Indie Film Release Guide: February 16th [An ONTD Original]
This weekend’s biggest new releases opened early on Valentine's Day, with Sony inviting theatergoers to get caught up in Madame Web, and Paramount bringing Bob Marley: One Love to the big screen. As always, there are plenty of other new releases, including the annual Oscar Nominated Short Film showcases, so read on for more information on those.
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: February 9th, February 2nd, and January 26th.
This is Me… Now
Click to viewStars: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Sofía Vergara, Jane Fonda
Writer: Jennifer Lopez, Dave Walton
Director: Dave Meyers
Genre: Music
Plot: Coinciding with the release of her album of the same name, this narrative-driven odyssey tells the story of Jennifer Lopez's journey to love through her own eyes.
What you should know: The film is 65 minutes long, and is dropping on the same day as her album of the same name.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Land of Bad
Stars: Russell Crowe, Milo Ventimiglia, Liam Hemsworth, Ricky Whittle
Writer: William Eubank, David Frigerio
Director: William Eubank
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: When a Delta Force team is ambushed in enemy territory, their only hope lies with an Air Force drone pilot to guide them through a brutal 48-hour battle for survival.
What you should know: Two of the Brothers Hemworth - Liam and Luke - appear in this film.
Where to watch: In theaters
Bleeding Love
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Clara McGregor, Jake Weary, Kim Zimmer
Writer: Vera Bulder, Ruby Caster, Elle Malan
Director: Emma Westenberg
Genre: Drama
Plot: A father takes his estranged daughter on a road trip in an effort to get her out of trouble. Along the way they meet all types of strangers, as their strained relationship is put to the test.
What you should know: Premiered at SXSW 2023 under its former title, You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder.
Where to watch: In theaters
Monolith
Stars: Lily Sullivan, Ling Cooper Tang, Ansuya Nathan, Erik Thomson
Writer: Lucy Campbell
Director: Matt Vesely
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Plot: A headstrong journalist whose investigative podcast uncovers a strange artifact, an alien conspiracy, and the lies at the heart of her own story.
What you should know: Filmed in Australia.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
No Way Up
Stars: Phyllis Logan, Colm Meaney, Will Attenborough, James Carroll Jordan
Writer: Andy Mayson
Director: Claudio Fäh
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Plot: Strangers are thrown together when the plane they're traveling on crashes into the Pacific Ocean. A nightmare fight for survival ensues with the air supply running out and dangers creeping in from all sides.
What you should know: Director Claudio Fäh’s last film was 2017’s Sniper: Ultimate Kill.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available on demand
Players
Stars: Gina Rodriguez, Tom Ellis, Damon Wayans Jr., Liza Koshy
Writer: Whit Anderson
Director: Trish Sie
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: New York sportswriter Mack has spent years devising successful hook-up "plays" with her friends, but when she unexpectedly falls for one of her targets, she must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.
What you should know: Gina Rodriguez's real life husband, Joe LoCicero, makes a cameo as a bartender.
Where to watch: Netflix
Adam the First
Stars: David Duchovny, Oakes Fegley, Larry Pine, T.R. Knight
Writer/Director: Irving Franco
Genre: Drama
Plot: Adam, a 14-year-old boy travels across the country to meet a series of men who could be his father after finding a letter with a list of names and addresses.
What you should know: Writer/director Irving Franco was also the film’s composer.
Where to watch: In theaters
Lights Out
Stars: Dermot Mulroney, Scott Adkins, Jaime King, Frank Grillo
Writer: Chad Law, Gary Charles, Brandon Burrow
Director: Christian Sesma
Genre: Action, Thriller
Plot: A drifting ex-soldier turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con, pitting them both against a crime boss, corrupt cops and hired killers.
What you should know: Self-taught director Christian Sesma made his first feature in 2006.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Amélie (Rerelease)
Stars: Audrey Tatou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Writer: Guillaume Laurant, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.
What you should know: First released in 2001, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards, but walked away empty-handed.
Where to watch: In theaters
Oscar Nominated Shorts
You can watch this video on www.livejournal.com
Live Action Shorts
The After: A powerful and affecting story that follows Dayo (David Oyelowo), a Londoner who has to reconnect with himself and society after witnessing a devastating random attack in the capital. Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham, 18 min., UK (in English)
Red, White and Blue: Rachel (Brittany Snow) is a single parent living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected pregnancy threatens to unravel her already precarious position, she’s forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion. As Rachel contemplates the series of events that necessitated this journey and the obstacles placed in her path, we learn a heartbreaking truth that means her life will never be the same again. Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane, 23 min., USA (in English)
Knight of Fortune: The loss of a loved one, the grief, the risk of yellow skin, and a coffin, that is too much for Karl to face. Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk, 25 min., Denmark (in Swedish/Danish)
Invincible: Inspired by a true story, the film recounts the last 48 hours in the life of Marc-Antoine Bernier, a 14-year-old boy on a desperate quest for freedom. - Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron, 29 min., Canada (in French)
The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar: A beloved Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling. Wes Anderson and Steven Rales, 40 min., US/UK (in English)
Documentary Shorts
Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó - Nǎi Nai is my grandma. Wài Pó is also my grandma. Together, they are a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away. Sean Wang and Sam Davis, 17 min., USA (in Mandarin)
The Barber of Little Rock - Explores America’s widening racial wealth gap through the story of Arlo Washington, a local barber whose visionary approach to a just economy can be found in the mission of People Trust, the non profit community bank he founded. John Hoffman and Christine Turner, 35 min., USA (in English)
Island in Between - From Taiwan’s frontline amid rising tensions with China, filmmaker S. Leo Chiang weaves lyrical glimpses of local life with his own struggle negotiating ambivalent bonds to Taiwan, China, and the USA. Island in Between explores the uneasy peace in Taiwan, and contemplates its uncertain future. S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien, 20 min., Taiwan (in English/Mandarin)
The ABC’s of Book Banning - Over 2000 books have been removed from school districts in the U.S. The ABC’s of Book Banning follows the human toll the future will pay for depriving children of their right to read and learn about a complex world. Interviews with children and authors shed light on this ongoing dangerous precedent. Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic, 27 min., USA (in English)
The Last Repair Shop - Los Angeles is one of the last American cities to provide free and freely repaired musical instruments to its public schoolchildren. The Last Repair Shop showcases the warehouse where devoted craftspeople keep over 80,000 instruments in good repair. Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers, 39 min., USA (in English)
Animated Shorts
Our Uniform - An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the folds and fabrics of her old uniform. Yegane Moghaddam, 7 min., Iran (in Farsi)
Letter to a Pig - A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity, collective trauma, and the extremes of human nature. Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter, 17 min., France/Israel (in Hebrew)
Pachyderm - As every summer, Louise is entrusted to her grand-parents for a few days of vacation in the country. The green grass of the garden, the swimming in the lake, the fishing with Grandpa, everything seems as sweet as Grandma’s strawberry pies. Yet this year, the snow will fall in summer and a monster will die. Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius, 11 min., USA (in English)
Ninety-Five Senses - An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them. Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess, 13 min., USA (in English)
War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko - Set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers' chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates. Neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move. Whoever wins the game, one thing is for certain: there are no winners in war. Dave Mullins and Brad Booker, 11 min., USA
+ a couple of additional films to round out the program
Where to watch: In theaters
More New Releases
Madame Web (Trailer)
Bob Marley: One Love (Trailer)
New to Streaming
Thanksgiving (Trailer) on Netflix
The Color Purple (Trailer) on Max
Bottoms (Trailer) on Prime
Next Goal Wins (Trailer) on Hulu
Oppenheimer (Trailer) on Peacock
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?