Category: Indie

Documentary Indie

“Marqueetown”

By Brett_G on

7.8

Definitely one of the dorkier things I’ve done in a long time, but loved every frame of this one. Movies and Marquette – what’s not to love?

A tale of the rise, fall, and resurgence of independent film exhibition. The spirit of “Midwest nice.” The heartwarming story of a small town coming together to make dreams come true. For a movie geek such as myself, this was like home for an hour and a half. AND, I happened to be sitting behind someone who starred in the movie. AND was able to recognize one of the actors as one of the co-stars of “Quicksand,” another Northern Michigan original screened at the Vogue in Manistee.

As shared in the post-show Q&A, look for this one to be on PBS/Streaming in October!

https://www.marqueetown.com

“Not to be used during the eclipse”
Speaking of marquees…

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Indie Rom-Com

“Chasing Amy”

By Brett_G on

7.4

Through the process of obtaining my MBA, I was enlightened with terminology for so many things in the business world that I had known the intricacies of but had never had a term for… like a PDSA Cycle or Gemba Walk.

Finally! Leave it to Silent Bob to coin a term for the age old self destructed relationship that one posthumously idealizes and therefore chases with great fervor – we’re chasing Amy.

Unlike George Costanza, Ben Affleck convinces Alyssa to switch teams in the opposite direction, convincing her to join the ball and bat club… only to then stick his bat in a woodchipper on account of an all-time case of the yips. His perfect game, ruined by a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth. At least he had some content to keep his comic book illustration career afloat as a result of his dumbassed decisions in love. Some of us blog about movies.

This was a surprisingly humorous and realistic tale of love, friendship, conflict, and the messiness of life that I really enjoyed finally catching up on! A well-done recommendation from a friend.

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Foreign Indie Romance

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”

By Brett_G on

8.6

I haven’t had my heart ripped out like this in a LONG time… This was a “Somewhere in Time” level gut punch.

Telling the story through the eyes of a painter was such an interesting, yet perfect creative choice. Marianne’s attention to even the most subtle of details about Heloise sold the kindling of a soon to be burning love between them with each passing frame. An excellently executed twist on the “forbidden love” story, told through the lens of the Greek classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The theme of long remembering the details of a former lover felt like the film was way to in my head and the heart that I admittedly tend to wear on my sleeve. The final minutes of the film are nothing but heart-wrenchingly beautiful, making and then living with the poet’s choice. The attention to detail in the performances of Adele Haenel and Noemie Merlant was awe-inspiring to witness.

Also similar to my all-time favorite “Somewhere in Time” turning me on to the works of Gustav Mahler and Sergei Rachmaninoff, this film gave me the works of Antonio Vivaldi to dive head first into and expand my musical horizons anew.

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Horror/Thriller Indie

“Lovely, Dark, and Deep”

By Brett_G on

7.2

Just like my love life *rim shot*

All jokes aside, this movie is terrifying. The beauty of nature intertwined with the real-life creepiness of disappearances in the national parks woven into an intricate web of interdimensional intrigue the likes of which I haven’t seen pulled off in a hot second. I can honestly say that this one kept me guessing until the very end, and bravely left me hanging with a gut punch of an ending that is unlike most Hollywood fare of late. The darkness doesn’t just help you see the stars better…

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Drama Indie

“Perfect Days”

By Brett_G on

7.4

I never thought I could feel so comforted by a film… Watching this man clean public toilets, read paperback novels, and take pictures of trees was the most calming presence imaginable for two hours. An incredibly powerful portrayal of the beauty of simplicity and the calm found in routine. This is a tough one to put into words. I found the initial explanation of Komorebi to be the best, tying everything together as “soothing sunlight through trees.” This was soothing light on a screen.

Komorebi (木漏れ日): Sunshine filtering through the trees.
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