Movies
“Buried” is an independent thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, and is directed by Rodrigo Cortes. The film is about Paul Conroy (Reynolds), a man captured by terrorists and stuffed in a coffin with only a lighter and a cell phone. Conroy has to get five million dollars to the terrorists holding him or die. While the movie has a pretty simple premise, it’s the execution which really shines. The entire film takes place inside this small cramped coffin, using a style of minimalist film making. This means the film shows only the basics. The film feels like a Hitchcock thriller with great twists and turns. It has a somewhat dark humor to it at times, satirizing corporations, the Internet, and the media. It’s intense, suspenseful, and has a jaw-dropping ending.
Video Games
Comic Jumper
Humor is something most games seem to be lacking these days. Games go for a serious or gritty look and feel, so it’s very refreshing when an independent studio makes a game which is just the opposite. Comic Jumper is a game developed by Twisted Pixel, it follows the adventures of comic hero Captain Smiley and his sidekick, Star. The two once had a comic but it was cancelled, and now have to guest star in other comics, including a silver age comic and a manga comic. It has a great deal of focus on humor with movie and pop culture references littered through out. It has a cast of fun and crazy characters, that each bring their own unique sense of humor to the game. This is one of the few games that actually causes you to laugh out loud. The game play is a hearkening back to the old school days of gaming, including it’s intense difficulty. While a bit clunky and frustrating at times, the games’ humor saves it, and really helps it shine, making it one of the best independent games out there.
Music
NOFX-
The art of punk rock seems to have been lost in the sea of Hannah Montanas and Lady Gagas, but there are still a few bands that are bringing it back. NOFX is one them. Taking inspiration from other famous punk bands like the Dead Kennedys and the Ramones, NOFX relies on simple guitar playing and satirical lyrics to help get their message across. They’re not a band to be taken lightly.
Interpol
Interpol is an alternative band that came from New York. The band combines bass throb and harmonized guitar, with post punk lyrics. The band has had success with their first album Turn On the Bright Lights, which was released in 2002. They are one of the more original alternative bands, sticking with their own sound and style rather than falling into the rut most alternative bands do. Check them out.
The Decemberists
Pop is undoubtedly one of the most over-saturated genres of music, so it’s rare to find a pop band that sounds original. The Decemberists however, are one of the most original bands out there. The band is a mixture of Indie, pop, and Irish rock, while this may sound like an odd mash of music it blends perfectly creating a calming and light hearted sound. The Decemberists are definitely new and different when it comes to pop.