There’s a pretty eclectic selection of films coming to art house cinemas this weekend, but most of them received really positive reviews. So there is good stuff out there for everyone this weekend, including at least one that is expected to factor into the awards race fever, All Is Lost.  Some are only being released in a handful of theaters, but they’re all expected to expand to either more theaters or VOD in the upcoming weeks.

ALL IS LOST

Though it’s gotten rave reviews, All Is Lost, which stars Robert Redford, is not for everyone.  That because it is the story of a man struggling to survive in the ocean after his boat is damaged and, because Redford is the only actor in the entire film, it is almost dialogue-free.  Nonetheless, for those who appreciate acting by expression and body language this film, which was written and directed by Margin Call filmmaker J.C. Chandor, is a masterpiece.  I loved it, although at the same time it’s probably not a film I’ll ever revisit because it won’t be the same experiencing it again.  I hope that makes sense!

HAUNTER

It’s October, so that means more indie horror films!  Haunter was directed by Vincenzo Natali, who has directed a number of other notable horror/thrillers like 2009’s Splice and 1997’s Cube. It’s about the ghost of Lisa Johnson, a teenager (Little Miss Sunshine’s Abigail Breslin) who tries to contact the living in order to save the life of another teenage girl.  It debuted at this year’s SXSW Festival and received generally positive reviews.

PARADISE

Diablo Cody made a name for herself as a screenwriter with Juno and Young Adult, and with Paradise she takes her first try at directing a feature.  Starring Julianne Hough as a young conservative woman named Lamb (oh, symbolism!) who survives a plane crash and begins to question her faith, the cast also includes Nick Offerman, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer, Holly Hunter.  It was actually first released way back in August on DirecTV and the reviews since then haven’t been favorable, especially in comparison to Cody’s previous successes.

CUT TO BLACK

A noir-inspired mystery filmed in black and white, CUT TO BLACK was written, directed, and stars Brooklyn-based filmmaker Dan Eberle as a disgraced cop who is hired to investigate the stalker of a former friend’s daughter.  It won the Audience Award at this year’s Brooklyn Film Festival.  I saw it a few weeks ago, and if you enjoy films that involve layers of mysteries — some of which intertwine and some of which are never revealed in full — you’ll definitely like it.  The movie is opening in New York this weekend, but we’ll have a feature on Cut to Black closer to its December VOD release in all areas.

TWO JACKS

The Huston family remains one of the most famous in cinema history, boasting three Oscar winners (Walter, John, and Anjelica). Two Jacks features two Hustons, Danny (son of John) and real-life nephew Jack (star of Boardwalk Empire) as father and son who are both named Jack Hussar.  Jack Sr. is a famous film director, and Jack Jr. hopes to follow in his footsteps.  It is actually a loose adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s short story Two Hussars with a comedic spin, involving both Hussars falling for the same woman, Diana (Sienna Miller).  Two Jacks was adapted and directed by Bernard Rose (Candyman).

ADVENTURES IN THE SIN BIN

In what sounds to me like a modern spin on the classic 1960 film The Apartment, Adventures in the Sin Bin is about a teenager named Brian who lends his van out to more popular classmates for the sexual exploits.  However, the inexperienced Brian gains a friend who wants him to snap his personal unlucky streak.  The movie was directed by first-time director Billy Federighi and written by first-time feature writer Christopher Storer, and gets a VOD release this weekend as well.

AMERICAN PROMISE (Documentary)

This documentary looks at the fourteen-year experience of two African American families headed by filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson after they enrolled their son in an exclusive Upper East Side Manhattan private school.  It follows their son Idris and best friend Seun from kindergarten through high school graduation in a school that is predominantly white and made up of children whose families are better educated and better connected.  It captured the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and has had strong positive reviews despite some reviewers pointing out a lack of a central statement.

Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:

I’M IN LOVE WITH A CHURCH GIRL

BIG ASS SPIDER!

THE SNITCH CARTEL

FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

THE STREAM

THE HUMAN SCALE

HELLBENDERS

SHAHID