Movies Obscura
UNDERAPPRECIATED GEMS OF INDEPENDENT FILMAKERS
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
"Unearthed" (1994)

Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Contents" (2005)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
"The Clue"

"The Clue" A research lab assisitant (played by Carolyn Vardo) recieves a package in the mail from her father, a scientist who disappeared 20 years ago. In it are 7 items, each of which is a clue that will lead to the discovery of an ancient Chinese potion that promises immortality. A low budget film by newcomer Lei Ling-Robinson, this has a feel of a big budget Hollywood production through the clever use of San Francisco locations to recreate settings of Hong Kong, Paris, & incredibly Egypt. Winner of the 1997 Oceanside Independent Film Festival.
Monday, March 22, 2010
"Tramps Like Us" (1979)

"Tramps Like Us" (1979) Gary Hullet’s hour long documentary on the fanaticism of Springsteen fans back in the 70’s. Today Bruce Springsteen is considered one of the true icons of Rock & Roll and his place in the history of music is well established. However, back in the 70’s, the world was not yet aware of Bruce & the E Street Band, and were considered an East Coast phenomenon. In those days his followers were not merely admirers, they were fanatics. Where many music fans are satisfied with seeing one performance of their favorite artists, his fans would attend multiple concerts, night after night. The reason for this devotion had to do with the band’s performances, four hour long demonstrations of pure Rock & Roll frenzy, the involvement between the artist and audience, and the feeling of when it was over that one had just gone through a religious experience which left you feeling emotionally high for days after. Hullet reportedly got the idea for this film, after a friend of his came up to him in 1978 and asked, "What’s this thing about Bruce Springsteen that makes everyone so CRAZY?". Not much actual footage of the band here, as the focus is on the fans who attended these shows and who in those early days seemed to be in on the best known secret of Rock & Roll.. (60 mins.) B&W
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"Book Of Tomorrows"

A fantasy film from the mind of director James Kane. Residents of Lincoln, Nebraska wake up one morning to find themselves thirty years in the future and experiencing what their life would have wound up being like had they not made certain wrong choices when they were younger. Based on the novel "One Day Too Late". Starring Kenneth Dennotto and Fay Nero. 112 mins.
"Beginnings" (2010)

"Beginnings" (2010) Director Kim Ri Shurihara's ode to life's struggle of redeeming one's soul. Juna, a young woman played by newcomer Yuki Sakamuri, awakens one morning to find her present family gone only to be replaced by a different family. Trying to understand what is happening to her, she is confused to the point of madness as the process keeps happening every morning when she wakes up. Memories of each new family pop into her head at various times during the day, making it difficult to interact with the family at hand. Aided by her best friend Daniel, the two try to unravel the mystery of her metamorphosis each day. Shurihara's brilliant style puts him again at the top of the Independent Film world.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
"Spider & The Diamond Of Death" (2006)

Monday, August 17, 2009
"The Osaka Plan" (2006

"Feary Tales" (1982)

Monday, August 10, 2009
"Salvation Alley" (1949)
"Salvation Alley" (1949) Malcolm Poe’s post World War II fantasy. Jessica, a 12 year old German girl, suffers from traumatic depression in the days following the end of the war. Her parents missing, she is left to fend for herself in what is left of her former neighborhood. Her friends gone and no family to speak of, she is all alone...until one day she meets a young boy who can not remember his
name and has no recollection of his past. As their friendship developes, Jessica starts to piece together the mystery about the boy that leads to a very surprising revelation. "Fans of M. Night Shyamalan and Guillermo Del Toro might want to take a look at Poe’s early cult masterpiece" -the London Cinema Almanac. (86 mins.) B&W

Thursday, August 6, 2009
"Corruption" (2001)

French director Claude LeCroix's American political thriller. Amidst the background of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, LeCroix weaves a tale involving the murder of a senatorial aide, the CIA, various members of the Mafia, and local inhabitants of O'Malley's Southside Bar. When Jimmy Callahan (Frank Wesler) stumbles upon the notebook of the murdered victim, he is suddenly thrust into a serious of cryptic events that seem to indicate a future assasination plot. Even more upsetting is the realization that he is being set up as the assasin! Fine performances by all, especially newcomer Natasha Wu's chilling portrayal of a psychotic hit woman known only as "the Nun". Filmed in Black & White. (143 mins.)
"The Dream Reaper" (Director's Cut) (2009)

Sakiki Rei's director's cut version of his 1989 Japanese horror film about Ryuu, an accountant, who meets Yioki, who seems to be the perfect girl. After several dates, Ryuu begins to realize there is something terribly wrong with Yioki, and soon understands the real meaning of undying love. While not as graphic as "Audition" this new version, with 23 additional minutes, will have you squirming in your seats. The Teddy bear scene is not for the faint-hearted. (117 mins.)
*(note- originally scheduled for a 2009 release, the director's cut version has been pushed back to 2011 amidst legal disputes between Rei and his production company the Manami Film Group).
Roma Roma (2003)

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