Indie Film Release Guide: June 14th [An ONTD Original]
This weekend brings us two sequels from the big studios. From Sony and Columbia, we have Men in Black: International, and Warner Brothers is releasing a third generation of Shaft. Mindy Kaling’s Late Night expands to wide release this week after doing well in a limited release last weekend, while A24’s gorgeous The Last Black Man in San Francisco expands its release footprint to several more cities this weekend before going wide June 21st.
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: June 7th, May 31st, and May 24th.
The Dead Don’t Die
Click to viewStars: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Chloë Sevigny
Writer/Director: Jim Jarmusch
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Plot: The peaceful town of Centerville finds itself battling a zombie horde as the dead start rising from their graves.
What you should know: The cast includes one Oscar winner and six Oscar nominees.
Opens in: Wide release
Hampstead
Stars: Diane Keaton, Hugh Skinner, Brendan Gleeson, James Norton
Writer: Robert Festinger
Director: Joel Hopkins
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: An American widow finds unexpected love with a man living wild on Hampstead Heath when they take on the developers who want to destroy his home.
What you should know: Inspired by the true story of the Hampstead Hermit.
Opens in: Select cities & VOD
5B
Director: Paul Haggis, Dan Krauss
Genre: Documentary
Plot: At the heart of the HIV/AIDs epidemic, a single number and letter designated a ward on the fifth floor of San Francisco General Hospital, the first in the country designed specifically to treat AIDS patients. The unit's nurses' and caregivers' emphasis on humanity and consideration of holistic well-being created a new standard of care in a time of great uncertainty.
What you should know: Premiered at Cannes 2019 and was nominated for the Golden Eye Award.
Opens in: Select cities
Plus One
Stars: Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Ed Begley Jr., Beck Bennett
Writer/Director: Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: In order to survive a summer of wedding fever, longtime single friends, Ben and Alice, agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they've been invited to.
What you should know: Won the audience award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
Opens in: Select cities & VOD
American Woman
Stars: Sienna Miller, Aaron Paul, Christina Hendricks, Sky Ferreira
Writer: Brad Ingelsby
Director: Jake Scott
Genre: Drama
Plot: In rural Pennsylvania, Deb Callahan’s life is forever changed when her teenage daughter mysteriously disappears. Deb is left to raise her young grandson while navigating the trials and tribulations of subsequent years and ultimately to the long-awaited discovery of the truth.
What you should know: Anne Hathaway was originally going to be the lead, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Opens in: Select cities
In the Aisles (In Den Gängen)
Stars: Sandra Hüller, Franz Rogowski, Peter Kurth, Henning Peker
Writer: Clemens Meyer, Thomas Stuber
Director: Thomas Stuber
Genre: Drama
Plot: An affecting and bittersweet glimpse into the shared connections of a motley group of nightshift workers at a big box store, including the reclusive newbie Christian and the charming but mysterious Marion.
What you should know: It’s in German.
Opens in: Select cities
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Stars: Maisa Abd Elhadi, Mohammad Eid, Kamel El Basha, Ishai Golan
Writer: Rami Musa Alayan
Director: Muayad Alayan
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: The affair of a married Palestinian man and a married Israeli woman in Jerusalem takes a dangerous political dimension when they are spotted in the wrong place at the wrong time, leaving them to deal with more than their broken marriages.
What you should know: It’s multilingual - Arabic, Hebrew and English
Opens in: Select cities
Being Frank (fka You Can Choose Your Family)
Stars: Jim Gaffigan, Danielle Campbell, Logan Miller, Anna Gunn
Writer: Glen Lakin
Director: Miranda Bailey
Genre: Comedy
Plot: A normal father's family life is turned upside down when his son discovers he has another family.
What you should know: Though she has directed several documentaries, this is director Miranda Bailey’s first narrative feature film.
Opens in: Select cities
Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo)
Stars: Natalia López, Phil Burgers, Carlos Reygadas, Yago Martínez
Writer/Director: Carlos Reygadas
Genre: Drama
Plot: A family lives in the Mexican countryside raising fighting bulls. Esther is in charge of running the ranch, while her husband Juan, a world-renowned poet, raises and selects the beasts. Although in an open marriage, their relationship begins to crumble when Esther falls in love with an American horsebreaker and Juan is unable to control his jealousy.
What you should know: The lead actor/director and the lead actress are married in real life.
Opens in: Select cities
Killer Unicorn
Stars: Alejandro La Rosa, Dennis Budesheim, Markus Kelle, Monica Garcia Bradley
Writer: José de Álvarez
Director: Drew Bolton
Genre: Horror
Plot: A Brooklyn party boy is excited to go to a huge party event, but the night takes a turn when he is attacked by a stranger. A year later, he gives his social life a second chance, but a man wearing a unicorn mask is killing his friends one by one.
What you should know: The budget was approximately $150,000.
Opens in: Select cities
Also opening: Deep Murder (Trailer), Pause (Trailer), Say My Name (Trailer), Daughter of the Wolf (Trailer), Clinton Road (Trailer), Saving Flora (Trailer)
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What have you been watching this week, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?