Indie Film Release Guide: December 9th [An ONTD Original]

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It’s the calm before the storm of the holiday box office. Next weekend brings us the second installment in James Cameron’s Avatar series, but this weekend is decidedly more quiet on the new release front, with the biggest offerings being mainly limited release award contenders like Empire of Light and The Whale.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures.. 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: December 2nd, November 24th, and November 18th.

Empire of Light

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Stars: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones
Writer/Director: Sam Mendes
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: A drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s.
What you should know: The song playing in the trailer is Angel Olsen’s “Go Home”.
Where to watch: In theaters



Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

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Stars: Alisha Weird, Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham
Writer: Dennis Kelly
Director: Matthew Warchus
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Plot: Tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
What you should know: Based on the musical by Tim Minchin, which is based on the book by Roald Dahl.
Where to watch: In select theaters; available on Netflix on Christmas

One Fine Morning

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Stars: Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud, Nicole Garcia
Writer/Director: Mia Hansen-Løve
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Sandra is a widowed young mother raising her daughter on her own, while also caring for her sick father. She’s dealing with the loss of the relationship she once had with her father, while she and her mother and sister fight to get him the care he requires. At the same time, Sandra reconnects with Clément, a friend she hasn’t seen in a while.
What you should know: It’s in French, English and German.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Whale

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Stars: Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins
Writer: Samuel D. Hunter
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Genre: Drama
Plot: A reclusive English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
What you should know: The screenplay is based on the writer’s own play.
Where to watch: In theaters

To The End

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Writer: Robin Blotnick, Rachel Lears
Director: Rachel Lears
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Stopping the climate crisis is a question of political courage, and the clock is ticking. Over three years of turbulence and crisis, four young women fight for a Green New Deal, and ignite a historic shift in U.S. climate politics.
What you should know: Director Rachel Lears also directed 2019’s Knock Down the House.
Where to watch: In theaters

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

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Stars: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman
Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale
Director: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson
Genre: Animation, Drama, Family
Plot: A father's wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.
What you should know: Based on the book by Carlo Collodi, this has long been a passion project for director and writer Guillermo del Toro.
Where to watch: Netflix

It’s a Wonderful Binge

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Stars: Kaitlin Olson, Danny Trejo, Patty Guggenheim, Eduardo Franco
Writer/Director: Jordan VanDina
Genre: Comedy
Plot: This year The Binge happens miraculously on Christmas. Unleashing a new holiday adventure featuring magical storybooks, catchy songs, and more.
What you should know: This is a sequel to 2020’s The Binge.
Where to watch: Hulu

Something From Tiffany’s

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Stars: Zoey Deutch, Ray Nicholson, Kendrick Smith Sampson, Shay Mitchell
Writer: Tamara Chestna
Director: Daryl Wein
Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
Plot: Nothing compares to the magic and excitement of the holidays in New York City, where the streets blaze with lights, windows dazzle and a special box from Tiffany could change the course of a person’s life. Or several lives. Rachel and Gary are happy enough but not quite ready for that big commitment. Ethan and Vanessa, the perfect picture, are just about to make it official. When a simple mix-up of gifts causes all of their paths to cross, it sets off a series of twists and unexpected discoveries that lead them where they’re truly meant to be.
What you should know: Based on the book by Melissa Hill.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Loudmouth

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Writer/Director: Josh Alexander
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Rabble rouser or activist? Opportunist or trailblazer? During his six-decade journey from pastoral prodigy to racial justice firebrand to elder media statesman, the Reverend Al Sharpton has been a polarizing figure on the national stage.
What you should know: This is director Josh Alexander’s first solo directing credit.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD on January 13th

Christmas Bloody Christmas

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Stars: Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Abe Benrubi, Jeff Daniel Phillips
Writer/Director: Joe Begos
Genre: Horror
Plot: It's Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a robotic Santa Clause at a nearby toy store goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she's forced into a battle for survival.
What you should know: Director Joe Begos last directed 2019’s VFW.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Expanding

Spoiler Alert (Trailer)

More New Releases

I am DB Cooper (Trailer)
Detective Knight: Redemption (Trailer)
Blanquita (Trailer)
The Mean One (Trailer)
The Treasure of His Youth: The Photographs of Paolo Di Paolo (Trailer)

New to Streaming

Emancipation (Trailer) on Apple TV+
Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage (Trailer) on Disney+
Emily the Criminal (Trailer) on Netflix
The Night House (Trailer) on Hulu

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?