50 Films You Haven't Seen... (But Should!) Part 1

Title:RubberYear: 2011MPAA Rating: RDirector: Quentin DupieuxStarring: Robert the Tire, Stephen Spinella, Jack Plotnick

Why You’ll Love It! It’s about a telepathic tire for starters. This one goes in the books as an episode of The Twilight Zone that never happened… but should’ve! “Robert” which is the tire's name can destroy things without even moving. It’s a bloody good time that doesn’t make the mistake of taking itself too seriously. You may ask what the purpose of this premise is, and as you’ll find out… NO REASON.

Title:Garden StateYear: 2004MPAA Rating: RDirector: Zach BraffStarring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard

Why You’ll Love It! With quirky scenes like the one above, Garden State has a charm all its own. Braff’s subtle hand in direction coupled with top performances from Portman and Sarsgaard will have you loving the cast and hoping everything works out as it should. It also doesn’t hurt that the film has a Grammy-winning soundtrack as well as a Pre-Big Bang Theory appearance from Jim Parsons.

Title: TrustYear: 2011MPAA Rating: RDirector: David Schwimmer (Yes THAT David Schwimmer)Starring: Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, Liana Liberato

Why You’ll Love It!: To be frank I’m not sure you will, but in the truth, it’s a film that in our digital age shines a light on a sobering fact. That no matter how hard we try our children are never truly safe from the unknown that is the internet. It also features some of Clive Owens' best work, along with a breakout debut from then 15-year-old Liana Liberato. Try not to squirm while we witness innocence stolen, and feel Annie’s discomfort.

Title: Jeff, Who Lives at HomeYear: 2012MPAA Rating: RDirector: Jay & Mark DuplassStarring: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon

Why You’ll Love It!: Segel and Helms as brothers whose lives are very much different lives. And as I said in our review it brings the big-budget laughs and the indie charm, as we see that these two guys may not be living their lives as different as we originally imagined. A great altogether cast summarizes what was one of my ten best of 2012, and a film many missed on. Jeff, Who Lives at Home is available now on Netflix Instant.

Title: Punch-Drunk LoveYear: 2002MPAA Rating: RDirector: Paul Thomas AndersonStarring: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Why You’ll Love It!: Sandler takes on a dramatic role, and aces his first exam. It’s a romantic comedy with just that subtle quirk and emotional pull. Romantic comedies, on the whole, are normally a formulaic experience of boy meets girls they fall in love crazy stuff happens the end. Punch Drunk Love takes all those necessary elements, and throws a cog into them. Sandler’s Barry Egan character is that cog, and his bipolar personality the wheel turning all the madness. Let’s not even mention it’s a gorgeously shot film whose cinematography is unmatched by any other RomCom to date.

Title: The Last Man on EarthYear: 1964MPAA Rating: UnratedDirector: Ubaldo RagonaStarring: Vincent Price, Franca Bettoja, Emma Danieli

Why You’ll Love It!: It’s Vincent Price taking a turn as a modern Van Helsing. Price, mostly known as the guy who created Edward Scissorhands in Burton’s modern classic or as the creepy voice behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” but before either of those came The Last Man on Earth. This film put Price in a pre-Walking Dead Rick Grimes form as he must save the world from the epidemic.

Title:Mr. NobodyYear: 2013MPAA Rating: UnratedDirector: Jaco VonDormaelStarring: Jared Leto, Diane Kruger, Sarah Polley

Why You’ll Love It!: It takes the concept of karma to its max. 117-year-old Nemo takes a look back at his life and ponders what he considers his most important moment when at the age of nine his parents split, and he stood on a train station and has to choose. He ponders what the ramifications are of either choice, leading us on two very different stories.

Title: OnceYear: 2007MPAA Rating: RDirector: John CarneyStarring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova

Why You’ll Love It!: It’s the new standard on how to write both a musical and a love story. With sweeping songs of longing to go with a beautiful story of two strangers whose love for music is only conquered by their affections for one and other. It shows us that a romantic movie doesn’t have to consist of a formula of boy meets girl, they fall in love, have sex, and comedy ensues. Instead Hansard’s unnamed Busker, and Irglova’s “girl” character set to rewrite cinematic rules, all the while playing gorgeous Oscar-winning music.

Title:The LookoutYear: 2007

MPAA Rating: RDirector: Scott FrankStarring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode

Why You’ll Love It!: It’s a thrill ride from the get-go as JGL puts down a great performance as Chris Pratt. A man who following an accident has his hockey dreams, and his memory cut short. He’s provoked into helping former classmate Gary (Goode) to help him with a heist, as the lookout. But things are not as they appear with Gary and his plan.

Title:Wild Tigers I Have KnownYear: 2007MPAA Rating: UnratedDirector: Cam ArcherStarring: Malcolm Stupf, Patrick White, Max Paradise

Why You’ll Love It!: It’s a unique take on the coming of age story. It deals not only with the isolation one can feel growing up, and being awkward, but it takes head-on the struggles of an adolescent whose body they feel is not the correct gender. Equally stunning in its bluntness when dealing with a difficult issue is its gorgeous cinematography. This is how an indie film should be shot. Archer’s hand is easy, and he allows the actors and script to direct them. It seems at times all Archer had to do was shout “cut” and “print.”