The Reel Corner: Independent Film Favorites for the Summer

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An independent film is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. Independent films are sometimes distinguishable by their content and style and the way in which the filmmakers’ personal artistic vision is realized. Usually independent films are made with considerably lower film budgets than major studio films and are often screened at local, national, or international film festivals before distribution. Rather than depend on computer-generated imaging, mainly due to the cost of special effects, independent films depend more on story and plot.

LOCKE

Tom Hardy  |  Director Steven Knight  |  Rated R
A uniquely presented film, Locke was filmed in only eight days. This one man, one confined location drama is a bold method in telling the story of Ivan Locke (Hardy) as he navigates through multiple personal crises, while driving one dark rainy night. Twenty minutes into the film, I realized it was going to be just him, a few folks who call him, where you can hear the conversation, the drive, the rain and me.  It became very personal as I was drawn into Ivan’s personal journey. I liked it. (4 stars)

THE LUNCHBOX (Dabba)
Nimrat Kaur, Irrfan Khan, Lillete Dubey, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Director Ritesh Batra  |  PG
Within the famously efficient lunchbox delivery system of India’s Mumbai working class, a mistake is made. The mistaken delivery of a lunchbox intended for a young housewife’s husband goes to a lonely man about to retire. This is a warm and affectionate film you are sure to enjoy. (4 stars)

CHEF
Jon Favreau (Screenplay, Director, Actor)  |  Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sofia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman  |  Rated R
Launching a food truck never looked so good. In Chef, Carl Casper (Favreau) takes you on a fun-filled, cross-country adventure that celebrates food, family, and friendship. With a great troupe of actors, Chef  takes a simple story of chef/restaurant owner conflict into a delightful “can do, I can survive on my own terms” attititude.  And, with a little  help of technology, it worked. The dialogue is simple, the ending predictable, but it was such fun watching everyone cook I didn’t care. I have always loved films about food with detailed food preparation scenes. Chef cooks up a tasty feast of excellent food cinematography. It’s intimate look of action in the kitchen had me so hungry that after the film I went right home and made my own Cuban sandwiches. This is a real gem of an independent film. (3 stars)

SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson
Directed by Colin Trevorrow  |  Rated R
Mark Duplass is a new favorite actor I have followed since I saw him in an episode of the Mindy Project. He has great comedic timing. In this film, Duplass plays Kenneth, a guy who believes he has developed a time machine. An advertisement to find someone to travel back in time with him is spotted by a paper in Seattle. Darius, a young intern at a Seattle-based magazine, jumps at the chance to investigate the author along with Jeff, the staff writer, and Arnau, a fellow intern. The three go on a road trip to a coastal town. While Jeff just wants to chase after his high school crush, and Arnau wants some kind of life experience, Darius spends her time with Kenneth, the man who believes that he has built a time machine. The closer they become, and the more they understand about each other, the less clear it becomes if Kenneth is crazy or if he actually is going to successfully travel back in time. I was rooting for Kenneth all through the film. (2 stars)

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Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. She was a 12-year member of the Hilton Head Second Sunday Film Society, and frequent visitor to the Sundance Film Festival. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is an executive recruiter and staff development consultant. Are you interested in joining a film club? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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