The Noughties Films You Might Have Missed - Part #2

5 - In My Father's Den (2004)

What starts out as a touching tale about a returning son finding his way in rural New Zealand soon develops into a slow-burning thriller. Family relations are key here and director Brad McGann knows it, teasing out an excellent performance from Brit, Matthew Macfadyen, well supported by Colin Moy as his fractious brother. A fitting conclusion does justice to some excellent work throughout.

Film Intel review: 4*











4 - Joy Division (2007)

Documentary on the Manchester-based bands dramatic rise around the 'Madchester' era and shocking fall with the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. Released at the same time as excellent Curtis biography, Control, Joy Division is a great accompaniment which eschews the shock of ending with Curtis' death in favour of remembering that New Order emerged to become a part of the legacy. Visually stimulating with some great interviews it deserved wider acclaim and distribution.

Film Intel review: N/A













3 - Out Of The Blue (2006)

A tense and subtle film, again from New Zealand, Out Of The Blue is the story of the Aramoana Massacre in 1990 when resident David Gray killed thirteen people as an under-prepared local police force struggled to react or contain him. Centered by a brilliant Karl Urban, who returned post-Lord Of The Rings to make the film for a fraction of his usual fee, it is both a fitting tribute to those killed, an excellent document of the events and a highly under-rated and under-watched film.

Film Intel review: 4*











2 - Dead Man's Shoes (2004)

Still Shane Meadow's best film, Dead Man's Shoes is the tale of brothers Paddy Considine and Toby Kebbell, the former ekeing out revenge for the treatment of his dependant sibling years ago. Packing a gut-wrenching and emotional finale along with a vicious and snarling tour de force from Considine this was one of the year's best.

Film Intel review: N/A












1 - The Host (2006)

Packing in some brilliant characters with a lot of dry humour and a great beastie, The Host brought South Korean cinema new levels of international attention. With some touching and funny moments tempered to an awareness of horror conventions and how these can be manipulated, director Joon-ho Bong wowed critics and convinced audiences otherwise ignorant of foreign cinema. Still criminally under-seen, The Host remains one of the best horror films of the decade and a lesson to Hollywood in how to do a good monster movie.

Film Intel review: N/A



Look Further...

As pointed out in the previous post, Univarn is doing a Great Films Nobody Saw series here so why not suggest your own personal favourite?

The slightly more obscure Total Film list is also still available if anyone wants to bolster their DVD rental queue.