I don't remember who recommended it on the LIT board, but I definitely saw it within the past week because someone mentioned it there. You're right, though. Very underrated. I thought I would like sme visuals and a little bit of the atmosphere, but it wound up being one of the better movies I've seen in maybe a month! Perhaps it still needs time to find its audience. These things take years ("Donnie Darko," "Office Space") or even decades ("Citizen Kane," "It's A Wonderful Life"). Notice these are titles we recognize now yet were not appreciated in their own time.
Sadly, I don't recognize any of Cine's recommended directors but one: Tom Tykwer. He recommended "The Princess & the Warrior," which is definitely worth the watch. I would recommend starting with his "Lola Rennt" (aka "Run Lola Run") if you haven't seen it. It put Tykwer on the map, and is one of the best, most original films in the past decade (it got lost in the fantastic year of 1999 aka The Matrix, Star Wars, Fight Club, Office Space [whoops!]).
If I had to recommend one hidden gem, it'd be Shane Carruth's "Primer." Another film lost in a great year (2004). However, Sundance had the foresight to give it the Grand Jury prize in a very competitive year. Very original. If you appreciate The Twilight Zone for its originality and underlying philosophical complexities, I would recommend it. What else is amazing: Carruth only spent $7,000 to make it, and it still is more intriguing and entertaining than most multi-milllion dollar blockbusters!
Here's the trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/primer.html
Now I *must* find out who these people Cine recommended!
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