Indie Film Release Guide: August 4th [An ONTD Original]

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It’s the third weekend of release for Barbie and Oppenheimer, and both of them are still doing fantastically well at the box office. This weekend’s challengers are animal-forward, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem from Paramount, and Meg 2: The Trench from Warner Bros. Neither film is expected to top Barbie, though Oppenheimer will likely drop from the second spot.

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: July 28th, July 21st, and July 14th.

Passages

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Stars: Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Erwan Kepoa Falé
Writer: Mauricio Zacharias, Ira Sachs, Arlette Langmann
Director: Ira Sachs
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: A gay couple's marriage is thrown into crisis when one of them impulsively begins a passionate affair with a young woman.
What you should know: Nominated for a couple of awards at the 2023 Berlinale.
Where to watch: In theaters



Shortcomings

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Stars: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Tavi Gevinson
Writer: Adrian Tomine
Director: Randall Park
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: A trio of young Bay Area urbanites--Ben Tanaka, Miko Hayashi, and Alice Kim--as they navigate a range of interpersonal relationships, traversing the country in search of the ideal connection.
What you should know: Nominated for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2023.
Where to watch: In theaters

Brother

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Stars: Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre, Kiana Madeira, Marsha Stephanie Blake
Writer: David Chariandy, Clement Virgo
Director: Clement Virgo
Genre: Drama
Plot: Sons of Caribbean immigrants, Francis and Michael face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto's early hip-hop scene.
What you should know: Based on the novel by David Chariandy.
Where to watch: In theaters

Lola

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Stars: Stefanie Martini, Emma Appleton, Rory Fleck Byrne, Hugh O’Conor
Writer: Andrew Legge, Angeli Macfarlane
Director: Andrew Legge
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, War
Plot: In 1941 England, two sisters invent a machine that intercepts broadcasts from the future. With World War II dawning, they use it to change history.
What you should know: This is director Andrew Legge’s debut feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters

Klondike

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Stars: Oksana Cherkashyna, Sergey Shadrin, Oleg Shcherbina, Oleg Shevchuk
Writer/Director: Maryna Er Gorbach
Genre: Drama, War
Plot: The story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Ukraine-Russia during the start of the war. The pregnant Irka refuses to leave her house, even shortly after the family find themselves at the center of an international air crash catastrophe.
What you should know: Official submission of Ukraine for the Best International Feature Film category of the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.
Where to watch: In theaters

Our Body

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Director: Claire Simon
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Follows doctors and patients at a gynecology ward in France.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Where to watch: In theaters

What Goes Around

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Stars: Summer Phoenix, Grace Van Dien, Kyle Gallner, Jesse Garcia
Writer: Scott Organ
Director: Amy Redford
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: A young love affair becomes a menacing game of cat and mouse where nothing is what it seems.
What you should know: This is director Amy Redford’s first feature since 2008’s The Guitar.
Where to watch: In theaters

A Compassionate Spy

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Director: Steve James
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: A gripping real-life espionage thriller about controversial Manhattan Project physicist Ted Hall, who infamously provided nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union, told through the perspective of his loving wife Joan, who protected his secret for decades.
What you should know: Director Steve James has directed many documentaries for film and television.
Where to watch: In theaters

Dreamin’ Wild

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Stars: Walton Goggins, Casey Affleck, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Messina
Writer: Steven Kurutz, Bill Pohlad
Director: Bill Pohlad
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Plot: Musical duo Donnie and Joe Emerson spend everything they have to produce a record in the 1970s.
What you should know: Director Bill Pohlad also directed Love & Mercy.
Where to watch: In theaters

Til Death Do Us Part

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Stars: Cam Gigandet, Jason Patric, Natalie Burn, Orlando Jones
Writer: Chad Law, Shane Dax Taylor
Director: Timothy Woodward, Jr.
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: After bailing on her wedding, a former bride-to-be must fight off her ex-groom and seven angry killer groomsmen in order to survive the night.
What you should know: Writer Shane Dax Taylor was once planning to direct a version of this film starring Gina Carano.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Trailer) from Paramount
Meg 2: The Trench (Trailer) from Warner Bros
Corner Office (Trailer)
The Collective (Trailer)

New to Streaming

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Trailer) on Peacock
Skinamarink (Trailer) on Hulu
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food (Trailer) on Netflix

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