Discuss: The Most Pleasant Surprises
Filed under: Comedy, Foreign Language, Independent
One of the benefits of attending film festivals is that it offers someone who sees pretty much everything the chance to finally see pretty much anything without knowing about it one iota in advance.It's a strategy that's led me astray before, but at the Florida Film Festival a couple of years back, a sold-out screening of Hard Candy (okay, it would've been my second time) forced me to bumble instead into a showing starting right there and then of something Norwegian called The Bothersome Man.
Lo and behold, I actually very much enjoyed this deadpan tale of a man who finds himself dropped off in a banal purgatory of sorts, an Ikea-laced hell where money won't buy you happiness, drinks won't get you drunk, sex won't get you laid, and suicide won't get you killed. For the Netflix-savvy among you, it remains available on their Instant Watch format, and even on pesky ol' disc, I heartily recommend it.
Of course, I told you that to ask you this: What's the last time that you stumbled across a movie on pure and complete accident or convenience -- dragged on a date, came across on cable, etc. -- and with no recommendation that took you by total and utter surprise?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-24-2009 @ 9:59PM
Larry said...
I went to see The Vicious Kind this year at Sundance because it fit well into my schedule when I was furiously picking out tickets. It wasn't on my list to begin with and based on the synopsis in the film guide I was fully prepared to dislike it immensely. As it turned out, however, it was one of my favorite films at the festival. Hopefully it will get distribution.
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2-24-2009 @ 9:59PM
mkat said...
Back when I used to be able to see movies for free (working at a movie theater) I would always go see movies I knew nothing about! Memento (opening night just to waste time), Brothers, Head On, Yossi and Jagger, Noi, Elevator to the Gallows, Spartan, and more that I can't remember because I don't go to movies like I used to. I love seeing movies without expectation. All of those movies entertained me in varying degrees. I think Elevator to the Gallows was the one I went fangirl over. I knew nothing about it, my first Louis Malle and Jeanne Moreau. I took home a poster. Loved it so much!
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2-24-2009 @ 9:59PM
Daniel said...
When Ocean's Thirteen opened, my dad, my brother, and I went to see it, but for some reason or other we couldn't. We ended up choosing to see Surf's Up instead, and lo and behold if it didn't end up being the anti-Happy Feet. It was genuine fun all-around. I loved the documentary feel - it was a great way to frame the story. I bought it when it came out on DVD. It was cool to see it get nominated for an Oscar, even though my hero Brad Bird was a lock to win with Ratatouille.
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2-24-2009 @ 10:03PM
Jenn Brown said...
I love finding gems like these. It's one reason I'm planning not to do the Opening Night film at SXSW.
Thanks for making me add to my netflix list.
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2-24-2009 @ 11:00PM
MCW said...
My most pleasant surprise came from Netflix Watch Instantly.
The Secret (2007) feat. Olivia Thirlby (Not the other one) is outstanding. It makes me so sad that so few gave it a chance (And I don't think it went to any theaters), but thanks to Netflix's streaming service, more people probably saw it than would have otherwise.
Give it a try, on Blu-ray/DVD, or on your Roku, people.
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2-25-2009 @ 1:14AM
FLD said...
I'm showing my age here, I know. After breaking up with a long-term boyfriend my father dragged me to see Animal House, probably because the poor man was sick of listening to me cry. I had low expectations, figuring it would simply be rude, crude, and unattractive. It was and I loved it.
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2-25-2009 @ 3:01AM
Justin said...
Running Scared. Happened to see it in theaters on a fluke and it turned out to be quite the ride. Also I tried to see United 93 in France and ended up walking into Lucky Number Slevin and couldn't have made a better mistake.
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2-25-2009 @ 3:06AM
William Goss said...
Ooh, should've included this anecdote:
When on a school trip to Italy, a couple of us went off to the movies, willing to see whatever was playing. As it turns out, it was this film -- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/im_not_scared/ -- and it was surprisingly easy to follow without subtitles, not to mention damn good.
However, some early scenes of children either nearly bullying one another to expose their privates or being kidnapped and placed in peril kept our concerned chaperones on the edge of their seats, ready to drag us all out of there if things got too (pardon this) hairy.
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2-25-2009 @ 11:42AM
T Mosh said...
Several years ago I saw an Australian movie called Blackrock on cable. The cast was filled with mostly unknowns (at least to a US audience), though Heath Ledger had a minor part. I'm not sure what compelled me to stop on it when flipping through channels, but I'm glad I did. It was a great movie, similar in a lot of ways to River's Edge.
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3-01-2009 @ 4:42PM
Harless? said...
On the last day of the most recent Chicago Film Festival, I went and saw "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" because I had a ticket left over on my pass. I generally like Asian action movies and love Westerns I thought I would give this a try. Not expecting much, I was enthralled. One of the most entertaining and enjoyable movie experiences I have had in a while. I am hoping it get's international distribution soon, so that I may see it in theaters again.
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2-25-2009 @ 11:45AM
William Goss said...
Oh, Good/Bad/Weird's a blast! The last I heard, IFC had it to distribute at some point this spring.
2-25-2009 @ 1:00PM
Veronica said...
I caught Bon Cop/Bad Cop at the WI Film fest last year and it was just the right combination of comedy (mostly dark humor) and action.
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2-25-2009 @ 3:31PM
honey said...
Through Netflix instant (though for some reason it isn't available through the instant anymore) I watched the Danish film "Open Hearts" (Elsker dig for evigt) with the amazing actor Mads Mikkelsen. I was curious about it after having seen "After the Wedding" which was made by the same director, Suzanne Bier. "Open Hearts" is a very low budget film, lots of grainy imagery and hand-held camera shots, but there's so much emotional intensity that I felt completely engrossed in every minute of the film. It's now one of my all-time favorites. And it was a completely random flick to watch. I love my netflix. I really do.
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2-27-2009 @ 6:11PM
MCW said...
That's the best part about Netflix - stumbling upon random things that you'd think you'd never in a million years actually like - and then you end up loving it :)
Watch Instantly has made this a much more frequent occurrence, so I thank them for broadening my viewing palate.
2-26-2009 @ 2:09PM
Luke said...
Wild Strawberries. I rented it purely to find something my girlfriend wouldn't mind missing out on when I felt like watching something while she was in classes, so I picked something old and foreign (which she doesn't hate, just tends to avoid). Easily one of my top five favorite movies now
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2-26-2009 @ 7:49PM
Milhuisen said...
Great film !! How about that cinematography !
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2-27-2009 @ 6:11PM
David B said...
I had the pleasure of seeing a screener of 'Made in China' last week. This film is going to send shockwaves through the indie world. The director Judi Krant delivers on so many levels and layers. Slumdog, watch out yo.
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2-27-2009 @ 5:12PM
David B said...
I had the pleasure of seeing a screener of "Made in China" directed by Judi Krant. She delivers on so many levels and layers. It's going to send shockwaves through the indie world. Slumdog Steelo, watch out yo.
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3-01-2009 @ 8:55PM
Cliff said...
I was on an airplane for the umpteenth time last summer, and I'd seen most of the movies available to watch. I flipped past a Roeper & Whoever preview just long enough to hear them say "surprises you after the first twenty minutes at how good it is". I didn't even know which movie it was, but found myself watching Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which was one of the most enjoyable films I've seen since I don't know when. Especially coming off Leatherheads on an earlier flight, it restored my faith in the ghost of the screwball comedy. It's the most recent film I've seen that absolutely made my day.
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3-10-2009 @ 1:20PM
MCW said...
Been wanting to see it... did not know it was screwball, but your comparison to the trite Leatherheads makes me want to see Pettigrew more. Thanks. Glad I bookmarked this page.