The good news about this first full September weekend is that there are MANY indie, foreign, and documentary releases that are being released, and most of them look interesting (particularly the documentaries). The bad news is that most of them are debuting in just a single theater, so you might have to wait a bit before you can see them in a theater in your area. However, some of them have a VOD release on the same day, so if you don’t mind watching it in the comfort of your own home (and who doesn’t?), you’re not out of luck!
SALINGER (Documentary)
Nearly every high school student is assigned The Catcher in the Rye in English class, and many remain profoundly affected by the novel. However, it’s well know that its author, J.D. Salinger, wrote only a handful of other works before spending most of his life out of the public eye. Salinger the documentary explores the life of one of the best-selling authors of all time who was only known by his closest friends. The big story here is that the documentary purports that Salinger has new novels and stories set to be released over the next several years — only time will tell about that, I guess!
ADORE
This drama puts a new spin on “awkward” when lifelong middle-aged best friends played by Naomi Watts and Robin Wright fall for each other’s sons and begin secret affairs. Originally titled Two Mothers, the film is bound to be controversial with audiences. As for me, I just wish my mother had a friend who looked like Naomi Watts! After initial strong buzz, the film has received mostly negative recent reviews — mostly focusing on the dialogue.
HELL BABY
From the Reno 911 crew comes this low-budget comedy about a woman who gives birth to, well, a demonic baby. The film is actually made up of various absurd situations in New Orleans involving the baby, exorcisms, and so on. If anything it has to be funnier than Scary Movie 5, right?
WINNIE MANDELA
Though the upcoming Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starring Idris Elba has gotten a lot of praise, sneaking into theaters before it is Winnie Mandela, a biopic about Nelson Mandela’s wife. Winnie is played by Jennifer Hudson and Nelson is played by Terrence Howard, and while Nelson Mandela obviously remains a major figure in history early reviews of Winnie Mandela have not been kind at all.
RED OBSESSION
On the surface, Red Obsession appears to be a documentary about wine. However, Red Obession is actually about the economics of supply and demand and how that can destroy a traditional industry. To be specific, the documentary focuses on the last several years in the Bordeaux wine industry after wine became a fad among newly wealthy people in China. The result? These Chinese millionaires cause wine prices to skyrocket as they buy every bottle they can find. I caught this during the Tribeca Film Festival and have eagerly awaited for someone else I know to see it so we could talk about the implications.
TOUCHY FEELY
This family drama about physical contact made the festival rounds after premiering at Sundance but never really picked up much buzz despite its familiar cast (Rosemarie DeWitt, Allison Janney, Ron Livingston, Scoot McNairy, Ellen Page, and Josh Pais). Director Lynn Shelton’s films are usually very subtle, so if you’ve liked her previous movies like Humpday and You Sister’s Sister you’ll likely enjoy this too.
A TEACHER
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but it seems to me that there’s a new “teacher sleeping with student” scandal in the newspaper every week. A Teacher is a drama about that situation, in which a Texas high school teacher (portrayed by Lindsay Burdge) has an affair with one of her students… causing her life to spin out of control. It’s already available on VOD and various On Demand outlets, though poor reviews might steer you away.
MY FATHER AND THE MAN IN BLACK (Documentary)
This documentary is about a film producer who discovered that his estranged father had a deep friendship and business relationship with his client, the famous country singer/hell-raiser Johnny Cash. Though it is an interesting investigative film, I thought it didn’t focus enough on the main draw here, Johnny Cash, and the “recreations” of real events were awkward. However, fans of Cash and his music will likely enjoy it.
GOOD OL’ FREDA (Documentary)
Just when you thought everything that could have ever been said about the Beatles had been said already, Good Ol’ Freda finds another way to tell the story. The documentary focuses on Freda Kelly, who served as the Beatles’ officially secretary and fan club manager. She remained close friends with the Beatles throughout the band’s existence, bearing witness to all of the legendary moments that defined the band’s history.
FIRE IN THE BLOOD (Documentary)
There have been a number of documentaries about the questionable practices of pharmaceutical companies and others about the early years of the AIDS health crisis (most notably How to Survive a Plague). Fire in the Blood combines both topics and looks at how pharmaceutical companies were slow to develop and release AIDS drugs in the early years of the disease and how people came together to change that. It seems like a thematic tie-in to the upcoming Dallas Buyers Club.
OTHER NOTABLE WEEKEND INDIE, FOREIGN & DOCUMENTARY RELEASES:
POPULAIRE
I AM BREATHING
THE ULTIMATE LIFE
BOUNTY KILLER
SNAKE AND MONGOOSE
BUTCHER BOYS
MISSION PARK
SUGAR
36 SAINTS
AMERICAN MILKSHAKE
IL FUTURO (THE FUTURE)
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