Films I recommend.

What is up everybody? I have another blog to do. Yay.

Things are going great. Life is crazy and stressful and all that jazz, but it's good.

To start off with, we finished shooting our new film on Saturday. It's a short film that is too unique to explain. Also I'm very bad at giving a synopsis of it, so deal with it. In any case, we'll have it up soon so you can see it and tell us how awesome it is. We put a lot into this so we are very proud of it.

We are also going to start working on our next project as soon as this one is officially finished. We will probably need all the help we can get, so be prepared to get a phone call, cause we just might call you...

There is just something so extraordinary about film. It is a medium with so much potential for influence. Everyone has seen a film that opened their eyes to something they had never even imagined before. Everyone has seen a film that was so emotional it took you days to recover.

Then again, everyone has seen a film that was a waste of their money, even if it was rented from redbox. Everyone has seen films that are so mindless, empty, and heartless it makes you sick just thinking about it.

Unfortunately, the mindless, empty, and heartless have been the most popular and the real money-makers. From what I can see, most (NOT ALL) of the stuff that comes out of Hollywood is garbage. Again, I emphasize that not all of it is. There are movies with heart and real movies that move you that come from Hollywood. I just feel they don't happen very often, as I've said in a previous blog.

Anyways, I have learned to love and embrace two different kinds of films: Classics and Independents.

You know how your parents or grandparents will bring home some strange movie that looks older than film itself and they try and convince you that it's a good one? Here's some news for you: they're probably right. Some of the best films I've seen this past year have all been from the 70's or earlier. Here are some suggestions. Some are more well-known than others.

"Empire of the Sun"
This film was made by Steven Spielberg and stars our most popular hero, Christian Bale (both Batman movies, Newsies, Little Women, etc.) This time, he's a twelve year old boy living with his family in Shanghai. This is my favorite performance of Christian Bale, out of all of his movies. He is absolutely phenomenal as a child actor.

Orson Welles "Citizen Kane"
This might be a tough one to rent or watch for most because the film is in black and white. When you find it at the store, make sure it is the 2 DVD set with the documentary about Orson Welles and other important figures of that era and those that were pertinent to this film. That made the movie so much more amazing for me. The rental usually has the documentary to go along with it.

"The Candidate"
This is an intriguing film with a young Robert Redford taking the lead role. He plays a lawyer who is convinced to campaign against a very popular Californian Senator. This film grasps the world of a rising politician better than any other film I have seen.

Pretty much anything by Alfred Hitchcock
This was a revolutionary man in the film industry. He was decades ahead of his time. Think of films that follow the genre of 'The Sixth Sense', then increase the quality of the story by a billion and you have Alfred Hitchcock. He was brilliant in nearly everything he did, and some of his films would be top sellers in the box office if they were released today. As a matter of fact, they are being released today, after being ripped off and modernized. i.e. "Disturbia." I don't care if you don't believe me. Watch 'Rear Window' then watch 'Disturbia' and tell me that it wasn't a rip off. The original pummels the Shia LeBouf version in my book. Suspense was an art back then, and not the newer stuff disguised under the same title. Now, graphic and nude surprises are referred to as 'suspense' but it isn't a true description of the word or the genre. I suggest Rear Window and Vertigo as your starters, then you can just decide from there which one you'd like to see next. They're in the 'Classics' section you never go to at Hollywood Video or Blockbuster. :)


Have you ever been driving down the road and all of a sudden you see this billboard displaying a new movie coming out, but it's one you've never heard of, you've never seen any commercials, and it looks like maybe it's a joke, or probably just a bad movie? Well, I can't say this is true for every billboard like that you see, but there are so many unpopular films that go above and beyond the mainstream films we are used to watching. And here in the beautiful state of Utah, we have a multitude of films, and not all of them are LDS-themed.

"The Errand of Angels"
This IS in fact an LDS-themed film. The story was originally written by a woman named Heidi Johnson, who served an LDS Mission in Vienna Austria. Years later she followed a dream and wrote the story, and Christian Vuissa was the screenwriter. Vuissa is the founder and head honcho for the LDS Film Festival, which does not get as much credit as it deserves as a film festival. But that's besides the point here. Errand of Angels is a moving story about a sister missionary and her experiences. It's a real story with convincing talent.

"Lars and the Real Girl"
Ryan Gosling (Fracture, Remember the Titans, etc.) stars in a very compelling role as Lars, a young adult man with what seem to be serious social defects. Things take a more serious turn when he buys a female "mannequin" and is convinced that it is his actual living breathing girlfriend. A well-mastered role by Gosling.

"Expelled"
Ben Stein ('Dry Eyes' Commercials, Ferris Bueller's Day Off..."Bueller? Bueller?") takes us on a very interesting investigation to many parts of the world in deep discussion with the most prominent scientists of our day. He is approaching the battered theory that there was some sort of 'intelligent design' in the creation of man. Whether or not you believe in God, this is a funny and smart film that makes you think.

"Stalking Santa"
I don't know about you, but I love those innocent family films that can also be enjoyed by the adults in the family, too. Stalking Santa does that for me. Made locally (No LDS-themes), this film is a high quality mockumentary that follows a man who is a self-proclaimed 'Santologist' as he fights to prove Santa's existence. Narrated to perfection by William Shatner (THE William Shatner), this movie is highly entertaining, but most likely only available for purchase. It's well worth it.

"Take"
I have discussed this film in a previous blog entitled "Take." If you want the full information, you can go there. I do not see R rated films, but I saw this one and I do not regret it. I am surprised and disappointed that it was rated R. This is one of the most emotional and raw films I have ever seen. It enters the battlefield between hatred and forgiveness better than any film I've ever seen. Extremely powerful, but maybe a little too intense for a younger audience (although not graphic).

"Article VI: Faith. Politics. America."
This is a film from the studio I work for right now, called Living Biography. This is a documentary following director Bryan Hall around the country speaking with some of the most well-known Christian leaders in the nation, along with many other people, uncovering many truths about the relationship between religion and politics in this country, and the reasons behind it. This was an eye-opening film for me. Stay tuned for updates about the film and when it will be available for viewing. You can also go to www.article6themovie.com for more information.

"The Ultimate Gift"
This is not an independent film, but it's not very well known. If you have not seen it, go rent it. Go buy it. This is a very entertaining and motivating film with heart that teaches about real love and the truest gifts we can receive in this life. I fully recommend it.

There are several other films I would love to talk about, but I can't remember all of them right now. But these are a few that are on my top list of films that I would recommend to anyone. It's a good thing I'm putting them here, because everyone asks me what my favorites are and I can never think of what to tell them. These are good alternative films you can see when you feel like there's nothing in the theater or the rental places.

So here you go. Enjoy.