G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Lance Hammer's tough and tender debut feature is the cinematic equivalent of a miniature, a piece carved out of the stories of three troubled and damaged souls and the culture and poverty of their small Mississippi Delta town. Hammer filmed on location with local non-actors, and fills the ultra-low-budget indie with the textures you don't get with the polish of Hollywood. It's as touching and vulnerable a film as I've seen. Winner of Best Directing and Best Cinematography at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Also features a 37-minute documentary and a booklet with an essay by Amy Taubin.