American Independent Cinema Classics (12 titles)
American independent cinema has produced some of the most unique, challenging and idiosyncratic films in history, and has had a massive influence on recent Hollywood changes and film history in general. This list shows some of the best known classics of American independent cinema. Sadly, some of them are not available on DVD in the UK yet.
70% from 14 members
Shadows
An improvisational film by John Cassavetes, often considered the birth of independent film in the U.S.
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Shadows
on DVD
(1959)
Starring: Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, Hugh Hurd
Director: John Cassavetes
Certificate:
Cassavetes' jazz-scored improvisational film explores interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950's) New York City.
68%
from 534 members
Sex, Lies And Videotape
Steven Soderbergh's film's unprecedented international success was instrumental in the beginning of the 1990s independent film boom.
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Sex, Lies And Videotape
on DVD
(1989)
Starring: James Spader, Peter Gallagher, Andie MacDowell
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Certificate:
Steven Soderbergh explodes onto the scene with this provocative, intelligent drama about infidelity and voyeurism. Ann Milaney (Andie MacDowell) lives in a comfortable Louisiana home with her lawyer husband, John (Peter Gallagher). She spends her days fretting over the insurmountable problems of ..read more »
62%
from 3,894 members
Slacker
Richard Linklater's aimless masterpiece kick-started the 1990's american independent cinema renaissance, along with "sex, lies and videotape". Sadly not available on DVD.
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Slacker
on DVD
(1991)
Starring: Richard Linklater, Rudy Basquez, Jean Caffeine
Director: Richard Linklater
Certificate:
SLACKER, a unique slice-of-life series of linked but barely related episodes, follows the socially disconnected, overly educated, and barely motivated denizens of the coffeehouses, clubs, bars, apartments, stores, and streets of the college town of Austin, Texas. Richard Linklater's debut feature ..read more »
56%
from 1,923 member
Drugstore Cowboy
By Gus Vant Sant
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Drugstore Cowboy
on DVD
(1989)
Starring: Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros
Director: Gus Van Sant
Certificate:
Being a junkie is a full-time job for Bob (Matt Dillon), who leads his wife (Kelly Lynch) and another addicted couple (James LeGros and Heather Graham) on a reckless spree of drugstore robberies. When he has a brush with death, Bob realises he must leave both his addiction and his wife if he wants ..read more »
67%
from 3,859 members
Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino's debut, highly influential and no list would be complete without it.
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Reservoir Dogs
on DVD
(1991)
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Christopher Penn
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Certificate:
Watch now: £2.49
Former video store clerk Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, RESERVOIR DOGS, is a brutally funny, supercharged introduction to his supremely distinct cinematic vision, which was later to become one of the most mimicked styles of the 1990s. Mastermind Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) assembles a crew ..read more »
76%
from 62,667 members
Clerks
Kevin Smith's Slacker-influenced film was made for $27,000 and grossed over 3 million.
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Clerks
(3 discs)
on DVD
(1995)
Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti
Director: Kevin Smith
Certificate:
Just because they serve you doesn't mean they like you. Clerks is Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy, Dogma, Mallrats)'s first feature film.
70%
from 14,975 members
Dead Man
By Jim Jarmusch. His earlier film, "Stranger Than Paradise" is sadly not available on DVD.
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Dead Man
on DVD
(1995)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Gabriel Byrne
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Certificate:
William Blake (Johnny Depp) set out on an exciting journey to start his life over in a new town with a new job. He never could have prepared himself for what was to come. Through a mysterious chain of events, he becomes involved in a love triangle that ends in a double murder--with him as the ..read more »
65%
from 4,514 members
Fargo
A classic by the Coen brothers.
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Fargo
on DVD
(1996)
Starring: Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Director: Joel Coen
Certificate:
Poor Jerry Lundegaard. He's deep in debt. His wealthy father-in-law has no respect for him. He cheats customers at the car dealership where he works. And now he's hired a bumbling duo to kidnap his wife--a plan that goes horribly awry, leading to homicide.Enter Marge Gunderson, one of the most ..read more »
74%
from 52,866 members
Pulp Fiction
Pretty obvious...
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Pulp Fiction
on DVD
(1994)
Starring: John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Bruce Willis
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Certificate:
Quentin Tarantino's blockbuster follow-up to RESERVOIR DOGS is a breathtaking tribute to old dime store novels about small time hoods and dangerous criminals. It features deftly woven plotlines, creating a mythic Los Angeles underworld of drug dealers, molls, affable hitmen, restaurant-robbing ..read more »
81%
from 86,685 members
Welcome To The Dollhouse
By Todd Solondz.
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Welcome To The Dollhouse
on DVD
(1995)
Starring: Heather Matarazzo, Victoria Davis, Christina Brucato
Director: Todd Solondz
Certificate:
Todd Solondz's WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE follows the painful daily trials of Dawn 'Wienerdog' Wiener (Heather Matarazzo), an awkward, nerdy 12-year-old. The middle child between her geeky older brother, Mark (Matthew Faber), and her sickeningly sweet little sister, Missy (Daria Kalinina), Dawn has a ..read more »
64%
from 4,586 members
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