Book excerpt: American independent cinema has undergone several incarnations since its emergence as a politically charged underground movement in the 1960s. Today, with high-profile Academy Award nominations and an increasing number of big-name actors eager to sign on to promising projects, these films garner more interest than ever before. This book extends its chronicle of the independent sector s rise as an outlet for directors who both challenge the status quo and enjoy considerable box office appeal, without sacrificing critical legitimacy. This book includes one hundred and fifty reviews of significant American independent films, ranging from such cult classics as Faces, My Hustler, and Supervixens to recent releases like Drive, Mysterious Skin, and Win Win. At a time when independent films are enjoying considerable cultural cachet, this easy-to-use yet authoritative guide will find an eager audience among media historians, film studies scholars, and movie buffs alike.