Snobbin: Beautiful Trash in the Pop Culture Gutter

10. River's Edge (1986) Few coming-of-age films are as tragic or engaging as Tim Hunter's River's Edge,  which steadily raises the stakes for its characters throughout its 100-minute running time, illustrating how trauma and peer pressure can be as horrific as any movie monster. Fine performances from Keanu Reeves, Ione Skye, and Crispin Glover temper Neil Jiminez's dark script with humanity and realism. Reeves, in particular, stands out as a compassionate teen caught between protecting his friends and doing what is right. He shows depth that does not surface as often in his later films, allowing him a range that many critics ignore. If you like Kids (1995) or other transgressive teen dramas, you should watch this one as soon as possible.  9. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) Martin Scorsese's comedic drama is possibly my favorite of all his films because it presents realistic human relationships through understated performances. Straying from the crime th...

Akira Kurosawa's No Regrets For Our Youth (1946) stars Ozu's favorite lead, Setsuko Hara, in a prescient antifascist political vehicle. Kurosawa includes lots of dramatic action without a "pillow shot" in sight.

Black Sun (2016), Laura Huertas Millan Shin Godzilla (2016), Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, Toho Train to Busan (2016), Yeon Sang-Ho, Next Entertainment World Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker (2017), Keith Schieron and Tim Irwin, Rocket Films The Eternals (2017), Pierre Yves-Vandeweerd Hanagatami (2017), Nobuhiko Obayoshi, PSC Karatsu Film Committee Jean Rouch: The Adventurous Filmmaker (2017), Laurent Vedrine, Rue des Roches Noires The Night I Swam (2017), Damien Manivel and Igarashi Kohei King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2017). Steve Mitchell, La-La Land   The Little Match Girl (2017), Alejo Moguillansky Turn it Around: The Story of East Bay Punk (2017), Corbett Redford, Abramorama Spider-Man:Into the Spider-Verse ( 2018), Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, Sony Pity ( 2018), Babis Makridis Keep An Eye Out (2018), Quentin Dupieux, Diaphana ...

Little Odessa (1995), James Gray, Fine Line Canadian Bacon ( 1995), Michael Moore, MGM The Passion of Darkly Noon (1995), Philip Ridley, Seville The Whole Wide World (1 996), Dan Ireland, Sony Pictures Releasing Doctor Chance (1997), F.J. Ossang, Canal Buffalo '66 (1998), Vincent Gallo, Lions Gate The Limey (1999), Steven Soderbergh, Artisan Cecil B. Demented (2000), John Waters, Artisan Blow ( 2001), Ted Demme, New Line Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Uncut-The Original Uncut Version (2002), Curt Geda, Warner Home Video Faraway Roots (2002), Pierre Yves-Vandeweerd, Funny Ha Ha ( 2002), Andrew Bujalski, Fox Lorber Mystic River (2003), Clint Eastwood, Village Roadshow Layer Cake (2004), Matthew Vaughan, Marv Films Grizzly Man (2005), Werner Herzog, Lions Gate Old Joy (2006), Kelly Reichardt, Washington Square The Wizard of Gore ( 2007), Jeremy Kasten, Sick-O-Scope ...