I've learned the difference between an independent film and a studio film (one gets lots of creativity, blood, sweat and tears, and the other gets lots of money but may be limited or reduced in creativity to studio preferences), and I've learned that on the whole, most indie films are dialogue-heavy, with a message to share, and usually a pretty sweet custom soundtrack (because the latest Top 40 pop song is usually too expensive to secure for the film, and an emerging artist looking to get their name out there is happy to write a song for peanuts and a spot in the credits).
I'm not really into dialogue movies. I tend to get bored easily, and I like action and drama more than anything. However, there are several indie films that I not only tolerate, but have placed in my top favorites lists. As my title says, most indie films suck, but there really are some that I hope the director knows, it was all worth it.
One of my favorite movies, definitely in my top 5, is Ten Inch Hero. It's about the crew of an offbeat sandwich shop (hence the title), and a mix of romantic comedy, slice-of-life and coming-of-age genres. The actors are fairly well-known, and most people first watch this film because Jensen Ackles is in it, but I'll admit, when I first watched this movie back in 2008, I didn't really know who he was. I was working at Blockbuster at the time, and we had 5 free rentals a week, which I preferred to use to preview new releases. This looked interesting, and I'm so glad I watched it. I bought my own copy soon after, and now it's on Netflix instant, so I get to watch it anytime I want.
Besides the incredible cast and screenplay, I love two songs written by Bethany Joy Galeotti (of One Tree Hill) for the movie, The Long Way, and Something Familiar. I've had copies of the songs for years, but they're pretty hard to find, so good luck with that. I also like the fact that this movie really ends with everyone finding their other half. A good majority of indie films are too involved in sending a message to let us end on a happy note, but this movie truly makes you smile, through happy tears.
There are a lot of parts that ring true for me, for anybody who's ever, well, lived. When one character is meeting her Internet chat buddy/potential boyfriend, she gets intimidated when she spots him and realizes that he is way hotter than she is. Upset and panicking, she runs out. Later, she explains, "There's no way a guy who looks like that is going to want me." I've felt that way before. When her friend replies with, "you are the smartest person I know...you have so much to offer..." But I know exactly what is meant in the sad reply, "I didn't say I don't have a lot to offer, I said that people never know because they don't see me."
While that is a rare sad part of the movie, it, among other (happier) parts, rings true with me, and with most every girl, I think. And that's the beauty in this movie. It is very real, and very true to life. Of course, in the end, the less-pretty girl does end up with the hot Internet buddy, but even that, if it isn't always realistic, gives hope to everyone who's ever been in her position.
There are also little clips of random conversation, created from an eclectic crew with too much time on their hands at an eclectic sandwich shop ("All I'm saying is, Cobain wasn't trying to leave this world, he was just trying to leave Courtney."), and scenes ranging the gamut from a blue mohawk being filmed like a shark fin to domestic violence.
The dominant theme throughout everything in this movie, good and bad, is hope. And hope is the real reason for living, isn't it?
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