Indie Film Release Guide: September 17th [An ONTD Original]
This weekend, Clint Eastwood's Cry Macho is the only credible threat to Shang-Chi's box office dominance, and let's just say it's not gonna be close. Most of the other new releases this week are indies in limited release, with several award hopefuls like The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Blue Bayou in the mix.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Studios, 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: September 10th, September 3rd, and August 27th.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Click to viewStars: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Vincent D’Onofrio, Cherry Jones
Writer: Abe Sylvia
Director: Michael Showalter
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: An intimate look at the extraordinary rise, fall and redemption of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.
What you should know: Based on the 2000 documentary of the same name by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
Where to watch: In theaters
Blue Bayou
Stars: Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien, Brad Blanchard
Writer/Director: Justin Chon
Genre: Drama
Plot: As a Korean-American man raised in the Louisiana bayou works hard to make a life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past as he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.
What you should know: Nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes 2021.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Nowhere Inn
Stars: Carrie Brownstein, St. Vincent, Toko Yasuda, Chris Aquilino
Writer: Carrie Brownstein, St. Vincent
Director: Bill Benz
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Horror
Plot: St. Vincent sets out to make a documentary about her music, but when she hires a close friend to direct, notions of reality, identity, and authenticity grow increasingly distorted and bizarre.
What you should know: The companion soundtrack with new music from St. Vincent is being released on the same day.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
I Am Not Alone
Director: Garin Hovannisian
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: On Easter 2018, a man puts on a backpack to walk all over Armenia. His mission is to inspire a velvet revolution which can overthrow the corrupt regime that enjoys absolute power in this post-Soviet nation.
What you should know: Won the Audience Award for Feature Film at AFI Fest 2019.
Where to watch: In theaters
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Writer: Thomas Hamilton, Ron MacCloskey
Director: Thomas Hamilton
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Examines Boris Karloff’s illustrious 60-year career in the entertainment industry and his enduring legacy as one of the icons of 20th century popular culture.
What you should know: Karloff was born in 1887, and died in 1969.
Where to watch: In theaters
Copshop
Stars: Frank Grillo, Gerard Butler, Toby Huss, Alexis Louder
Writer: Kurt McLeod, Joe Carnahan, Mark Williams
Director: Joe Carnahan
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station-but when the hitman turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.
What you should know: This is writer Kurt McLeod’s first credited feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Starling
Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Timothy Olyphant, Skyler Gisondo, Chris O’Dowd
Writer: Matt Harris
Director: Theodore Melfi
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: After Lilly suffers a loss, a combative Starling takes nest beside her quiet home. The feisty bird taunts and attacks the grief-stricken Lilly. On her journey to expel the Starling, she rediscovers her will to live and capacity for love.
What you should know: The script was featured on the 2005 Blacklist.
Where to watch: Netflix
My Son
Stars: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Gary Lewis, Jamie Michie
Writer: Christian Carion, Laure Irrmann
Director: Christian Carion
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Plot: Driving in the heart of the Highlands, Edmond Murray receives a call from his ex-wife, in tears. Their 7-year-old son went missing from a campsite. Soon it becomes clear that the child was kidnapped and the parents give way to despair.
What you should know: James McAvoy wasn’t given a script and had to improvise all of his lines.
Where to watch: Peacock, streaming now
Wife of a Spy
Stars: Yû Aoi, Issey Takahashi, Masahiro Higashide, Ryôta Bandô
Writer: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Tadashi Nohara
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Genre: Drama, History, War
Plot: A Japanese merchant who leaves his wife behind in order to travel to Manchuria, where he witnesses an act of barbarism. His subsequent actions cause misunderstanding, jealousy and legal problems for his wife.
What you should know: It’s in Japanese and English
Where to watch: In theaters
My Name is Pauli Murray
Writer: Talleah Bridges McMahon, Julie Cohen, Cinque Northern, Betsy West
Director: Julie Cohen, Betsy West
Genre: Documentary
Plot: A look at the life and ideas of Pauli Murray, a non-binary Black lawyer, activist and poet who influenced both Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall.
What you should know: Julie Cohen and Betsy West previously directed RBG, a documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Where to watch: In theaters; streaming on Amazon Prime October 1st
Also Opening
Cry Macho (Trailer) from Warner Bros
Prisoners of the Ghostland (Trailer)
Lady of the Manor (Trailer)
Little Girl (Trailer)
Best Sellers (Trailer)
I Love Us (Trailer)
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Trailer) on Amazon Prime
Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are) (Trailer) on Peacock
Nightbooks (Trailer) on Netflix
Source 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
What have you been watching lately, ONTD?