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Memorial Day Weekend, usually one of the most lucrative box office periods of the year, has passed. Audiences had free reign to choose from the giants of the early summer movie season. Men in Black III, made for $230 million, debuted to about $69 million in four days. The darling of 2012 thus far has been The Avengers, which cost $220 million to make and is now is the third highest grossing film of all time, taking in over $530 million.

There were more movies competing for your wallets and attention this weekend. Regardless of where you looked, something was being marketed to you. Dark Shadows, which was made for $150 million, was yet another attempt by a studio to cash in on the recent vampire craze. Battleship, full of its pulsing action and brilliant explosions, and made for $209 million dollars, sought to bring in the teenage males. Women were supposed to flock to see What to Expect When You’re Expecting, made for $40 million. Comedy fans had the Dictator, which cost $65 million to make. Even horror fans had the rare summer scare fest, the Chernobyl Diaries. It seems like every possible movie interest or hobby had an on-screen tale seeking American’s pocket books.

Of course, there are other films available to those who are looking for them, films without the special effects that make your mind go numb and action resembling a video game. There are flicks available that don’t have time-traveling aliens, creepy monsters, or nonsensical plots. You have to seek them out, because they probably are not grabbing a lot of screens at the local theaters.

But, they are there.

One of those films is Crooked Arrows. It didn’t cost much to make.

It is about lacrosse, and you’ll probably like it.

Currently playing in only 67 theaters, this is one movie goers should take a look at. Chances are it is in a small “artsy” theater in your region. You may have to search your nearby show times, but if it is playing, you should see it.

The setting is in upstate New York, in a small town on an Indian reservation. The Sunnaquot tribe is being pressured by wealthy interests to expand the gambling casino that already exists on their territory. The gambling organizer attempts to befriend the natives by employing one of their own, Joe Logan, played quite ably by Brandon Routh,of Superman Returns. He naturally has a solid relationship with the village elders, and is sincerely trying to improve things in the community. He recognizes there is poverty in the tribe, his people need jobs, and there could be significant economic benefits if the casino is enlarged. In the back story of the film, he has already set up a new school and has plans to build a hospital with the money the natives could make if the developer’s plans progress.

A hitch arises when the tribal elders tell him the casino can expand, only if he, as one of them, makes the effort to explore his cultural heritage. His father, who is part of the elder council, maneuvers Logan into a position of coaching the community’s lacrosse team and examining his people’s identity. Joe accepts, thinking his duties will be menial, his commitment light. He takes on the job of coaching the team, believing anything he goes through is worth bringing the casino to town.

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