RE: 12 Hidden Gems Starring the Avengers Cast

Rottentomatoes timely article[1] stirred up the list-drives in my core and has spurred me to give my own compilation of relatively small films (more like personal favorite film independent of scale) starring the stars of "The Avengers: Age of Ultron."

Robert Downey Jr. – A Scanner Darkly

A haunting vision of a film.

Chris Hemsworth – Cabin in the Woods

It’s hard to see how this didn’t directly lead to Hemsworth being Thor.

Chris Evans – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Not a leading part, but certainly a marvelous one. Major coup on director, Edgar Wright’s part.

Mark Ruffalo – Begin Again

An absolutely incredibly musical.

Scarlett Johansson – Her

Featuring only her voice, Johansson is still the heart of Her.

Samuel L. Jackson – Deep Blue Sea

Say I’m wrong, I dare you.

Jeremy Renner – The Unusuals (TV Series)

Sadly canceled in the midst of its first season, this show was phenomenal. The creator, Noah Hawley has gone on to bring “Fargo” (the FX series) into our lives and his genius was evident in this overlooked series.

Don Cheadle – Captain Planet (Web Series)

Not a show. Not a film. Something more important. The world is infinitely better with this adaptation of the beloved hero being the definitive "Captain Planet" adaptation.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson – Kick A**

No expectations and a brilliantly cast roster led to director, Matthew Vaughn’s ultra-violent success story. It not only launched the career of Chloe Grace Moretz, it spawned both Quicksilvers, Even Peters and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Elizabeth Olsen – Godzilla

She still hasn’t done much but her lead roles haven’t really spoken to me, story wise. "Godzilla" also starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the lead human role as Olsen's husband. 

Paul Bettany – Wimbledon

Much like the first "Avengers" film, Wimbledon employs heavy use of “Arrow Cam,” but for tennis balls!

Anthony Mackie – The Adjustment Bureau

The second Philip K. Dick adaptation on this list and a modern sci-fi classic film.

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[1] Rottentomatoes: 12 Hidden Gems Starring The Avengers Cast

Begin Again (2013/2014)

Written and Directed by John Carney (Once)
Starring:
Mark Ruffalo (13 Going on 30)
Keira Knightley (Bend it Like Beckham)
James Cordon (Doctor Who)
Adam Levine (Iran So Far)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Catherine Keener (40 Year Old Virgin)
Yasiin "Mos Def " Bey (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)
Ceelo Green (Mystery Men)

Character, baby! This is what I'm talking about! Carney once again proves his knack at topographic authenticity. He constructs raw, ruptured, whole characters that grow and change in the span of two hours. The first half of the film employs a fluid structure allowing lives to weave in and out of each other yet avoids feeling repetitive. Simple cut-away shots, throw away dialogue, and clothing choices all work to give every small character a palpable depth. The film builds itself up on separate time frames adding more and more meaning after each revelation until we are rolling full steam ahead to a straightforward culmination of the plot heading to a delectably satisfying finish.

Begin Again also offers some genuine movie magic. That ghost performance was a thing of beauty. Fueled by happiness and excitement, those recording scenes are remarkably infectious and vault the otherwise simple idea of the outdoor studio to be something exceptional. Carney manages to construct intimately meaningful scenes using the simple joys we all wish we could experience any given day. It might be a product of my deplorable social life but do you know how rare it is to listen to music with someone else and you both enjoy it? Sharing music is one of the hardest achievements in real life and this film shows the ideal fulfillment while giving the characters a convincing emotional journey to have deserved experiencing it. Carney shines a spotlight on the power of friendship and showcases a mutual respect devoid of clingyness and constructed naturally out of the story. I can't tell you how vitalizing the moment was when I realized the two leads are not going to get together.

Ruffalo's man-on-the-brink performance gave me something I always want to see, a character's struggle to improve. Carney allows his characters to make good decisions after suffering for bad ones. 

Lovely dabs of humor lift the potentially depressing traps in the plot. From ripping on Levine's absurd beard to letting a Ruffalo and an underused James Cordon throw out quick witty dialogue, the movie is never short on pleasantness to accompany the depth. I got a real Blues Brothersy vibe from the time spent putting the band together, as well. It turned in to the movie I wanted Inside Llewyn Davis to be. Carney trumped the Coen Brothers. 

As with  Markéta Irglová in Once, Carney continues to show his savvy for subversion of standard female romanticism. Here, Knightley's sandal-loving songstress, Gretta James (such a classically inspired name, isn't it) is allowed to choose as much as the male lead and she is *gasp* individually capable of thought, undergoing such glorious glorious progression. 2014 was a solid year for both original films and strong female characters and my final ranking will reflected just that.

I'll end with the driving force of the movie. Without good songs, this would be a decent film. Instead we have, like Once before it, a film littered with moody and melodic tunes sung by the actors that are really good and once more, well deservedly up for Best Song at the Oscars. As if Keira Knightley didn't have enough talent, she can sing right up there with Adam Levine.

Bottom Line: A thoroughly satisfying musical that tickled every sentimental bone in my body and mesmerizes on both a technical and creative level.

10 out of 10