Indie Film Release Guide: December 25th [An ONTD Original]

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As always, the releases on the week of Christmas are fewer in number but bigger in name. Searchlight is releasing the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, Focus is bringing vampires back to theaters with Nosferatu, and A24 is ringing the pavlovian bells of Babygirl. Cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut The Fire Inside premieres for Amazon MGM, while Paramount releases a decidedly different type of music biopic in the Robbie Williams centered Better Man. All will be vying to take audience eyeballs away from last weekend’s wildly successful Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and the decidedly less successful Mufasa.

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 20th, December 13th, and December 6th.

A Complete Unknown

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Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
Writer: James Mangold, Jay Cocks, Elijah Wald
Director: James Mangold
Genre: Drama, Biography, Music
Plot: In 1961, unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City with his guitar. He forges relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates worldwide.
What you should know: All of the actors sang and played live as they filmed.
Where to watch: In theaters



Babygirl

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Stars: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde
Writer/Director: Halina Reijn
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much-younger intern.
What you should know: Nicole Kidman has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this film.
Where to watch: In theaters

Nosferatu

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Stars: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Writer: Robert Eggers, Henrik Galeen, Bram Stoker
Director: Robert Eggers
Genre: Horror
Plot: A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.
What you should know: The exteriors of Orlok's castle were filmed at Hunedoara Castle, also known as Corvin Castle, a Romanian castle located in Transylvania and one of the largest medieval castles extant in Europe.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Fire Inside

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Stars: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Jazmin Headley, Kylee D. Allen
Writer: Barry Jenkins
Director: Rachel Morrison
Genre: Drama, Sport
Plot: The story of Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who trained to become the first woman in her country's history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.
What you should know: Brian Tyree Henry’s role was originally set to be played by Ice Cube.
Where to watch: In theaters

Vermiglio

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Stars: Tommaso Ragno, Roberta Rovelli, Martina Scrinzi, Giuseppe De Domenico
Writer/Director: Maura Delpero
Genre: Drama, History
Plot: 1944, Vermiglio, a remote mountain village. The arrival of Pietro, a deserter, into the family of the local teacher, and his love for the teacher's eldest daughter, will change the course of everyone's life.
What you should know: Submitted by Italy, the film made the shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
Where to watch:

2073

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Stars: Samantha Morton, Naomi Ackie, Hector Hewer
Writer: Asif Kapadia, Tony Grisoni
Director: Asif Kapadia
Genre: Documentary, Thriller
Plot: A time traveler risks his life to change the course of history and save the future of humanity.
What you should know: Inspired by Chris Marker's iconic 1962 featurette La Jetée.
Where to watch: In theaters on Friday

Santosh

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Stars: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Pratibha Awasthy, Shashi Beniwal
Writer/Director: Sandhya Suri
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: Newly widowed Santosh inherits her husband's job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a girl's body is found, she's pulled into the investigation under the wing of charismatic feminist inspector Sharma.
What you should know: Submitted by the United Kingdom, the film made the shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
Where to watch: In theaters on Friday

Major Studio Release

Better Man - Paramount

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Stars: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman
Writer: Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey
Director: Michael Gracey
Genre: Drama, Biography, Music
Plot: Based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time
What you should know: Securing permission to shoot the lavish dance sequence on Regent Street in London took a year and an half as the British royal family owns it. Two nights before filming was scheduled, after spending an entire week in rehearsal, Queen Elizabeth II passed away and the shoot had to be postponed.
Where to watch: In theaters

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