This weekend sees the release of two films that have probably the most unique behind-the-scenes stories of any indie films that have come out this year. There are also a few other films that are receiving strong praise from critics now that we’re in the thick of festival season. Though there are excellent studio films out now (including Captain Phillips, which is also coming out this weekend), these are indie releases you might not want to miss.
ZERO CHARISMA
ZERO CHARISMA is the first narrative film from writer/co-director Andrew Matthews and co-director Katie Graham. It tells the story of Scott (Sam Eidson), an overweight, immature thirty-something nerd whose only measure of control in his life is being the gamemaster of his friends’ weekly role-playing game nights. But when cool hipster Miles (Garrett Graham) joins the game and Scott’s estranged mother returns to his life, Scott’s modicum of authority quickly disappears. I saw Zero Charisma recently and really enjoyed it for its balance of comedic voice without losing its sympathy for the lead character.
ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE
It’s been a long trip to American theaters for All the Boys Love Mandy Lane. Originally shot in 2006 by director Jonathan Levine (who has since directed The Wackness, 50/50, and Warm Bodies) starring a then little-known Amber Heard, this horror film had an international release in several countries but domestic rights bounced from distributor to distributor for a variety of reasons. Now it’s finally getting a release despite lukewarm reviews, but it’s probably worth seeing just because of its unique history.
ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW
Escape From Tomorrow is doubtlessly one of the most controversial films of the year because this horror film was shot secretly by writer/director Randy Moore in Disney World and Disneyland. It’s about a troubled father who seems to be slowly losing his grip on reality while in “the happiest place on earth.” I had the opportunity to speak with star Roy Abramsohn about the movie, and I was really taken with his enthusiasm for the film and the great stories he had about the unique production. It’s definitely a film that man will want to see for those reasons alone.
CBGB
Though CBGB purports to tell the story of New York City’s most beloved alternative music club with famous actors portraying icons of the 1970s punk scene (including Alan Rickman as club owner Hilly Kristal), reviews have been far from kind. Many have focused on the overreliance on “karaoke” performances by stars like Malin Akerman as Debbie Harry and Joel David Moore as Joey Ramone. This is one of those cases when a documentary probably would have been a better choice than a narrative, but I hope some fans of the original punk scene enjoy it.
THE INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MISTER AND PETE
This drama from director George Tillman Jr. (Notorious, Faster) and first time feature writer Michael Starrbury has garnered strong praise for its portrayal of two neglected Brooklyn youths trying to find a way to support themselves when their neglectful parents are taken away and child services loses track of them. The boys disguise their plight as a superhero-like fantasy. It stars some very popular actors, including Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie and Jennifer Hudson.
SNOW QUEEN
I remember during the Disney animation “renaissance” of the early 1990’s anytime Disney released a new animated classic there would be two or three “knock-off” animated versions of the same fairy tale released direct-to-video around the same time. Though Snow Queen isn’t one of them — this Russian animated film was originally released in its home country last year — it does coincide with Disney’s own animated film about the same Hans Christian Anderson story, Frozen, which is being released next month.
Other notable weekend indie, foreign & documentary releases:
BROADWAY IDIOT (Documentary)
GOD LOVES UGANDA (Documentary)
THE INSTITUTE (Documentary)
CASSADAGA
I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK