Director Jacques Audiard calls his film A Prophet his “anti-Scarface”. That’s a handy guide as to what to expect in this riveting crime flick. There is none of Tony Montana’s glamour, no camaraderie ala Goodfellas. Instead, A Prophet follows one central character, a French Arab named Malik and played by Tahar Rahim, who is forced to survive in prison with no one but an intimidating Corsican mobster to guide him.Like the best crime movies, A Prophet is the story of how people construct their identities, but it also demonstrates how the Corsican mob is changing. Older bosses like the film’s Cesar (played by Niels Arestrup, The Bourne Ultimatum) are out of date, their glory days harkening back to the days of the French Connection (when heroin was smuggled from France to the U.S. in the 1950s-1970s). Malik is the new breeda boss whose reputation is not made on experience, but on study. After all, he’s in prison. What other option does he have? Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for a new film to see, but want something a little different than the big comedy hits and predictable love stories, check out your local Indie theater. This genre is often overlooked but produces some phenomenal, thought provoking pieces. Here’s our pick at some of the best.

1. 7 days: A film about inner conflict and revenge, Bruno Hamel’s daughter is raped and murdered and he sets out to enact his own form of justice on the perpetrator. When Hamel subjects his daughter’s killer to horrific torture it raises the question of what exactly is justice and how far would you go for your loved ones.
2. All That I Love: This gripping film takes place in Poland during the Russian occupation of the 1980s. A young boy starts a band singing songs about his political frustration. A young romance that forms is at risk because of the differing political positions of their families. This film offers an emotional look at the profound effects political culture can have on one’s adolescent years.
3. Armless: The main character, John, leaves his wife one day to find a surgeon who will fulfill his dreams of having his arms amputated. The tale twists into an interesting look into marriage and acceptance of the one’s you love. Read the rest of this entry »