Cinematical

A bit of math tells me that after this weekend, 2008 will be halfway over. But here at The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, we prefer to think that 2008 has only halfway begun. There are still six months left to participate in the many cool film-related events that happen every week outside the nation's multiplexes! If you know of something coming up -- special screenings, retrospectives, mini-festivals, etc. -- send me a link! My e-mail is Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

This week, even if WALL-E is what you've always Wanted, try to make room in your life for these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Gunnin' for That #1 Spot is a doc about the nation's top high school basketball players competing in a tournament -- and the film was directed by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, so you know it's hip. Cinematical's Scott Weinberg gave it a rave review at Tribeca. It opens today in places where basketball is big, just in time for the NBA draft: New York, L.A., Phoenix, Portland, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.

• Finding Amanda stars Matthew Broderick as a TV producer who goes to Las Vegas to convince his niece (Brittany Snow) to enter rehab. Our Erik Davis tried to find something nice to say about it at Tribeca but was unsuccessful. Opens today in NYC, L.A., Chicago, Boston, Philly, D.C., San Francisco, and Palm Desert, Calif.

After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, plus the city-by-city list of special events....

Steve Carell and Mike Myers are going head-to-head at the multiplexes this weekend, but over here at The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar we're more interested in the art houses and independent theaters. If you know of something coming up that ought to be on the calendar -- special screenings, retrospectives, mini-festivals, etc. -- let me know! We're always looking to add new stuff to the list. My e-mail address (or "addy," as the kids say) is Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

So let the other suckers fight over whose big-budget comedy is less funny! Focus your attention on these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Brick Lane, which opens today in New York after playing at a dozen or so film festivals, including Telluride and Toronto, is a British drama about a Bangladeshi woman who moves to London in the 1980s for an arranged marriage. Hilarity ensues?

• Expired is a comedy/drama about a mousy meter maid (Samantha Morton) who has a relationship with a gruff, abusive coworker (Jason Patric). It opens today in New York.

After the jump, our city-by-city round-up of special events and screenings....

The incredible who? M. Night what? This is The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly round-up of cool movie events taking place beyond the multiplexes. We cover things like festivals, retrospectives, and special screenings -- and if you know of something coming up that ought to be on the calendar, let me know! Just point your e-mail thingy at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

Today: You can see Incredible Hulk, which is a biopic of the Jolly Green Giant; or you can see The Happening, which is based on the '70s sitcom What's Happening!!! -- or you can ignore those blatant mistruths and check out some of these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Baghead is proof that the Mumblecore movement has arrived, because it's a spoof of it. Well, a spoof, and a thriller, and a straightforward Mumblecore, and -- well, just watch it. I reviewed it at Sundance earlier this year and liked it quite a bit. It opens today in Austin and will expand in the coming weeks.

• My Winnipeg comes from Guy Maddin, Canada's weirdest filmmaker, and it's sure to be a treat. Created in the style of a documentary about the snowy title city, it was described by Cinematical's Monika Bartyzel as hilarious when it debuted at Toronto last year. It opens today in New York, next week in L.A., and so on until it conquers the world.

After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, and a rundown of events happening all over the country....

Good news, indie fans! With The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, our weekly round-up of screenings and events taking place beyond the multiplex, it doesn't matter whether you mess with the Zohan. Forget those complicated rules regarding what you can and can't mess with, and come bask in the glow of festivals, retrospectives, and special showings. And if you know of something coming up that should be on this list, send me an e-mail at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

Today, you can watch Adam Sandler do a funny voice and make funny faces (he's really stretching as an actor!) on 3,000 screens. Or, in just a few locations, you can check out these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• The Promotion. It's here it's here it's here! You guys, it's finally here! A bunch of us saw this at South By Southwest in March, and since then we've been raving about it pretty much every chance we get. And now it's finally in theaters! And everyone we raved about it to will see it with too-high expectations and be disappointed! So, um, forget everything we said and just see it. It's, you know, kinda funny or whatever. No big deal. Opens today in New York, L.A., and Chicago; expands next week.

• Mongol is an Oscar-nominated biopic covering the early life of the world's most famous Mongol, a fellow by the name of Genghis Khan. (I believe the sequel will be called Mongol II: The Wrath of Khan.) Cinematical's me gave it a very positive review at the Portland International Film Festival a few months back. It opens today in New York and L.A.

After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, plus our city-by-city breakdown of special events.

Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly list of events for movie lovers who want to go beyond the mainstream and the multiplexes. If you know of something cool going on near you -- retrospectives, revivals, film fests, etc. -- send me the info at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com and we'll include it in the calendar.

Today, on about 3,000 screens, you can see a quartet of libidinous, superficial women drink and shop their way through Manhattan. Or, on just a few screens, you can see these...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Savage Grace is a true, tawdry story about a socialite (Julianne Moore) and her weird relationship with her weird son. Cinematical's Kim Voynar reviewed it somewhat favorably at Sundance; Nick Schager is less flattering in his review. (For what it's worth, I'm more on Nick's side on this one. It's icky.) Opens today at the IFC Center and Clearview's 62nd & Broadway in NYC.

• The Foot Fist Way, a low-budget R-rated comedy about a Tae Kwon Do teacher, premiered at Sundance way back in 2006, then might have slipped into oblivion had it not been noticed by Will Ferrell and his collaborator Adam McKay. They've championed the film into getting released, and by all accounts it's a pretty funny movie. Opens today in New York and L.A.; expands in the coming weeks.

(After the jump, more indie theatrical releases, and a city-by-city list of other events....)

I know your mind is probably on a different Indy right now, but won't you spare a moment for The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar? It's our weekly round-up of movie events happening beyond the multiplexes -- and if you know of something that we should include in a future edition (special screenings, retrospectives, mini-festivals, etc.) let me know! Send links or info to Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

First up, four indie films are hitting theaters this week, and none of them have snakes or Nazis.

• Postal is the latest video-game-based film from German attention whore Uwe Boll, whose most recent shenanigans involve declaring his inability to secure wide release for the film a "conspiracy." The film may be atypical, but it's definitely independent. It's opening today in just four theaters, in New York, L.A., Denver, and Austin.
  

• War, Inc. stars John Cusack, who also co-wrote it, and it's a scathing political satire about war profiteers. Most of the reviews so far are negative, including the one from Cinematical's Joel Keller, who really, really hated it. But I note that the critics who liked it really, really liked it. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground here. Opens in New York and L.A. today.

After the jump, two more indie film in theaters, plus our city-by-city list of special events....

Hey campers, it's time for another edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, in which we tell you about the non-blockbuster, non-studio offerings that you can find in theaters this week. In a world where the multiplexes are packed, we proudly say: Chronicles of what now? If you know about something cool happening -- a local festival, repertory films, retrospectives, etc. -- let me know and I'll put it in the calendar! You'll find me at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

First up, we have a few...

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Reprise is a Norwegian film about two friends, both would-be authors, who submit their manuscripts on the same day and go through all the rigors of an artist's life together. Cinematical's James Rocchi lavishes all kinds of praise on it in his review. Opens today in New York and L.A.

• How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer is a comedy about three generations of Mexican-American women enjoying their sexuality (not with each other, gross) one summer. Girl power! Ugly Betty is in it, but the film is from before she became Ugly Betty: It premiered at Sundance in 2005 (!) and is just now finally being released. Opens today all over California, as well as in Chicago, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Amarillo, Phoenix, and Mesa.

After the jump, more theatrical releases, plus our city-by-city rundown of special events taking place this week.

Welcome to another nutritious edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly roundup of what's happening beyond the multiplexes in this great land of ours. If you know of something cool going on where you live -- a small film festival, retrospective, midnight movies, etc. -- let me know! You can find me at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Frontiere(s) is a French horror flick whose history is almost as torturous as its content. It was supposed to be part of the After Dark series last fall, but its NC-17 rating made that impossible due to the contract that the After Dark people had with the theatrical venues. So now it's basically going straight to DVD -- but first it's being deposited in a handful of theaters today in New York, L.A., Denver, Seattle, Philly, Austin, and maybe a few other places. Cinematical's Scott Weinberg gave it a mixed review at Toronto last year.

• The Fall: Remember The Cell, that freaky Jennifer Lopez movie from 2000? I know I do! (I never forget a movie with a vivisected horse.) The director, Tarsem Singh, is back now with The Fall, a visually stunning fable where a man in a hospital tells a little girl a story, and that story is craaaazy. Opens in New York and L.A. today.

More indie releases and a city-by-city list of cool events after the jump....

Today is the semi-official start of the Summer Blockbuster Season, but don't despair! The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar is here to fill you in on cool stuff happening outside the multiplexes in the coming week -- the perfect antidote to mainstream ennui. If you know of something interesting going on near you -- retrospectives, special screenings, etc. -- please let me know! Point your e-mail thingee at Eric.Snider@Weblogsinc.com and I'll put it on the calendar.

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• I don't know if famed critic-hater David Mamet still counts as "independent," but I'm including his new film, Redbelt, here just in case. It's a heady drama about a martial-arts instructor who gets tangled up with a Hollywood film shoot, a misfired policeman's gun, and several other things. ME LIKEY. Opens today on a few screens in New York and L.A.

• Son of Rambow was, hands down, the best film I saw at Sundance last year. It was snatched up by Paramount Vantage, which for some reason sat on it until now. It's a funny, creative, and sweet story about two British kids in the mid-'80s who film their own homemade version of First Blood (aka Rambo I). Cinematical's James Rocchi reviewed it at Sundance 2007 and loved it too, in case my word isn't good enough for you. It's in a few theaters today, with more to come.
  

After the jump, more indie releases in theaters, and a list of special events happening around the country....

Saddle up! It's time for another edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly roundup of movie stuff that's happening beyond the multiplexes. I've got my usual sources that I go to for info on things taking place in some of the major cities, but if you know of a cool event happening where you are, please let me know! You'll find me at Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com. I'll leave the key under the doormat.

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Deal is another gambling movie, this time about the World Series of Poker. It stars Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, and Shannon Elizabeth, and opens today on a few dozen screens nationwide (mostly L.A., NYC, Chicago, and of course Las Vegas).

• Then She Found Me, which has played at seemingly every film festival of the past six months, is the directorial debut of Helen Hunt, who also stars as a woman whose birth mother (Bette Midler) comes into her life just when it's at its most hectic. Cinematical's Ryan Stewart gave it a passing grade at Toronto last fall. It's in NYC and L.A. as of today.

• Roman de Gare comes to us from France, where the title is a term for popular, disposable novels (think John Grisham). Fittingly, the film is being described as a watchable but forgettable story about a mystery novelist who gets wrapped up in a real-life mystery. Opens today in NYC.

More theatrical releases, plus a city-by-city list of special events, after the jump....

Well whaddaya know, it's time for another edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly sampling of some of the non-multiplex options for the savvy moviegoer over the next seven days. If you know of something cool happening -- revivals, small festivals, workshops, whatevs -- I beseech you to send me a link so I can include it on the calendar. I can be found at Eric.Snider@Weblogsinc.com.

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? hits about 100 theaters today after playing at Sundance and South By Southwest, among other festivals. It's Morgan Spurlock's attempt to summarize the War on Terror, and Cinematical's James Rocchi reviewed it favorably at Sundance.

• Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is a documentary about how people who believe in evolution are big meanies who don't understand why "Intelligent Design" (i.e., that God made everything) should be taught in science classes, too. Somehow the teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off is involved. The people distributing the film have been very careful not to let any critics see it, going so far as to require preview audience to sign nondisclosure agreements. You know it must be a great film when the only way you're allowed to see it is if you promise not to tell anyone about it -- anti-word-of-mouth. I almost don't even want to mention it here, except that it is an indie film and it is opening in several hundred theaters today. So there you go.

Up and at 'em, soldiers! It's time for another edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly look at what's happening (mostly) beyond the multiplexes over the next seven days. Revivals, retrospectives, series, midnight madness, it's all here. If you know of something cool happening near you -- or just something you think belongs on the calendar -- let me know! My e-mail address is Eric.Snider (at) WeblogsInc (dot) com.

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

Two films that played at Sundance (they both played at other fests, too) are opening in New York and L.A. today. You can expect them both to expand in the coming weeks. They are:

• The Visitor, starring Richard Jenkins as a man who returns to his New York City apartment to find an immigrant couple living there. The film is notable for being the sophomore effort by Tom McCarthy, whose Station Agent was an indie darling a few years ago. Cinematical's Scott Weinberg spoke favorably of The Visitor when he reviewed it at Sundance.

The ol' clock on the wall says it's Friday -- wait, what kind of clock is that? -- and that means it's time for The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, your weekly look at what's cool and happenin' beyond the multiplexes of North America. If you know of something nifty happening in your city that you think should be on the calendar, send me a link! My e-mail is Eric.Snider (at) Weblogsinc (dot) com.

Now then! To the calendar!

INDIE THEATRICAL RELEASES

• My Blueberry Nights, the much-anticipated English-language debut from Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai, opens in New York and Los Angeles today. It stars singer Norah Jones as a woman recovering from a breakup and traveling across the United States. Cinematical's James Rocchi saw it at Cannes last year and quite liked it.

• Meet Bill, formerly just called Bill, is a comedy starring Aaron Eckhart as a man with crumbling marriage who reluctantly becomes a mentor to a teenage boy. It premiered at Toronto last year and opens today in various places in the Midwest.

Welcome to another savory and nutritious edition of The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly look at what's happening beyond the multiplexes all across America. If you know of something cool coming up in your city -- special screenings, workshops, retrospectives, etc. -- e-mail me at Eric.Snider at Weblogsinc dot com and I'll put it on the list. And away we go!

Austin: To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Coens' beloved Big Lebowski, the Alamo Drafthouse is sponsoring a screening tonight at ... a bowling alley. You'll watch the movie, and you'll bowl a few frames. Dressing up as a Lebowski character is encouraged. So is drinking, I suspect, though it's not mentioned specifically.

Boston: The 48 Hour Film Project is a nationwide event where participants write, shoot, and edit a short film all in two days. This year's Boston contest happens next week; this weekend, they're showing some of the all-time favorite films to come out of past events. You can catch them at midnight tonight and Saturday at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

Welcome to The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar, a weekly look at what's happening beyond the multiplexes all around North America. If you know of something indie-related happening near you -- a local festival, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, etc. -- send the info to me at Eric.Snider(at)weblogsinc(dot)com and I'll add it to the list.

This week we're a little preoccupied with South By Southwest, which kicks off today and runs through next week. Several Cinematical staffers (including yours truly) are moseying along the streets of Austin as we speak, and we'll have a heapin' helpin' of mighty fine SXSW coverage here for the next seven days.

In the meantime, there's plenty of indie-related film merriment for you to enjoy elsewhere in the country -- including a few flicks opening today in limited release:

• Snow Angels is the latest from David Gordon Green (All the Pretty Girls, George Washington), a contemplative drama about a town rocked by a tragedy. Cinematical's Kevin Kelly didn't think too highly of it at Sundance last year, but James Rocchi loved it.