Indie Film Release Guide: October 22nd [An ONTD Original]
After pandemic delays, release strategy controversies, and Buzzfeed BFF quizzes, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune finally opens in theaters this weekend. And like all other Warner Bros releases for the year, it will also have a simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max for those who aren’t up to returning to theaters just yet. The other big studio release of the weekend is Ron’s Gone Wrong, an animated endeavor from 20th Century Studios. The rest of this weekend’s releases are of an indie persuasion, with many of them listed below - read on for more info.
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: October 15th, October 8th, and October 1st.
The French Dispatch
Click to viewStars: Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright
Writer: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness
Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch Magazine".
What you should know: This is the third film featuring both Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan; they previously co-starred in Little Women and Lady Bird.
Where to watch: In select theaters; everywhere on October 29th
The Harder They Fall
Stars: Idris Elba, Jonathan Majors, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield
Writer: Jeymes Samuel, Boaz Yakin
Director: Jeymes Samuel
Genre: Drama, Western
Plot: When an outlaw discovers his enemy is being released from prison, he reunites his gang to seek revenge.
What you should know: Nat Love was a real cowboy in the old west, and he wrote an autobiography called The Life and Adventures of Nat Love: A True History of Slavery Days. It was published in 1907.
Where to watch: In theaters; on Netflix November 3rd
Becoming Cousteau
Writer: Mark Monroe, Pax Wasserman
Director: Liz Garbus
Genre: Documentary, Adventure, Biography
Storyline: A look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, featuring an archive of his newly restored footage.
What you should know: Jacques Cousteau won three Oscars in his lifetime.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Taiki Waititi, Aimee Lou Wood
Writer: Simon Stephenson, Will Sharpe
Director: Will Sharpe
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings.
What you should know: Olivia Colman does the narration for the film.
Where to watch: In theaters; on Amazon Prime November 5th
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Stars: Harry Shum, Jr., Kelley Mack, Chris Sullivan, Anthony E. Cabral
Writer: Phil Drinkwater, Tim Goodall
Director: Jacob Gentry
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror
Plot: In the late 90s, a video archivist unearths a series of sinister pirate broadcasts and becomes obsessed with uncovering the dark conspiracy behind them.
What you should know: Premiered at SXSW 2021.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
De Gaulle
Stars: Lambert Wilson, Isabelle Carré, Olivier Gourmet, Catherine Mouchet
Writer: Gabriel Le Bomin, Valérie Ranson-Enguiale
Director: Gabriel Le Bomin
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: Paris, June 1940. The de Gaulle couple is confronted with the military and political collapse of France. Charles de Gaulle joins London while Yvonne, his wife, finds herself with her three children on the road of the exodus.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
The Estate
Stars: Chris Baker, Greg Finley, Eliza Coupe, Rocío de la Grana
Writer: Chris Baker
Director: James Kapner
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Plot: When the spoiled son and newest wife of a billionaire patriarch plot to murder him, they form a psycho-sexual bond with their brutally handsome hitman as they kill and kill (and kill) in their quest for wealth and recognition.
What you should know: This is director James Kapner’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers
Director: Mary Wharton
Genre: Documentary, Music
Storyline: Drawn from an archive of 16mm film, Tom Petty works on his 1994 album Wildflowers.
What you should know: Director Mary Wharton has specialized in music documentaries, directing several films as well as episodes of VH1’s Behind the Music.
Where to watch: In select theaters; on YouTube later this year
Minyan
Stars: Alex Hurt, Mark Margolis, Samuel H. Levine, Zane Pais
Writer: Daniel Pearle, Eric Steel
Director: Eric Steel
Genre: Drama
Plot: A young Jewish man is caught between thrilling private trysts and his repressive family in this thoughtful drama set in 1980s Brooklyn.
What you should know: Based on the short story by David Bezmozgis
Where to watch: In theaters
Night Teeth
Stars: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raúl Castillo
Writer: Brent Dillon
Director: Adam Randall
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Plot: A college student moonlighting as a chauffeur picks up two mysterious women for a night of party-hopping across LA. But when he uncovers their bloodthirsty intentions - and their dangerous, shadowy underworld - he must fight to stay alive.
What you should know: Megan Fox and Sydney Sweeney filmed for one night.
Where to watch: Netflix
Also Opening
Dune (Trailer) from Warner Bros
Ron’s Gone Wrong (Trailer) from 20th Century Studios
Every Last One of Them (Trailer)
Labyrinth of Cinema (Trailer)
At the Ready (Trailer)
Warning (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Dream Horse (Trailer) on Hulu
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (Trailer) on HBO Max
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?