Under the Radar
Under the Radar | Merchant Ivory Films
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. In this edition I will be spotlighting the films of Merchant Ivory.
There is a large section of the film geek culture that is completely unfamiliar or completely rejects the films of Merchant Ivory. Producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory have together crafted some of the most prestigious and beautiful films to come out of British cinema in the past thirty years. Their films do however have the reputation of being extremely high brow and at times cold and alienating. Merchant Ivory Productions usually focus on British aristocrats in Edwardian times and their struggles with relationships, customs, and societies ever changing rules. My goal with this article is to hopefully persuade a few film fans to check out Ismail Merchant and James Ivory’s work, by recommending three of their most popular and critically acclaimed pictures.
Under the Radar/Score Your Week | Arlington Road
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year.
And, since this is a combo article…
Every Monday here at Filmdogs, a member of the pack will be offering a recommendation for a soundtrack to help you speed up those never ending work days and (if possible) inspire you.
Arlington Road was directed by Mark Pellington (The Mothman Prophecies) from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger (The Ring) and it’s a sadly overlooked gem from way back in ’99. It stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, and Joan Cusack.
Paranoia strikes deep.
Under the Radar | “Following”
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. In honor of the opening of Inception (my personal most anticipated film of the summer), I will be spotlighting Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut Following. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Dead Man
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Jim Jarmusch’s unique western, Dead Man starring Johnny Depp. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Adoration
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Atom Egoyan’s Adoration.
Under the Radar | Ravenous
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Antonia Bird’s Ravenous. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Shattered Glass
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is Billy Ray’s Shattered Glass. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | Till Human Voices Wake Us
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. The film being spotlighted is Till Human Voices Wake Us.
Till Human Voices Wake Us tells the devastating story of Samuel (Guy Pearce) a psychology teacher who upon learning of his fathers death, travels to his home town to bury him. When he returns home he recalls the memories of his first love and how it ended in tragedy. While at home he saves a woman attempting to commit suicide named Ruby (Helena Bonham Carter), who begins to remind Samuel of a part of his past he has tried to block out forever. Read the rest of this entry »
Under the Radar | The Vicious Kind
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. The film being spotlighted is The Vicious Kind.
The Vicious Kind is a complex emotional drama (with sparks of comedy) from writer/director Lee Toland Krieger. This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009, and has unfortunately gone unnoticed since.
Under the Radar | The Edge
This is a column that will focus on little known films, directors, writers, and actors. The column does not exist to tell you what to watch, but to simply help raise interest in the great art and talent that goes unseen year by year. So let’s begin. The film I will be spotlighting is the Lee Tamahori “Jaws in the wilderness” film The Edge. The Edge was directed by Lee Tamahori and written by the immensely talented David Mamet. Mamet is one of my favorite screen writers, and he brings everything that I love about his scripts to this film.
