Prince Avalanche

David Gordon Green, after an extended foray into comedy with Pineapple Express, Your Highness, The Sitter and Eastbound & Down, returns to his indie dramatic roots (George Washington, All the Real Girls). Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star as two highway workers painting stripes on a road after fire has ravaged the surroundings. Rudd is typically great Rudd here, with a nice chance to show his dramatic chops and plenty of opportunities to be funny. One can't help but think of Into the Wild as Hirsch takes a character far away from civilization again. Both actors play well off each other, while Green gets a chance to still be funny while also creating something a little more on the “real” side. Wonderfully shot, and featuring a terrific soundtrack from Explosions in the Sky and David Wingo, this is one of the year's more pleasant surprises, and a nice comeback for Green after the failure of Your Highness and the so-so nature of The Sitter. (Available for rent on iTunes and Amazon.com.)