If you've been like me, rewatching the original Star Wars trilogy, hyper-analyzing the trailer, and counting down the days to December 18th on your calendar, you are just itching for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens to be released. Sadly, we still have a ways to go, but here are a list of must-see films that you may not have heard of that star the relatively unknown new cast of The Force Awakens, and maybe, just maybe, it will get your mind off of if Luke Skywalker really was the one in this shot.
Lupita Nyongo: 12 Years A Slave
This 2013 Steve McQueen film is about Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man living in Upstate New York, who gets kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. The film tracks North's twelve years as a slave. But the best part of the film is Lupita Nyong'o, playing Maz Katana in Star Wars, and her portrayel as Patsey, a teenage girl working in the same plantation as Solomon. Nyong'o won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in this role in 2014, as well as the film itself winning Best Picture.
Domhall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac: Ex Machina
Alex Garland's directing debut is a sci-fi thriller that star two of The Force Awakens' cast members, Domhall Gleeson (playing General Hux) and Oscar Isaac (playing Poe Dameron). Gleeson plays Caleb, a computer programmer that wins a contest to be a part of an experiment to prove or disprove the inception of Artificial Intelligence, run by Nathan (played by Isaac). Machina touches on several prevalent themes, such as the impact of technology on people and what makes us human. The film, with stellar reviews, is already one of the best of 2015 so far.
Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver: Inside Llewyn Davis
The Coen brothers to me are like fish: just a little off. Not necessarily bad; just not necessarily my type. But, to date, Inside Llewyn Davis is my favorite of their work. Oscar Isaac plays Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk artist in 1960s New York City, with Adam Driver, playing the new sith lord Kylo Ren, making a small cameo here. Inside Llewyn Davis explores the troubles of mediocrity and, though arduous at times, provides beautiful cinematography, a nuanced script, and a sweet, melancholy score.
Simon Pegg: Shaun of the Dead
Simon Pegg, featured in Episode VII, got his breakout in Shaun of the Dead, a comedy about Shaun (played by Pegg), his girlfriend Liz (played by Kate Ashfield), an his best friend Ed (played by Frost) surviving the zombie apocalypse. This is a classic film, sixth in Indiewire's Best Comedies of the 21st Century so far, one that perfectly showcases Pegg's comedic ability.
Adam Driver: While We're Young
While We're Young, the first of two Noah Baumbach films released this year, is about a 40-something couple, Cornelia (played by Naomi Watts) and Josh (played by Ben Still) who meet a twenty-something couple, Jamie (played by Adam Driver) and Darby (played by Amanda Seyfried). In it, Josh and Cornelia do hip hop dance classes, ride fixies, and eventually come to grips with their old-ish age. Witty, dry, and placed in New York, this film has a screenplay Woody Allen wishes he could still write.
