The box office’s current leaders fall under the same genres as they do almost every other week. Among the leaders are two horror movies, or rather films almost entirely composed of special effects mixed with gallons of conspicuously fake blood. The other leaders include multiple chick flicks containing cheesy plots and just plain bad acting.

The highly anticipated movies of the year, including adaptations of classic books and Hilary Swank’s Amelia, have received unexpected bad reviews. Where The Wild Things Are definitely does not belong in the same category as Saw VI, but it does fall behind many of today’s lesser-known movies.

These so-called “Indie” films have been able to produce fantastic stories with great acting, using lower budgets and less-famous actors than the Blockbuster mega-films. Such films include the currently playing An Education and Coco Avant Chanel.

An Education:
An Education is about a 16-year-old girl, Jenny, played by Carey Mulligan, living in England during the 1960s. Her parents are pushing her to get good grades and eventually go to Oxford, but she would rather go to concerts and thus puts school second. One day, an older man, Simon Goldman, played by Peter Sarsgaard, begins to seduce her and bring her into an elegant world, the one that Jenny always hoped to be part of.

The movie highlights the importance of status and the place of women during the pre-feminist 1960s. Jenny dreams of being great, but her parents are sure women can only become teachers or housewives. They allow Jenny to get swept away by the charming, yet creepy, Goldman. Goldman, who is actually a con man, convinces her parents that he is a rich man so they will allow her to be in this relationship.

The excellent acting truly engages the audience. Mulligan carries herself the same way a teenager who hopes to seem older would, yet she still projects the character’s youth through various facial expressions. After previous supporting roles, Mulligan proves that she has the ability to play a lead role in a movie. The more experienced Sarsgaard creates a character who has the skill to appear mysterious and somewhat off, even through the most charming scenes. Sarsgaard is able to avoid depicting the typical predator, despite his character’s relationship with a teenage girl. The supporting cast, led by Alfred Molina, Jenny’s father, and Olivia Williams, Jenny’s concerned teacher, embody the personalities of their characters.

Aside from the acting, the film includes great cinematography, a suiting soundtrack and impeccable sets and costumes.

With all of the technical aspects, from cinematography to acting, down pat, An Education still manages to be more than the sum of its parts. The film teaches important lessons about being yourself and not growing up too fast. It does not give in to any clichés, but does not try too hard to be different. It is not loud, but it has an impact.

Coco Avant Chanel:
When most people think of Chanel, they think of snooty girls toting around designer bags and sunglasses. Coco Avant Chanel is a biopic about designer Gabriel Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, played by Audrey Tautou. The film depicts Chanel’s humble beginnings and helps reveal the unglamorous life of one the most glamorous icons in history. It starts when Coco is a child and in an orphanage. Ten years later she becomes a seamstress by day and a cabaret singer by night. She soon becomes the mistress of a wealthy man, Étienne Balsan, played by Benoit Poelvoorde, with whom she lives. He takes her to ritzy parties and gives her expensive and over-the-top dresses. But Chanel goes against the social norms and wears simple dresses or even suits to the parties. Eventually Chanel’s style begins to gain popularity, leading to the creation of her line.

Aside from telling the story of a woman who works her way up from rags to riches, Coco Avant Chanel also covers a tragic love affair she has with Arthur “Boy” Capel, played by Alessandro Nivalo. The chemistry between the two is enticing. Nivola is dapper and charming. His character is the one who convinces Chanel that she can do more.

Tautou, like she is in most of her films, is adorable as Chanel. Like Chanel, she is expressive, yet subtle. Her facial expressions tell almost as much as her actual lines. Tatou fits the role perfectly, fully convincing the audience that she is Chanel.

As expected, the costumes are outstanding. The outrageous, overly decorated hats and dresses of the upper-class women contrasted perfectly with Chanel’s simple silhouettes and masculine details. Continuing with the success of the costumes is the success of the cinematography. One amazing cinematographic scene is at the end, during Chanel’s runway show. The runway has mirrors and the reflections create an outstanding image. It is a very chic and ethereal scene.

Coco Avant Chanel manages to be beautiful even while chronicling the meager parts of Chanel’s life. The story is fascinating and sheds a different light on the most influential person in 20th century fashion. This movie avoids the formulaic and clichés of biopic, which really allows this film to shine.

Every week, movies like An Education and Coco Avant Chanel are nowhere near the top of the box office, but in actuality they are probably the strongest movies in the theaters. These films can be seen in theaters throughout the city for the same price as the generic romantic comedy. So, when planning weekend trips to the movies with friends or families, try skipping Couples Retreat and spend $12 on a unique movie instead.