10 Indie Movie Hits 2010

Naming the 10 indie movie hits of 2010 that really made an impression on people is especially tough. 2010 produced some excellent examples that spending big money isn’t the only way to produced a good film. In fact, fans of indie movies have been arguing that point for years. While major studios waste millions on big stars, special effects and publicity tours, indie movie producers are spending their time working on plot and character proving that for every “Avatar” out there, there is a “Napolepon Dynamite” waiting to be discovered by audiences. Here is an excellent slate of indie movies that most people missed the first time around.

1. "The King’s Speech." This indie film tells the story of the ascension of King George VI of Great Britain and his efforts to address an almost debilitating speech impediment on the eve of his first speech as King to the public. While this doesn’t sound like a fascinating topic for a two hour movie, it’s won the hearts of critics both abroad and in the U.S. winning top honors for its cast, director, and writer.
2. "Black Swan." This is likely the indie film of 2010 that everyone has heard about. Made famous by the sex scene between its two stars, Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman, it tells the story of a young ballerina (Portman) who lands the biggest role of her career, that of the White Swan in an adaptation of “Swan Lake”. The real drama unfolds as she starts to lose her mind while preparing to also play the White Swan’s evil sister, the Black Swan.
3. "The Killer Inside Me." Cassie Affleck plays a deputy sheriff in Texas who own questionable history begins to surface after develops an odd sadomasochistic relationship with a prostitute he meets during a murder investigation.  
4. "The Kids Are Alright." Indie film regulars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are two of the three stars in this movie (the other being Mark Ruffalo) who play a lesbian couple meeting the sperm donor of their kids for the first time.
5. "The Tillman Story." One of the saddest indie films on the list, it tells the story of former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, who walked away from a career in football to serve in the army during its initial invasion of Afghanistan following the events of 9/11. Tillman’s death (due to friendly fire), it’s cover-up, and the military’s use of his image in war propaganda is explored.
6. "Winter’s Bone." Indie film director and writer Debra Granik brings audiences the story of a young Ozark girl who goes in search of her drug-dealing father after he jeopardizes his family by skipping out on his bail (which was based on the value of the house the young girl on her family live in).
7. "Casino Jack and The United States of Money." Called by some the most powerful lobbyist in Washington D.C., Jack Abramoff could get anything for his clients that they wanted and could do no wrong. Until he got arrested and convicted of tax evasion as part of one of the biggest influence peddling investigations in the nation’s history.
8. "The Human Centipede." Quite possibly the grossest indie film ever made, let alone in 2010. Imagine what would happen if you found your mouth surgically attached to another person’s ass. Someone not only thought this film up, but made it and earned won awards from horror film society’s!
9. "Orgasm, Inc." In what sounds the title of an excellent documentary about the porn industry, is actually and indie film about the pharmaceutical industry’s newest obsession; Female Sexual Dysfunction (FDS), which may be something not entirely real or as wipe spread as Big Pharma may want consumers to believe.  
10. "8: The Mormon Proposition." The passage of the anti-LGBT Proposition 8 in California in 2008 is the basis for this indie film’s illumination of the Mormon Church’s previously hidden 30-year effort in promoting anti-homosexual legislation through various front groups.