Indie Film Release Guide: February 28th [An ONTD Original]

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February’s releases from major studios continue at a snail’s pace, with Universal bringing The Invisible Man to theaters unopposed by any major new competition. Past indie releases Emma. and Portrait of a Lady on Fire both expand to more theaters and cities this weekend, so check your local listings!

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony 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: February 21st, February 14th, and February 7th.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

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Stars: Felecia Angelle, Christopher Bevins, Johnny Yong Bosch, Justin Briner
Writer: Yôsuke Kuroda
Director: Kenji Nagasaki
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
Plot: A group of youths aspiring to become professional superheroes, fight in a world full of people with abilities, also known as quirks. Deku and his fellow classmates from Hero Academy face Nine, the strongest villain yet.
What you should know: This is the second film from this series.
Opens in: Wide release



Disappearance at Clifton Hill

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Stars: Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross, Marie-Josée Croze, Eric Johnson
Writer: James Schultz, Albert Shin
Director: Albert Shin
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Plot: Follows a troubled young woman returning to her hometown of Niagara Falls, where the memory of a long-ago kidnapping quickly ensnares her.
What you should know: Director David Cronenberg is an actor in this film.
Opens in: Select cities, and available VOD.

Saint Frances

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Stars: Kelly O'Sullivan, Charin Alvarez, Braden Crothers, Laura T. Fisher
Writer: Kelly O’Sullivan
Director: Alex Thompson
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the six-year old she's charged with protecting.
What you should know: This is director Alex Thompson’s first feature film.
Opens in: Select cities

The Jesus Rolls

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Stars: John Turturro, Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, Susan Sarandon
Writer: John Turturro, based on stories and characters by Bertrand Blier and characters by Joel and Ethan Coen
Director: John Turturro
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Plot: Hours after being released from prison, Jesus Quintana pairs up with fellow misfits Petey and Marie, and embark on a freewheeling joyride of petty crime and romance.
What you should know: This is a spinoff of The Big Lebowski, but the only involvement from the Coens was granting Turturro permission to use his character from the film.
Opens in: Select cities, and available VOD.

Burden

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Stars: Andrea Riseborough, Garrett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Usher Raymond
Writer/Director: Andrew Heckler
Genre: Drama
Plot: When a museum celebrating the Ku Klux Klan opens in a South Carolina town, the idealistic Reverend Kennedy strives to keep the peace even as he urges the group's Grand Dragon to disavow his racist past.
What you should know: This is Andrew Heckler’s directorial debut.
Opens in: Select cities

Wendy

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Stars: Yashua Mack, Devin France, Gage Naquin, Gavin Naquin
Writer: Benh Zeitlin, Eliza Zeitlin
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Plot: Lost on a mysterious island where aging and time have come unglued, Wendy must fight to save her family, her freedom, and the joyous spirit of youth from the deadly peril of growing up.
What you should know: Shot in Montserrat on 16mm film.
Opens in: Select cities

The Whistlers

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Stars: Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon, Rodica Lazar, Agustí Villaronga
Writer/Director: Corneliu Porumboiu
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Plot: Not everything is as it seems for Cristi, a policeman who plays both sides of the law. Embarking with the beautiful Gilda on a high-stakes heist, both will have to navigate the twists and turns of corruption, treachery and deception.
What you should know: It’s in Romanian, English and Spanish
Opens in: Select cities

Greed

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Stars: Steve Coogan, Isla Fisher, Shirley Henderson, Asa Butterfield
Writer: Michael Winterbottom, Sean Gray
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Satire about the world of the super-rich.
What you should know: Sacha Baron Cohen was originally set to play the lead.
Opens in: Select cities

Straight Up

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Stars: Katie Findlay, James Sweeney, James Scully, Tracie Thoms
Writer/Director: James Sweeney
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Plot: Todd and Rory are intellectual soul mates. He might be gay. She might not care. A romantic-comedy drama with a twist; a love story without the thrill of copulation.
What you should know: The lead actor is also the writer/director.
Opens in: Select cities

Guns Akimbo

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Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Rhys Darby, Ned Dennehy
Writer/Director: Jason Lei Howden
Genre: Action, Comedy
Plot: A guy relies on his newly-acquired gladiator skills to save his ex-girlfriend from kidnappers.
What you should know: The director’s most recent film was 2015’s Deathgasm.
Opens in: Select cities

Also opening: Thappad (Trailer), Blood on Her Name (Trailer), Lost in America (Trailer), Tread (Trailer), Art Paul of Playboy: The Man Behind the Bunny (Trailer), Ik Sandhu Hunda Si (Trailer)

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