Every summer audience across America is treated to an endless run of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters, and, as a result, many decent films get overlooked. Now, I'm not one of those film snobs who puts down every major Hollywood release to come our way; after all, my favorite movies of the summer include the likes of Iron Man, Wall-E and The Dark Knight. That said, there are tons of great movies from this summer that didn't get the attention they rightfully deserved, as well as many that most viewers probably dismissed without seeing. Here are the five movies this summer that you might have missed but that are worth checking out (assuming you can still find them, of course).

"Speed Racer"

The Wachowski brothers' Speed Racer is by no means a perfect movie, but given its abysmal box-office showing (just $44 million domestically) and critical drubbing (36% on Rotten Tomatoes), it actually is quite an enjoyable ride. The film's biggest flaw is its unusual subject matter - a $120 million remake of a long-forgotten Japanese anime show isn't exactly the safest bet for a summer blockbuster. If that weren't enough, the flick's abysmal marketing campaign failed to show that Speed Racer is in fact a family film that resembles the Wachowski's Matrix films only in their shared visual audacity.

The movie boasts a star-studded cast, headlined by up-and-comer Emile Hirsch as the eponymous hero of Speed Racer, along with an interesting, if a bit simplistic story involving an evil global corporation trying to fix the sport of racing. The acting and story are fine enough in the film, but no one goes to see a Wachowski production for the dialogue. It is the action that is the driving force of the film, and in this regard the movie does not disappoint. If The Matrix drew inspiration from Japanese anime, here the Wachowski brothers go one step further, creating a film that is a living, breathing live-action anime. Admittedly, the movie suffers from a bloated running time, but overall Speed Racer is a drive worth taking.

"Tell No One"

It's no surprise Tell No One failed to make much noise at the box office; after all it is a French film, and American audiences are notoriously lazy about the little difficulty of having to read subtitles. But those who bravely put in the great effort of actually reading at the movies likely found one of the smartest, most suspenseful thrillers to come around in years. Tell No One chronicles the mysterious death and subsequent reemergence of the wife of the wealthy Dr. Alex Beck. Supposedly killed eight years prior to the beginning of the story, Margot Beck's possible reappearance sparks a mystery that manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the movie. It is the sort of film Hollywood has seemingly forgotten how to make, with only the Bourne series halfway resembling the mystery thriller genre that was popularized by Hitchcock years ago. In fact, with its suspenseful story and brilliant but muted characters, Tell No One is like a slice of Hitchcock mixed into the modern world. Thrilling, thoughtful and with a twist ending that will leave your head spinning, Tell No One is a brilliant piece of modern noir and should not be missed.

"Transsiberian"

Directed by Brad Anderson, who also helmed the equally underappreciated Christian Bale vehicle The Machinist, the film is the story of a couple, played beautifully by Emily Mortimer and Woody Harrelson, who decide to go on a vacation on the Transsiberian Railroad. Deep in the cold of Russia, trouble arises when a mysterious couple joins the train mid-trip amidst swirling rumors of drug trade aboard the Transsiberian. With a terrific supporting role for Ben Kingsley as a Russian drug enforcement official, Transsiberian manages to combine equal-part suspense with a brilliant character piece centering on Mortimer's character. Though Mortimer has proven her acting chops before in films like Lars and the Real Girl and Match Point, she has never before been given a role so perfectly suited to her talents. Mortimer is simply brilliant in the role, giving the character a subtle depth which is fascinating to watch. All in all, Transsiberian is a terrific film you won't want to miss.

"The Visitor"

The Visitor is the second feature from writer-director Thomas McCarthy and stars Richard Jenkins as the film's protagonist, Professor Walter Vale. Walter sleepwalks through his work, unable to recover from the loss of his wife to illness years earlier. He lives in a small town in Connecticut but is called back to New York for a conference at which he has been asked to give a talk. Upon entering his long-abandoned New York City apartment, Walter finds two illegal immigrants squatting there. What follows from this point is a powerful condemnation of our country's immigration policy, a celebration of the power of music and finally, a brilliant and funny exploration of a character. With a wonderfully subdued performance by Jenkins supported by a smart and funny script, The Visitor is an absolute treat, one that deserves (but likely won't receive) significant year-end award attention. Simply put, this is one of the best films of the year thus far.

"The Wackness"

When I went to see The Wackness, I was disheartened to find I was practically the only person under the age of 30 at the theater. If ever there was a movie meant for those younger than 30, it's this one. The film is on the one hand a typical coming-of-age story, but it also is an ode to New York City in the summer of 1994 and the music that shaped it. Simply put, if you are at all a fan of old-school hip hop, from A Tribe Called Quest to Notorious B.I.G., you owe it to yourself to see this movie. That's not to say you need to be a hip hop fan to enjoy this movie, as the film features a stellar cast, highlighted by Josh Peck as the lead character Luke, who pays his shrink and only friend Dr. Squires (Ben Kingsley) for therapy with the marijuana Luke deals as a summer job. Also featuring Olivia Thirlby, Mary Kate Olson and Method Man, The Wackness is a fun (if at times a bit conventional) coming-of-age story that more than makes up for any of its shortcomings with tons of style.