With big American blockbusters dominating the current theater scene, it’s important to remember that there are still some independent and foreign films on the market worth your time. Here are a few that might catch your interest.

  • The Secret in Their Eyes is an Argentine mystery by director Juan Jos Campanella. While set in 1999, it flashes back to 1974 when a federal agent begins to investigate the murder of a young woman. Campanella had previously directed episodes of House and Law & Order, but this film shows him at his best, and has already won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Don’t let this one pass you by.
  • City Island is a limited-release American comedy film set in the Bronx location of the same name. Stars include such big names as Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, and Alan Arkin. The plot follows an Italian family named the Rizzos hiding some big secrets, like an illegitimate son and what the daughter is doing when she’s supposed to be in college. Overall, this film focuses on the importance of family, and could provide a smart and touching alternative to the standard family fare.
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the adaptation of the first book in the international best-selling series. An English-language adaptation is currently in production, but it is still interesting to see this film in its original Swedish. The dark story brings together an investigative journalist (similar to the books’ author Stieg Larsson) and a young female hacker named Lisabeth. With the release of the third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest, earlier this year, and the other two films coming later in 2010, there has never been a better time to catch up on the series.