Indie Film Release Guide: July 12th [An ONTD Original]
The two big releases this week from major studios are Stuber, the Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista-starring comedy from 20th Century Fox, and Paramount’s gator-centric Crawl. I expect that neither one will put a big dent in the box office, as they both have strong competition in the Toy Story and Spider-Man sequels already out in theaters. The indie features below won’t make much of a splash at the box office either, since none of them are in wide release yet, but the people behind The Farewell know a good first impression is important:
#TheFarewell starts its theatrical rollout this week in LA/NY. For everyone else - don’t worry, we’re coming! The performance of this 1st weekend directly determines how many other cities we expand to, so send your LA/NY friends to help THEM help YOU. ♥️ https://t.co/IjVXHgrwE1
- Lulu Wang (@thumbelulu) July 11, 2019
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia 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: July 5th, June 28th, and June 21st.
The Farewell
Click to viewStars: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Gil Perez-Abraham
Writer/Director: Lulu Wang
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.
What you should know: This is A24’s first PG rated film.
Opens in: NYC & LA; expands starting next week
The Art of Self-Defense
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots, Steve Terada
Writer/Director: Riley Stearns
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Plot: A man is attacked at random on the street. He enlists at a local dojo, led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei, in an effort to learn how to defend himself.
What you should know: The film was shot in Kentucky.
Opens in: Select cities
Sword of Trust
Stars: Marc Maron, Jon Bass, Michaela Watkins, Jillian Bell
Writer: Lynn Shelton, Mike O’Brien
Director: Lynn Shelton
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Cynthia and Mary show up to collect Cynthia's inheritance from her deceased grandfather, but the only item she receives is an antique sword that was believed by her grandfather to be proof that the South won the Civil War.
What you should know: IFC Films scooped the film up after its premiere at SXSW.
Opens in: Select cities and VOD
Ray & Liz
Stars: Richard Ashton, Jamie-Lee Beecher, Michelle Bonnard, Sam Dodd
Writer/Director: Richard Billingham
Genre: Drama
Plot: Photographer Richard Billingham returns to the squalid council flat outside of Birmingham where he and his brother were raised, in a confrontation and reconciliation with parents Ray and Liz.
What you should know: The film was nominated for this year’s BAFTA awards.
Opens in: Select cities
Firecrackers
Stars: Michaela Kurimsky, Karena Evans, Callum Thompson, David Kingston
Writer/Director: Jasmin Mozaffari
Genre: Drama
Plot: Two young women are desperate to escape their repressive small town, but a night of bad decisions threatens their dreams of freedom -- and their friendship.
What you should know: This is director Jasmin Mozaffari’s feature debut.
Opens in: NYC
Rojo
Stars: Claudio Martínez Bel, Mara Bestelli, Alfredo Castro, Rudy Chernicoff
Writer/Director: Benjamín Naishtat
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Plot: A successful lawyer’s picture-perfect life begins to unravel when a private detective comes to his seemingly quiet small town and starts asking questions.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish.
Opens in: Select cities
Lying and Stealing
Stars: Theo James, Emily Ratajkowski, Fred Melamed, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Writer: Matt Aselton, Adam Nagata
Director: Matt Aselton
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: Hoping to leave his criminal lifestyle behind him, a successful art thief teams up with a sexy con woman to pull off the ultimate heist and set himself free.
What you should know: This is the first film role for Theo James since critically maligned London Fields.
Opens in: Select cities and via DirecTV
Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable
Director: Aaron Lieber
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Bethany Hamilton lost her arm to a tiger shark at age 13, but this didn't stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a professional surfer. However, it wasn't only the competition that fueled her desire to stay in the big blue, but her love for the ocean. Not only has she conquered the giant walls but also the journey of being a mother--all with only one arm.
What you should know: Bethany Hamilton has also written a book about her experience called Soul Surfer.
Opens in: Select cities
Darlin’
Stars: Pollyanna McIntosh, Cooper Andrews, Peyton Wich, Bryan Batt
Writer: Jack Ketchum, Pollyanna McIntosh, Lucky McKee
Director: Pollyanna McIntosh
Genre: Horror
Plot: A feral teenage girl is taken into strict Catholic church care and prepared for her First Holy Communion.
What you should know: This film is a sequel to 2011’s The Woman.
Opens in: Select cities and VOD
One Bedroom
Stars: Stephen Hills, Darien Sills-Evans, DeAriesha Mack, Jade Johnson
Writer/Director: Darien Sills-Evans
Genre: Comedy
Plot: After five years of ups and downs, an African American couple spends their final afternoon together arguing and remembering better days, as one of them moves out and hopefully on with her life.
What you should know: Filmed in Brooklyn, NY.
Opens in: Select cities
Also opening: Super 30 (Trailer), Sea of Shadows (Trailer), Trespassers (Trailer), Armstrong (Trailer), Summer Night (Trailer), Saving Zoë (Trailer)
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What's everyone been watching lately? Planning to see anything this weekend?