In Case You Missed it Movies: Staff Picks

Lesser-known films perfect for lazy days over break

 

We are all crossing our fingers that the NoVA winter is filled with falling flakes and calls from the now famous LCPS Public Information Officer, Wayde Byard.  In preparation for a winter even snowier than the last, The Roar has compiled a list of some great movies that are out of the theaters and that we feel were underrated.  Each of these films has come out in the last few years and would go great with a hot beverage and fuzzy socks.

 

Olivia’s Pick- Winter’s Bone * (2010) :  This indie/thriller film is considered to be Jennifer Lawrence’s breakout role.  She portrays a teenager living in a poor region of the Ozark mountains who struggles with a broken family.  Her Dad is involved with drug dealing and she finds out that he has used their house for bail.  Learning this she has to take things into her own hands, despite social setbacks due to  her age, and journeys to find her father.

winters bond

Photo by: filmosphere.com

 

Tasnim’s Pick- My Name is Khan (2010):  My Name is Khan is a Bollywood/drama film about a Muslim man from India in the wake of 9/11.  He has aspergers which causes some difficulties in his life, and he decides that he wants to journey across the country to talk to the President of the United States after being challenged by his wife. The film features popular Bollywood actors, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.

my name is khan

Photo by: blogs.evergreen.edu

 

Angelica’s Pick- The Book Thief * (2013):  The Book Thief tells the story of a girl living with her foster parents during World War II while sheltering a Jewish man.  She passes the time by stealing books and sharing them with other people as the Nazi’s force people to burn them.  She lives a dangerous life as tensions rise with the war, and her world is morphed.  Actress Sophie Nelisse stars in  the film.

Film Review The Book Thief

Photo by: atthecinema.com

 

Jennifer’s Pick- The Kings of Summer (2013):  This is a coming of age comedy about teenage boys that are frustrated with the restrictions of their parents.  They decide to build a house at a clearing in the woods and learn to live independently for an entire summer.  The film also features Moises Arias who played Rico on Hannah Montana, so there is that.

 kings of summer movie pic

Photo by: themoviejerk.co.uk

 

Beth’s Pick- Begin Again (2014):  Begin Again is a quirky, music-themed rom-com that came out this summer.  Leads include Keira Knightley and Adam Levine as aspiring musicians and Mark Ruffalo as a washed-out music producer who happens by chance to meet Knightley’s character performing at a bar.  Levine and Knightley come to New York together which exposes differences in what they are willing to do to make it in the industry. Levine goes the traditional route and creates his album in Los Angeles.   Knightley chooses a rather unconventional route with Ruffalo, and creates an independent, all outdoor album.

begin again pic

Photo by: usmagazine.com

 

*Based on a Book