is given an electric air by the famed composer Ennio Morricone who has also created scores to others of Leone’s films including the iconic score to The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Once Upon a Time in the West features tremendous performances by Jason Robards, Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda as the three main contenders in the narrative. With a measured pace and stunning character interaction this film never ceases to amaze and is great for newcomers to the genre flick. [IMDB page]


The Office 
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In North America television shows (especially sitcoms) normally follow a set formula and rely on an array of stock characters around a central ‘new element’ character. The standard characters give the audience immediate familiarity with the show and since all the main characters are normally likeable it’s just a matter of plugging in a zany situation/dilemma! The Office however, brings about a wholly new feeling for a television series; filmed in a documentary style complete with talking heads, the entire series has a quite odd charm to it. The main characters provide a nice innate foil for each other and subsequently the comedy never feels set up or contrived - the writing is fantastic and as a result the dialogue comes off as very natural. All in all one of the funniest comedies in recent memory – highly recommended for a fan of smart, wry humour. [Official site]


Miller’s Crossing
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Of the three major ‘brothers’ pairings of filmmakers the work of the Coen’s stand out as gaining more underground fame and acclaim than both the Wachowski and Farrelly films. The duo behind such wonderful fare as Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona and Barton Fink produced Miller’s Crossing in 1990 and crafted a solid gangster film that still stands as one of the best today. Miller’s Crossing comes off as a flawless character driven landmark affair featuring the immutable Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney and John Turturro. As for the gangster side of this character piece it’s not a straight up incarnation – the film never loses sight of the medium and genre in which it is presented; the creation of the American Fiction. [IMDB page]


Rashômon (Criterion Collection)
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Kurosawa is widely acknowledged by any schooled film seeker as a genuine genius when it comes to weaving narratives and subtext. But how many people do you know that have seen his films? However when it comes to discovering this amazing filmmaker for the first time it is always nice to start at the beginning. Rashômon was one of Kurosawa’s first major successes and serves as an excellent precursor for explorations in his later work. It’s disregard for prior cinematic traditions and it’s mutations of many of the conventions marks Kurosawa’s continuing creation of his own visual language. [IMDB page]


Freaks and Geeks
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This cult favourite television production passed under my TV radar when it first aired (mainly because I don’t own a television) but on a recommendation from a friend I picked this up when it came out on DVD. Man, if you were an 80’s child then you can relate to tons of stuff in this show – and even if you were not the show picks up on some pretty expansive issues that sometimes reminded me of my own life. It’s really easy to relate to the characters and they generally seem sincere, the storylines are never over the top and encompass a whole range of issues and witticisms. [Official site]


Hard Boiled
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Wow, John Woo has made some real stinkers since he has set his doves free in North America. These sub-par action packed offerings include Windtalkers, Broken Arrow, Mission Impossible 2 and Paycheck. But before all the high-octane Hollywood crap Mr. Woo gained deserved claim from his Hong Kong action films which included The Killer and the gangster pistol opus Hard Boiled. The film opens with a rabid gunfight featuring a veteran cop played by Chow Yun-Fat characteristically attempting to foil the triad and firing off as many bullets as possible. The action in this film is over the top and uncompromising in its relentless drive, the eminent Tony Leung of Infernal Affairs and Hero fame headed up the complementary cast with a great performance. If you feel like seeing an icon of Hong Kong 90’s action cinema then this is one film you should not pass over. [IMDB page]


The Royal Tenenbaums (Criterion Collection)
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One of my favourite films getting plugged?! Who would have thought? But seriously now, if you have never seen this outing from Wes Anderson (of Rushmore, Bottle Rocket fame) I strongly urge you to go and find this gem of a comedy. The all-star cast comprised of Gene Hackman, Angelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Danny Glover and Bill Murray gives amazing performances as the titular family and associated characters. The narrative careens through piece after piece of the families disjointed lives both past and present and masterfully weaves a coherent storyline as well as involving characters. Really, what is not to like about the Royal Tenebaums? Plus the Criterion release is nicely priced lower than normal and has some great artwork and features included. [Criterion page]

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Abi Huynh is a staff writer for LAS magazine, based in Vancouver, BC, where he gives films all the love they'll ever need.
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SEE ALSO > Films That Need More Love part 1