Chuck & Buck

Chuck & Buck, directed by Miguel Arteta and written by and starring Mike White in the lead role, is an independent film that grew from a friendship formed when Arteta, White, and producer Matthew Greenfield met at Wesleyan University, their first collaboration together. The film follows 27 year old Buck, who reconnects with his childhood friend Charlie after his mother's death, resurfacing a childhood sexual experience. It had its world premiere at Sundance on January 21, 2000, where White won the Acting Prize for Best Male Performance. The film won the John Cassavetes Award, for best low budget film, at the 16th Independent Spirit Awards in 2001; Lupe Ontiveros also won Best Supporting Actress from the National Board of Review for her role. Mike White went on to create HBO's The White Lotus, winning three Primetime Emmy Awards. Who it's for: anyone curious about an early work from a screenwriter who wrote and starred in it himself, won an acting prize at Sundance, and later created an award winning HBO series. Who it's not for: viewers wanting a comfortable, low tension friendship story, since the film centers on an uncomfortable childhood connection.