Joe Swanberg (born August 31, 1981) is an American independent filmmaker and actor.
Known for micro-budget dramas which make extensive use of improvisation, Swanberg is considered a major figure in the mumblecore film movement. His films often focus on relationships, sex, technology, and the filmmaking process.
Swanberg was born on August 31, 1981 in Detroit. He attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as a film major, earning a Bachelor's Degree in 2003. Two years later, Swanberg directed his first feature, Kissing on the Mouth. He followed it with LOL (2006), which marked Swanberg's first time working with actress Greta Gerwig. Gerwig and Swanberg collaborated on the director's next two features: Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007), which also starred filmmakers Andrew Bujalski, Ry Russo-Young, and Mark Duplass and marked Swanberg's first collaboration with animator and actor Kent Osborne; and Nights and Weekends (2008), on which Gerwig shared a directing credit. Swanberg's next feature, Alexander the Last, was produced by Noah Baumbach, who would later cast Gerwig opposite Ben Stiller in his 2010 film Greenberg.
Plot
Alone, LOL stands on the threshold of unknown territory. She resides with her dad in his makeshift market stall van. LOL watches customers come and go, fantasising about the glamour of their lives, far away from the harsh custody battle she is embroiled in. To escape her solitude, LOL packs herself into a suitcase, with the vain hope that it will transport her to a brighter place. By a cruel twist, she finds herself in a dimly lit motel room with a stranger, in stark liminal space.
Plot
Infamous London gangster cousins, Micky Mannock and Ray Collishaw, are at the top of the food chain, when their world is turned upside down as they lose a shipment of the Russian Mafia's cocaine in rough seas. Set in London, Amsterdam and Berlin, the story races across Europe at breakneck speed as Micky and Ray attempt to stay one step ahead of the Police. Can they pull off a daring diamond heist in time to put things right and retire to a "legitimate" way of life.
Keywords: diamonds, gangster, heist
A match, a firm, a heist and the mother of all battles.
What if in 'This Is England' the counter-culture wasn't skinhead, it was français.
Plot
This is England: Mods, New Romantics, and Skinheads are the major youth sub-cultures of this very English summer of 1983 and young 12-year-old Shaun is left wandering aimlessly alone and lost during the start of his school holidays, until his chance meeting with Woody and his fun and friendly Skinhead pack. Finding a new lease of life; girls, parties, Ben Sherman shirts, Doc Martin boots and shaven hairstyles young Shaun is welcomed, life during this summer holiday has got a whole lot better. That is until Combo arrives on the scene bitter, dangerous, racist, militant and psychotic life for young Shaun has just approached his first major crossroads. This is England is a look back at the early eighties of British working-class life through the eyes of young Shaun and his new gang, and dealing with the bitterness of outside influences such as racism and xenophobia, of mass unemployment and the fall out of the Falkland's War; Thatcher's Britain: Did we ever have it so good? When you see Shaun, ask Him.
Keywords: 11-year-old, 1980s, abandoned-building, beach, beating, bell-bottoms, bicycle, birthday, birthday-cake, blood
Run with the crowd, stand alone, you decide.
School Bully: Keith. Keithy. oi, oi.::[whistles]::Shaun: Talkin' to me?::[nods]::Shaun: What?::School Bully: I never knew Keith Chegwin had a son.::Shaun: Piss off.::School Bully: What the fuck are they?::Shaun: These, I'm wearing them for a bet, what's your excuse?::School Bully: Cheeky Bastard. Woodstock's that way pal.::Shaun: Fuck off, at least I don't look like count Dracula.::Shaun: You think your funny yeh?::Shaun: yeh.::School Bully: You think your funny you little spaz?::Shaun: Yeh.::School Bully: You want to hear a fucking joke yeh?::Shaun: Yeh, yeh go on then::School Bully: How many people can you fit into a mini?::Shaun: I don't fucking know how many?::School Bully: Three in the back, two in the front, and your fucking dad in the ashtray.::Shaun: You fucker!
Woody: [after Gadget tells Shaun to go home] Now I feel bad, I feel bad now.::[Looks at Gadget]::Woody: You fucking prick, you know what you are? [smacks a pastry out of Gadget's hands] You're a friggin' bully, Gadget.
Smell: I loved when you gave me that cake, that was sweet. Did you make it yourself?::Shaun: [bashfully] Ya::Smell: You didn't make it yourself, did you?::Shaun: [laughing] No
Woody: Listen to me. He's a young lad. He's had a fucking bad week. So we bring him in wi' us to show him a bloody good time and you've just friggin back handed him roun' head. I'M DISAPPOINTED MATE!
Woody: [Imitating Harvey] I'm Harvey and I'm here to give you jip.
Mr. Sandhu: [after Shaun finally leaves the shop] Oh, and you're banned.::Shaun: Oh, and you're a mong.
Woody: Honestly mate, you look sterling.
Shaun: I just wondered if you'd like to be my girlfriend. I think you're lovely.
Combo: But I've got one question to ask you. Do you consider yourself English, or Jamaican?::[There's a long uneasy silence, as Milky looks around nervously to the rest of his friends... ]::Milky: [eventually] English.::Combo: Lovely, lovely, love you for that, that's fucking great. A proud man, learn from him; that's a proud man. That's what we need, man. That's what this nation has been built on, proud men. Proud fucking warriors! Two thousand years this little tiny fucking island has been raped and pillaged, by people who have come here and wanted a piece of it - two fucking world wars! Men have laid down their lives for this. For this... and for what? So people can stick their fucking flag in the ground and say, "Yeah! This is England. And this is England, and this is England."
Combo: [to Sandhu] Don't you fucking dare backchat me, or I will slay you now where you fucking stand, you fucking Paki cunt!
Plot
An international group of young, idealistic aid workers are caught in a Sudanese war zone. In the midst of the difficulties of their inter personal relations they have to contend with mounting external tensions and difficulties they increasingly face to provide basic care.
A good time movie! [Video Australia]
They're Wild, Outrageous and Loveable!
Tex and Alby . . . they were like old west outlaws . . . everyone else was ripe for picking. Their money . . . their cars. And when it came to women . . . their favours! [Theatrical Australia]
High Rolling - a good time movie [Theatrical Australia]