What are your fav “Off Hollywood” films

Blkadr
Thanks. I'll put them onto my short (well sort of now) list. I'm a big fan of C Walken. the 'Prophecy' series, Pool Hall Junkies, Suicide Kings, King of the city, Deer Hunter (most of all), and I loved the Pope flick too.

Roarke also played in a Skip Woods flick "Thursday" which will always remain in my top ten list as one of the best dark, violent comedies I've seen. Although I came by it on VHS instead of DVD. The prices for the DVD just blew me away as many simply overvalue this particular product. I've seen it being asked for as much as $200. it's good, but it's not that good.

Although I'm not a fan of children playing roles of lowly reputed women, does anyone recall "Pretty Baby"?

Pretty Baby was controversial in its time, dont think they could make it now, even after the peak of the PC movement. We just got to the point where Leno can joke about weed on late night tv.
I cant remember the names of the actors (kids) in To Kill a Mockingbird or The Innocents, and Little Liz Taylor was precious in National Velvet. Great child acting all round in Stand by Me. Our Mother's House features a family of kids who bury their deceased mother in the garden in order to keep the house (brit 1967).

If you like Blue Velvet try Lynch's Wild at Heart. William Duefoe's teeth should get separate billing. I have Inland Empire but have not watched it yet.

Classic Bogart? Few people remember Beat the Devil. Bogart, Robert Morley. Peter Lorre, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida. Daily rewrites by Truman Capote turns the novel into a satire with the usual outstanding band of character actors and some big stars supporting Bogart as he does light parody of himself. Audience didnt get it so it flopped. Fun to watch.

Sorry, I realize Im going on and on. I think I should get out more.

Great suggestions here from Blkadr and Audiofeil, and others.

Blkadr - enjoyed Wild at Heart and didn't take to Inland Empire at all. I liked Lost Highway as well, and even was a big fan of Eraserhead back in the 80's. There's a good documentary about Lynch called Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch that's well worth seeing. In the realm of the child-actor theme and bouncing off of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (yes, the kids were great in that) - Also check out Robert Mitchum in "The Night of the Hunter" - kind of hokey dialogue, but outstanding sets, lighting and cinemaphotography...just beautiful visual style. I believe it was Charles Laughton's only directorial effort.

Audiofeil - Nice group of suggestions; I loved many of those films. I'd add "Best in Show" for another hilarious Christopher Guest effort. I also love Atom Egoyan's other films way back to "Speaking Parts" and "Family Viewing".

There are films that come out of Hollywood that defy the typical dreck you may come to expect from that meat grinder. Here are a few that come to mind:
In the Bedroom
Magnolia
3:10 to Yuma (that reminds me - check out Bale in "The Machinist")
...oh, and another really brilliant actor: Ryan Gosling - check him out in, "The Believer" for shades of over-the-top Oldman and early Ed Norton ala "American History X". I also enjoyed Gosling in "United States of Leland"
Love the earlier stuff by Jarmusch - check out Benigni and Tom Waits in "Down by Law"

OK, gotta get some work done. Albert, I can't argue with you there, she belongs in "Perfect Systems" for sure!

Big Lebowski

The Dude abides.