As the abysmal season of the terrible fall shows has finally gone on a winter break, hopefully to get better, I decided to check out some films to save me (since Chris Jericho wasn’t available). All three of these films are independent films and I found them in similar ways (iTunes). As for this fall’s Television programming, I’m angry, in fact, I’m very angry. Every single show has just given up, even shows that have been well established lack direction, pacing, and good plotting. If you’re interested, these three films will provide some well deserved therapeutic time away from the insult that is the season of bad television.

First up is the film Another Earth written by Brit Marling, who also starred in the film, and Mike Cahill, the director. The film opens with a car accident; young Rhoda Williams (Marling) is distracted, as it comes across the radio that there has been a discovery of a new planet similar to Earth. In her distraction, looking up at the small blue blip in the sky, she connects with another car stopped at a traffic light. After serving four years in prison, Rhoda is released and enters a very different world, influenced by this new Earth called “Earth 2.”

Rhoda attempts to pick up the pieces of her life. She gets a job, and considers leaving the planet to go to “Earth 2,” submitting a 500 word essay to win a free trip. She also attempts suicide, and in a moment to redeem herself, she offers free cleaning services to the man who survived the car accident John Burroughs (William Mapother). Her obsession to make this right keeps her coming back to his home every week to clean, and each week she tries to build up the courage to tell him that she is the reason that his family was killed in that car accident.

The two end up falling in love around the time she wins the contest to go to “Earth 2.” Her desire to start over  leads her to take the trip. Before she leaves, she tells John that she was responsible for the accident, leaving no loose ends behind.

This film is brilliant, it’s marketed as a science fiction movie, but really the science fiction takes a back seat. Another Earth explores the implications of alien life, similar to our own, and wonders if everything is done the same way on their Earth as it is done on our Earth. It’s also a testament to our arrogance, in naming it “Earth 2.” This discovery weighs on Rhoda heavy, looming in the background of many of Marling’s shots. The film ends in a surprising way that makes it seem like a twist, but follows through with its original plans.

The second film, most have come to by way of the soundtrack, provided by the band Angels & Airwaves. Perhaps, the soundtrack has actually out shadowed the film slightly, but is an excellent film either way. Those that purchased the deluxe edition soundtrack will notice that it comes with a copy of the movie, a nice little added bonus to go with a great soundtrack.

Love, directed by William Eubank, stars Gunner Wright as Captain Lee Jay Miller, an astronaut, who accepts a mission to go into space  back to the International Space Station. This is the first time that the station has been occupied in many years, and all goes well on the mission, until one day, he loses contact with mission control. After trying everything to regain radio transmissions, he’s sent a message from mission control explaining the situation, a situation that we don’t quite understand; the message is garbled and not easy for the viewer to make out.

From here, Captain Miller descends into madness, having conversations with people that aren’t there, discovering an 1860’s journal that falls short of an ending, and other spectacular visual sequences. He attempts suicide in the vacuum of space, but can’t bring himself to do it. As he continues to descend into lunacy, Miller offers up some wisdom: “Am I afraid?……You have to be living to be afraid.”

The film’s spectacular finish offers up the what and why. The special effects don’t look hokey for an independent film, they look stunning and don’t overwhelm like they did in Star Wars. The story may be a bit confusing at times, but those moments become easier to decipher as the film progresses. Don’t let the soundtrack overwhelm this film, and check it out.

The final film featured in this review came to me by way of a soundtrack as well. Occasionally, I will browse through iTunes to see if any of my favorite bands have put out anything new and worthwhile to check out. matt pond PA became one of my favorite bands after releasing the album Several Arrows Later. I stumbled across the soundtrack to a film entitled Lebanon, PA. Intrigued, I rented it through iTunes, and quite enjoyed it.

Lebanon, PA feels like a cross between Garden State and Juno to put a description to it. The film stars Josh Hopkins of Ally McBeal fame as Will, an advertising executive from Philadelphia who takes a trip to Lebanon, Pennsylvania after his father passes away. Upon arriving there, he strikes up a friendship with his distant cousin CJ, played by Rachel Kitson. CJ is at a crossroads in her life, she has recently become pregnant, is on the verge of graduating from high school, and has a deeply religious father, not to mention living in a deeply religious town.

The film, directed by Ben Hickernell, explores the divide between American culture, coincidentally within ones state. I’ve always found it amazing how you can drive for just an hour or so and be in a radically different places all the while being in your home state. Hickernell also explores happiness and what people are willing to do to get it, including making the tough decisions that may upset the ones closest to you. All in all, an excellent film that few know about, also, check out the soundtrack performed by Matt Pond and Chris Hansen.

Leave a comment, tell us what you’re finding your bliss in this despondent TV season.