Indie Film Release Guide: August 6th [An ONTD Original]
This weekend’s big studio release is The Suicide Squad. No, not the 2016 Suicide Squad... yes, with several of the same characters, but no, not a remake... also not a direct sequel... nor is it a reboot. If you’re still confused, know that this one doesn't star Jared Leto, so there’s that! In addition to movies about squads of Z-list villains, there are a lot more films coming out this weekend - check out the list below.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony 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: July 30th, July 23rd, and July 16th.
Annette
Click to viewStars: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg, Rila Fukushima
Writer: Ron Mael, Russell Mael
Director: Leos Carax
Genre: Drama, Musical
Plot: A stand-up comedian and his opera singer wife have a 2 year old daughter with a surprising gift.
What you should know: Director Leos Carax won Best Director at Cannes 2021.
Where to watch: In select theaters; available on Amazon Prime August 20th
John and the Hole
Stars: Charlie Shotwell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, Taissa Farmiga
Writer: Nicolás Giacobone
Director: Pascual Sisto
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: A desperate game of survival unfolds after 13 year old John traps his family in a hole in the ground in this unsettling psychological thriller.
What you should know: This is director Pascual Sisto’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In select theaters, and available VOD
Swan Song
Stars: Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie
Writer/Director: Todd Stephens
Genre: Drama
Plot: A formerly flamboyant hairdresser takes a long walk across a small town to style a dead woman's hair.
What you should know: This is writer/director Todd Stephens’ first feature film in over a decade.
Where to watch: In select theaters; available on demand August 13th
Whirlybird
Writer: Andrea James
Director: Matt Yoka
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Set in 80s and 90s Los Angeles, a couple revolutionized breaking news with their brazen helicopter reporting. Culled from the duo's video archive is an L.A. story of a family in turbulence hovering over a city unhinged.
What you should know: Katy Tur, a daughter of the couple featured in the documentary, is currently a reporter for MSNBC.
Where to watch: In select theaters, and available VOD.
Vivo
Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Juan de Marcos Gonzáles, Zoe Saldana, Ynairaly Simo
Writer: Peter Barsocchini, Kirk DeMicco, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Director: Kirk DeMicco, Brandon Jeffords
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Plot: An animated musical adventure that follows Vivo, a one-of-kind kinkajou (aka a rainforest “honey bear”), who must deliver a song on behalf of his beloved owner and mentor Andres before it's too late.
What you should know: Started out as a DreamWorks project before it went to Sony Animation.
Where to watch: Netflix
Naked Singularity
Stars: John Boyega, Olivia Cooke, Bill Skarsgård, Ed Skrein
Writer: Chase Palmer, David Matthews
Director: Chase Palmer
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Plot: An idealistic young New York City public defender burned out by the system, on the brink of disbarment, and seeing signs of the universe collapsing all around him decides to rob a multi-million drug deal of one of his clients.
What you should know: Based on the book The Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava.
Where to watch: In select theaters; available VOD on August 13th
The Last Matinee
Stars: Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran
Writer: Maximiliano Contenti, Manuel Facal
Director: Maximiliano Contenti
Genre: Horror
Plot: It's a soaking wet day with rain pouring down and one of the best things to do is to go seek refuge in a great old cinema. There's just one problem: a murderer is on the loose and he also has taken refuge there.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD August 24th
What We Left Unfinished
Director: Mariam Ghani
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Thirty years after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent civil war, during a new era of political uncertainty for the embattled nation, the film looks closely at the era of state-funded Afghan filmmaking during the country’s Communist era, bringing together writers, actors, and filmmakers to discuss five unfinished, unedited projects produced from 1978-1991. The studio politics and mishaps that accompany any film’s production here rise to the level of life-and-death conflict, as filmmakers recall coming up against the censorship of an authoritarian government, as well as unceasing threats of violence.
What you should know: This is Mariam Ghani’s first feature documentary.
Where to watch: In theaters
Pray Away
Director: Kristine Stolakis
Genre: Documentary
Plot: Former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions, while a survivor seeks healing and acceptance from more than a decade of trauma.
What you should know: Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at Tribeca 2020.
Where to watch: Netflix, available now
Bring Your Own Brigade
Writer: Lucy Walker, Katherine Montgomery
Director: Lucy Walker
Genre: Documentary
Plot: An investigation into our landscape's hidden fire stories and on-the-ground experiences of firefighters and residents struggling through deadly fires.
What you should know: Director Lucy Walker is a two-time Oscar nominee.
Where to watch: In theaters; streaming August 20th
Also Opening
The Suicide Squad (Trailer)
Infinitum: Subject Unknown (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Val (Trailer) on Amazon Prime
Lucky (Trailer) on Shudder
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?