Movies have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment, as people look to unwind and get lost in fictional stories for a mere two hours of their day. While long-anticipated action movies and rom-coms are all the buzz today, lower budget indie films have been lurking in the background waiting to be discovered. So, if you ever want to challenge yourself with a movie that makes you really question the world, then check out these flicks.
1. “A Few Good Men”
This 90’s classic movie, "A Few Good Men," follows a military lawyer who defends two Marines from Guantanamo Bay who have been charged with killing a fellow Marine. While the movie is riddled with a tacky romance and rivalry, it ultimately questions the extent to which orders should be followed when morality is on the line. It also seeks to answer what honor truly means. With a combination of intriguing law procedures and heart-wrenching characters, this movie will make you change your view of our judicial system, servicemen, and authority misplaced or misjudged.
If you learn nothing else, simply memorize Jack Nicholson’s famous line “You want me on that wall, you need me on that wall,” and whip it out at any party to make yourself known as the cool kid. You’re welcome.
2. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
In this self-discovery journey of a photograph developer for Life magazine, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) goes around the globe searching for a print of the last cover for the print edition. Through his perilous search from Iceland to Afghanistan, Mitty finds himself, and a possible love, by living in the moment. His adventures take you on a journey from jumping off helicopters to running away from an erupting volcano. This movie is sure to make you think about both pushing yourself and those around you, to re-evaluate what it is you really want from life and yourself.
If you learn nothing else, go on a spontaneous trip to discover yourself, whether it’s just to a new restaurant, or a new country, to gain the “Walter Mitty experience.”
3. “Spotlight”
The thrilling journalism drama follows a group of writers tasked with looking into the accusations of the molestation of multiple boys by a priest. As the all-star cast, including Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, and Michael Keaton, investigate the allegations, they come across an even greater scandal that reaches the upper levels of the church. By pushing the boundaries of investigative journalism, this movie exposes both the flaws in media coverage and keeping face rather than exposing corruption. Although the subject is highly controversial and incredibly disturbing, “Spotlight” is able to expose the audience to the high pressure and extreme duress put on those who try to bring the truth to light, as well as make them question whether it is always best to know the truth.
If you learn nothing else, know that the team of reporters for the Boston Globe were able to uncover and reveal the truth that no one was willing to accept or acknowledge at first.
4. “Inception”
One of the most popular and confusing movies of 2010 was “Inception,” which grasped audience’s attention and kept them guessing long after the movie was done. It is focused around Dom Cobb, a dream-roamer who takes people’s secrets from their subconscious and tries to find a way home. The high risks that take Cobb and his team levels into the subconscious leave them in the deepest state where they must confront their demons and attempt to return to reality. What makes the movie so special is that both the invasion of privacy and open ended last scene leave the audience contemplating what reality truly is and how privacy is such a luxury.
If you learn nothing else: everything is a dream within a dream, so write that in your next philosophy paper.
5. “Begin Again”
The indie drama “Begin Again” follows the story of a once famous producer, Dan (Mark Ruffalo), who becomes a raging alcoholic but finds an artist and friend in Gretta (Keira Knightley) as they go on to record an album together. Gretta and Dan become the most unlikely friends after Gretta’s breakup. This leaves them inspired by heartbreak and genuine music, to produce an entire album outside using sounds from subways and cars to kids and ambulances. The end result is honest and raw music, as well as a deep questioning into what relationships really mean to us, how fame has shaped and changed music and people from what it was intended to be, and whether there is any way to truly understand words meant for someone else.
If you learn nothing else: listen and jam out to the amazing soundtrack, despite the higher price than the album sells for in the movie.
