on the big screen top independent films of 2002

long time dead In recent years the horror genre has become very tame, boring audiences with gory detail and repetitious cliches. This vicious onslaught is a welcome relief as it explores the dark side of horror. The premise is not that complicated or original - a bunch of friends fool around and call up an evil spirit from the 'other side'   - but it's excellence lies in its execution, turning nervous giggles from the audience into fearful screams as the film plunges towards its breathtaking climax at the speed of a thousand horses. If you want to be scared, real scared, then watch this one. Don't expect just another 'horror' film but experience a truly frightening and delightful rollercoaster ride. This is one horror film not to fool around with. " Read more about how this independent British film became a reality.. Click Here
sidewalks of new york A brilliant independent film from writer/director/actor Edward Burns, who takes the classic theme of a "circle of love" and films it in contemporary style,  infusing the scenes with emotional intensity.  Burns' script sizzles and his documentary style captivates. This is an intellectual buffet and first rate entertainment. An insightful and honest portrayal of the human condition and a group of city dwellers seeking love and fulfilment.  His fourth feature as a director returns to the ensemble energy of The Brothers McMullen, as Burns explores the questions we all ask about love, sex and commitment. Go behind the scenes of Sidewalks of New York, Click Here
joy ride This exciting 'contemporary thriller' takes an ordinary situation and turns it into a horrific nightmare for two young brothers and a girlfriend when they play a practical joke on a lonely trucker over a CB radio. There are some truly frightening and tense moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. The visual dynamics display the wonderful craftsmanship of director John Dahl, who is widely acclaimed for breathing new life into modern 'noir' thrillers such as 'Red Rock West' and 'The Last Seduction'. Dahl entered the industry as a storyboard artist and assistant director and studied directing at the American Film Institute. 'Joy Ride' was written by Clay Traver (this is his first produced screenplay) and J.J.Abrams (who wrote the screenplays for 'Armageddon', 'Regarding Henry' and 'Forever Young'). If you enjoyed Spielberg's 'Duel' and the recent 'Jeepers Creepers', this is one not to be missed. "There's a kind of thrill in watching the characters suffer the consequences for doing something that any of us is capable of," says Abrams. "The film points to the intrinsic danger in even the most benign practical jokes."
novocaine Steve Martin, who is well know for his portrayal of the wacky dentist in "Little Shop of Horrors", returns to the dentists' office in this offbeat black comedy.  He plays a charming dentist whose American Dream turns into a suspense-filled nightmare when he meets a gorgeous patient (Helena Bonham Carter) and her brother from hell (Scott Caan). It is strange that this film ended up on the 'commercial' circuit and is not surprising that it will disappear within one week of release. Written and directed by David Atkins, who wrote the screenplay for the cult-classic 'Arizona Dream', this is not a film for the mass but for discerning cinephiles who would like to feast on a wonderfully bizarre buffet. What more could you ask for? It has a clever script and delightful performances (especially Laurna Dern as Martin's fiance).  Inspired by his father and two brothers, Aktins wanted to write a screenplay featuring a dentist protagonist. "I think dentists are contemporary heroes," explains Atkins. "They epitomise the American Dream. People are wary of dentists and tend to go out of their way to avoid them, and the dentists are aware of this. But instead of being bitter or mean-spirited, the dentists welcome them with open arms. Their only goal is to take away people's pain." Read more about how the film was written and made, click here
thirteen conversations about one thing A man approaching middle-age decides to change his life. A rising young attorney's plans are thrown into disarray as the result of a single act. A woman faces her husband's infidelity. An envious businessman seeks revenge on a cheerful co-worker and an optimistic young cleaning woman awaits a miracle. Just the ebb and flow of daily New York life: chaotic, isolated, diffuse. Or is it? How can we know what effect we have on a passing stranger? What if the smallest gesture can change the course of someone's life? One of the most impressive independent films in recent years is surely 'Things You Can Tell By Just Looking At Her' (now available on video). In the tradition of 'Things You Can Tell…' comes this equally impressive and brutally honest and heart-rending dissection of the human spirit. In contrast to 'Minority Report, where the future can be predicted, the future for the fragile characters is '13 Conversations' is an unpredictable hell.  We meet a group of diverse people who are familiar to us. They are so familiar that it sometimes feels as if we are looking into the mirror, watching our own weaknesses, questioning our flaws, desperately trying to find answers to questions that we can only uncover once fate has dealt its cruel blow. What makes it remarkable is that it never drowns in its morbid content. Its reflection is a vivid depiction of glowing hope that saves the lives of the desperate,  and procures the survival of  the weak. The performances of the ensemble cast, particularly Matthew Mc Conoughey, are outstanding and gripping. Director-  writer Jill Sprecher scrupulously allows her cast to not only breathe life into her fascinating creations, but affords them the opportunity to display their special individual acting talents.  It is a rare pleasure to watch actors capture the essence of their characters and draw the audience into their intimate and surreptitious celluloid existence. Read more about how this excellent independent film was made, click here
birthday girl This delightful British romantic thriller is an entertaining and challenging tour de force. It also underlines the talent of Nicole Kidman, who is undoubtedly one of the best actresses of our time, absolutely stunning as a Russian mail-order bride. Equally brilliant is Ben Chaplin as a lonely, decidedly mild-mannered bank clerk whose life is turned upside down when he orders a bride straight off the "From Russia With Love" website. The result is an offbeat romance that turns unexpectedly into a rollicking comic thriller when his mysterious, chain-smoking "birthday girl" arrives in England with a surprise in tow.. John's routine existence is blown out of the water as he finds himself drawn into an adventure he didn't ask for, but might be exactly what he needs. Everyone involved has a few surprises up their sleeves, including himself. The film was made by the Butterworth brothers, a British filmmaking family - including director Jez Butterworth, co-writer Tom Butterworth and producer Stephen Butterworth -- who who made an acclaimed debut with the hip Brit-gangster film Mojo. Birthday Girl is what filmmaking as a collaborative art form is all about. Writing an original screenplay, set in England, featuring three Russian characters and one English; then filming most of it in Australia with a major American movie-star, an acclaimed European filmmaker and a revered French actor in the Russian roles. Read more, click here
resident evil This exciting and thrilling film experience delivers on all levels. It is based on the wildly popular computer game series, with humans investigating a deadly virus and battling computers and the Undead. If you're a fan of films such as Romero's classic 'Night of the Living Dead' this is an absolute must. If you have no idea what the 'Undead' is all about, dare to explore a world filled with fantasy and horror that will challenge and stretch your imagination to its limits.  Directed by Paul Anderson. Resident Evil is a bonus for Independent filmmakers world-wide. The Independent Constantin Film beat out any fierce Hollywood competition for the film rights because Capcom, the world's leading computer game manufacture, knew that "when we make decisions, we make them fast, because there aren't a hundred other executives to consult," says Producer Bernd Eichinger. Read more about how the computer game was developed into a film, click here
session 9 Horror films took a nasty turn in the late 70s when exploitive 'slasher' films the likes of 'Friday the 13^th' over killed the genre with heaps of mutilated bodies, gruesome killings, senseless slayings, mindless violence, and a fest of gore and blood. The release of Session 9 is a welcome relief and breathes fresh life into horror, shaking off the shoddy commercialism and giving us an intelligent, thought provoking and truly scary blend of psycho-drama and supernatural thriller. What makes it a really terrifying cinematic encounter is that all the terror happens in the mind of the viewer. What we watch on screen and the images it evoke are the stuff nightmares are made of. Director Brad Anderson does not rely on effect-driven manifestations to deliver and keep the audience in suspense. He steers away from  emblematic haunted house films where lusty young couples get slaughtered and are driven insane. Session 9  is mercifully way different and much more thrilling. Here we have five rugged,  regular working class men who have to refurbish an abandoned asylum. Soon the characters are drowned and taunted by distressing memories of horrific incidents that are trapped inside its bare, exposed shell. A stifling silence hangs over the audience; you can feel those around you hold their breath as the men are conquered by the uncanny. If you are looking for lots of naked teenage bodies and a mind-numbing bloodfest, be warned.  This is intelligent escapism for discerning viewers. Reminiscent of such classics like 'Wait Until Dark' and 'Rosemary's Baby', it offers a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of the madness that controls the mindscape of brutal killers; and reflects the insanity of humans who have the authority to be in command of anomalous activities. Once again, it shows that independent filmmaking is splendidly alive and kicking "Scaring an audience is hard," admits director/co-screenwriter Brad Anderson. "But horrifying them, making them feel genuine dread is even harder. That's why I think most of the 'scary' movies that you see now aren't really 'horror movies."' Go behind the scenes and find out how 'Session 9' was made… click here
my big fat greek wedding This is one wedding you should not miss for the world! Based on Nia Vardalos' one woman show, which she magnificently adapted to the big screen, it also features Vardalos in the lead role of a 30-something Greek girl searching for love. It is rare to find a film that makes one believe in love again. It is funny, moving and sizzles with vitality. Once again, it proves that although a film deals with a specific culture, it cannot fail if it embraces universal qualities of human experience. Just as 'Head On' depicted the dark side of the Greek society - focusing on the explosive sexuality of a young Greek man in New Zealand - 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' delightfully sketches the blossoming sexuality of a 'frumpy' Greek woman in Chicago. It is a truly enjoyable romantic comedy that carries my vote for 'feel good' film of the year. Your appetite will be roused and you will be hungering for a solid Greek meal to complement the refreshing celluloid banquet. Directed by Joel Zwick it was produced by Greek actress Rita Wilson and her non-Greek husband Tom Hanks. Actress-writer Nia Vardalos had a story to tell; a big, fat, autobiographical story about the Greek family she grew up with in Winnipeg, Canada. Developing it for the stage, she wrote and performed the one-woman show in Los Angeles because, she laughs, "I wanted to get a better agent."  Go behind the scenes and find out how this film was made, click here  Read the interview with Nia Vardalos, click here

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