Indie Film Release Guide: May 24th [An ONTD Original]
Memorial Day weekend is typically a big one at the box office, but this year is looking to be a little more understated. There are two major studio releases: Warner Bros has Furiosa on tap, while Sony is unleashing another reboot with The Garfield Movie. The rest of the releases are pretty low key, but you can read on for more info 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: May 17th, May 10th, and May 3rd.
Hit Man
Click to viewStars: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Mike Markoff
Writer: Richard Linklater, Glen Powell, Skip Hollandsworth
Director: Richard Linklater
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Plot: A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.
What you should know: Netflix acquired the film for $20 million for release in the United States shortly after screening at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters; available on Netflix June 7th
Atlas
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Gregory James Cohan
Writer: Leo Sardarian, Aron Eli Coleite
Director: Brad Peyton
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Plot: In a bleak-sounding future, an A.I. soldier has determined that the only way to end war is to end humanity.
What you should know: Director Brad Peyton’s last film was 2018’s Rampage.
Where to watch: Netflix
Songs of Earth
Writer/Director: Margreth Olin
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Being connected to nature, what does it mean? Father knows and father shows. The director's father is 84. We follow in his footsteps into the mountain home. Into nature's smallest life and out to grand panoramas, where he grew up.
What you should know: It’s in Norwegian.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Keeper
Stars: Angus Benfield, Shanna Franceschini, Nicholas Asad, Kendall Bryant, Jr.
Writer: George Eshleman, Todd Tavolazzi
Director: Angus Benfield, Kendall Bryant, Jr.
Genre: Drama
Plot: A special group of military veteran hikers help a fellow vet battle depression, PTSD, and suicidal tendencies as he hikes the Appalachian Trail while carrying 363 military name tapes on a mission to prevent veteran suicide.
What you should know: Based on a true story.
Where to watch: In theaters
Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara
Stars: Paolo Pierobon, Fausto Russo Alesi, Barbara Ronchi, Enea Sala
Writer: Marco Bellocchio, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Edoardo Albinati
Director: Marco Bellocchio
Genre: Drama, History
Plot: In 1858, Edgardo Mortara, a young Jewish boy living in Italy, is secretly baptized and forcibly taken from his family by the Pope, to be raised Catholic. His parents’ struggle to free their son becomes part of a larger political battle that pits the papacy against forces of democracy and Italian unification.
What you should know: In a previous attempt to make this film, Oscar Isaac and Mark Rylance were attached.
Where to watch: In theaters
Queen of the Deuce
Writer: Valerie Kontakos, Despina Pavlaki, Christos Asteriou
Director: Valerie Kontakos
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: The unbelievable story of Chelly Wilson, who escaped the Holocaust and built a porn cinema empire in New York City in the 1970s.
What you should know: Valerie Kontakos’ last film was 2015’s Mana.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Solo
Stars: Théodore Pellerin, Félix Maritaud, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Nico Racicot
Writer/Director: Sophie Dupuis
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Follows Simon, who must deal with the disappointment of two impossible loves: a passionate but destructive crush on Oliver and a distant and cold relationship with his mother Claire, who has just moved back in after a 15-year absence.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Where to watch: In theaters
Maestra
Director: Maggie Contreras
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Follows five international women who participate in 'La Maestra', the only competition in the world for female orchestra conductors. Personal stories of survival in this one-of-a-kind event created to break another glass ceiling for women.
What you should know: This is the feature directorial debut of director Maggie Contreras.
Where to watch: In theaters
I Don’t Know Who You Are
Stars: Mark Clennon, Anthony Diaz, Nat Patricia Manuel, Deragh Campbell
Writer: Mark Clennon, Victoria Long, M.H. Murray
Director: M.H. Murray
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: A working class Jamaican immigrant tries to get health care after being assaulted by a stranger.
What you should know: This is director M.H. Murray’s feature film debut.
Where to watch: In theaters
Sight
Stars: Terry Chen, Greg Kinnear, Natasha Mumba, Fionnula Flanagan
Writer: Andrew Hyatt, John Duigan, Buzz McLaughlin
Director: Andrew Hyatt
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Plot: When a blind orphan arrives in his waiting room seeking a miracle, a world-renowned eye surgeon must confront his past-and draw on the resilience he gained growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution-to try to restore her sight.
What you should know: Distributor Angel Studios was also responsible for 2023’s Sound of Freedom.
Where to watch: In theaters
More New Releases
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Trailer) from Warner Bros
The Garfield Movie (Trailer) from Sony
New to Streaming
Ferrari (Trailer) on Hulu
Dune: Part Two (Trailer) on Max
The Blue Angels (Trailer) on Amazon Prime
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?