We head into the first weekend of October with the typical annual mix of possible “sleeper” hits, possible contenders for indie awards, and, of course, horror films! Though most of your film-loving friends will likely be at the multiplex seeing Gravity this weekend, don’t forget about the excellent indie releases coming out . Most of them are only opening in New York and/or Los Angeles this weekend, but they have plans to expand to other areas of the country soon. As always, if you can’t catch them at this time make sure you note their titles so you can see them once they hit VOD, Netflix, or other streaming services.
A.C.O.D.
The poster for A.C.O.D. (that would be “Adult Child of Divorce”) is reminiscent of Judd Apatow’s The 40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, but this comedy is an indie movie from first-time director Stu Zicherman. Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, Step Brothers) stars as the adult child of divorced parents whom he has been stuck between them in their feud for fifteen years. The film also features comedy favorites like Amy Poehler, Catherine O’Hara, Clark Duke, Jane Lynch and Scott’s Step Brothers co-star Richard Jenkins.
THE DIRTIES
Presented by Kevin Smith, The Dirties is about two geeky best friends who plan on filming a revenge scheme on the high school bullies who torment them. Although one of the friends takes it as a joke, the other is much more serious about it. Despite Smith’s rep as a comedian, this is a drama written, directed, produced, and starring Matthew Johnson, who stars as one of the leads. It won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at this year’s Slamdance, and critics have generally given it a thumbs up.
BAD MILO!
Many are calling Bad Milo a throwback to horror/comedies like Gremlins, and much of that probably has to do with the basketball-sized demon Milo. Think Gizmo but with a mean streak. The demon just happens to be the cause of a poor guy’s misery, and once it is unleashed he tries to pacify it by treating it like a pet. That definitely has potential, right?
ALL IS BRIGHT
I caught this Paul Giamatti/Paul Rudd dramedy during the Tribeca Film Festival when it was under the title Almost Christmas. It’s about two con men who decide to try and make money by selling Christmas trees in Brooklyn during the holiday season despite having a very awkward relationship. I thought it had some good parts, but certainly isn’t in the same league as director Phil Morrison’s last film, 2005’s Junebug.
NOTHING LEFT TO FEAR
This can’t be the first horror film to use “Let Us Prey” as its tagline, can it? Regardless, this horror movie is about an unstable priest who makes a family’s life a living hell. It’s the first film from both writer Jonathan W.C. Mills and director Anthony Leonardi III, though both have had many other roles in the film industry behind the scenes. If you don’t catch it in theaters, don’t worry too much — it’s set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 8.
ARGENTO’S DRACULA 3D
Though it might be one of the worst-reviewed films of the year, Dracula 3D (from veteran Italian filmmaker Dario Argento) will likely thrill those who love schlocky horror. It’s definitely not the type of indie release that most indie fans are looking for.
CONCUSSION
Getting smacked in the head and developing another personality is usually material for Warner Bros. cartoons and cheesy sitcoms, but Concussion takes a serious look at a woman whose personality changes after suffering a concussion. The drama won awards at the Berlin International Film Festival and the San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival for first-time director Stacie Passon, and buzz has been very positive.
LINSANITY (Documentary)
Fans of professional basketball will probably remember the brief period when Jeremy Lin, a player nobody wanted, became a popular media sensation by becoming an instrumental part in a streak of success in early 2012 with the New York Knicks. Though his subsequent season in Houston hasn’t been the same, there’s no question that this Asian-American athlete tore down stereotypes over ethnicity in the NBA. Though it might be a bit early to start analyzing Lin’s long-term impact on the game, there’s a lot to be said about Lin’s role in sports history.
THE SUMMIT (Documentary)
Not many of us can say we’re mountain climbers, and even fewer can say they’ve climbed the deadliest peaks in the world. But K2 is the world’s toughest climb by many who have. The Summit explores the circumstances surrounding the deadliest day in the history of K2 expeditions, which lead to the deaths of 11 climbers. This harrowing documentary is definitely not for the faint of heart.
BABYGIRL
I saw Babygirl way back at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival, and I was pleasantly surprised. While the film certainly fits the title — Babygirl is about fifteen-year old Lena, a Bronx daughter of a single mother, and her struggles with love and friendship — I didn’t expect to be as engrossed by the family drama as I ended up being. It’s especially surprising because though this film is about characters in the Bronx, it was directed by Irish director Macdara Vallely — proving that a good director can make a story work, no matter how foreign. I definitely recommend it if it comes to your area, though this weekend it is only opening at Quad Cinema in New York.
Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:
PULLING STRINGS
GRACE UNPLUGGED
FIVE DANCES
VIKINGDOM
MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU
A.K.A. DOC POMUS (Documentary)