Indie Film Release Guide: April 12th [An ONTD Original]
This week is low on big studio releases, with Universal’s Little being the only new addition to theaters. Luckily, there is no shortage of indies available this week, including two woman-led music dramas, a couple of animated movies, several arthouse foreign language pics, and a One Direction fanfic-turned-film.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia and Disney. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: April 5th, March 29, and March 22nd.
Her Smell
Click to viewStars: Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne, Dan Stevens, Amber Heard
Writer/Director: Alex Ross Perry
Genre: Drama, Music
Plot: A self-destructive punk rocker struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.
What you should know: The director has cited Axl Rose as an inspiration for the film’s main character.
Opens in: Select cities
Teen Spirit
Stars: Elle Fanning, Agnieszka Grochowska, Archie Madekwe, Zlatko Buric
Writer/Director: Max Minghella
Genre: Drama, Music
Plot: Violet is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition.
What you should know: Debuted at TIFF 2018.
Opens in: Select cities
Missing Link
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Fry, Zoe Saldana
Writer/Director: Chris Butler
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Plot: Mr. Link recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost to help find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, this trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend.
What you should know: This is Laika’s first film released with Annapurna, and Annapurna’s first animated film.
Opens in: Wide release
Mary Magdalene
Stars: Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tahar Rahim
Writer: Helen Edmundson, Philippa Goslett
Director: Garth Davis
Genre: Drama
Plot: The story of Mary Magdalene.
What you should know: This is the last film scored by composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.
Opens in: Select cities + available VOD next weekend
After
Stars: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Selma Blair, Josephine Langford, Jennifer Beals
Writer: Susan McMartin
Director: Jenny Gage
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Tessa Young is a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart. Entering her first semester of college, Tessa's guarded world opens up when she meets Hardin Scott, a mysterious and brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself -- and what she wants out of life.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Anna Todd, which was originally a One Direction fanfic on Wattpad.
Opens in: Wide release
Dogman
Stars: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce, Alida Baldari Calabria, Nunzia Schiano
Writer: Ugo Chiti, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso
Director: Matteo Garrone
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A timid dog groomer living in a poor suburb sells cocaine on the side and stays out of trouble, while trying to deal with his unstable, violent acquaintance who is a menace to the whole neighborhood.
What you should know: It’s in Italian.
Opens in: Select cities
Penguin Highway
Stars: Kana Kita, Yû Aoi, Miki Fukui, Megumi Han
Writer: Makoto Ueda
Director: Hiroyasu Ishida
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Plot: A fourth-grader, Aoyama-kun, investigates the mysterious reason behind the sudden appearance of penguins in his village, which is somehow related to a power from a young woman working at a dental clinic.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Tomihiko Morimi
Opens in: Select cities
Sauvage/Wild
Stars: Félix Maritaud, Eric Bernard, Nicolas Dibla, Philippe Ohrel
Writer/Director: Camille Vidal-Naquet
Genre: Drama
Plot: A young street hustler leads a debauched life of turning tricks and taking drugs while longing for love.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Opens in: NYC
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Di qiu zui hou de ye wan)
Stars: Wei Tang, Jue Huang, Sylvia Chang, Hong-Chi Lee
Writer/Director: Gan Bi
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Plot: A man returns to his hometown after a long absence and searches for a woman he has never been able to forget.
What you should know: It’s in Mandarin.
Opens in: NYC
Wild Nights with Emily
Stars: Molly Shannon, Amy Seimetz, Susan Ziegler, Brett Gelman
Writer/Director: Madeleine Olnek
Genre: Comedy, History
Plot: Dramatization of the little known side of the writer Emily Dickinson's life; in particular, her relationship with another woman.
What you should know: Nominated for the SXSW Game Changer Award in 2018.
Opens in: Select cities
Also opening: Hellboy (Trailer), Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (Trailer), Stockholm (Trailer), Crypto (Trailer), William (Trailer), The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (Trailer)
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Gonna see anything soon?