The joke may be on us this weekend with some notable genre directors diverging from their usual fare of torture porn and destination nightmare. While you'd be wise to stay home and do some spring cleaning, if you do venture out, I suggest sticking to your local art house where you'll find some meatier and darker subject matters like in Foreign Oscar winner In a Better World or David Schwimmer's Trust but you can also have your own little Best of the Director's Fortnight section fest (from last year's Cannes) with the Film Forum commencing it's run on the brilliant The Four Times and Brooklyn's ReRun Theater giving Two Gates of Sleep a one week run release.
U.S Indie
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Cat Run - John Stockwell (Limited) From the director of Blue Crush and Turistas comes this manic crime comedy about a high class escort (Vega) on the run after uncovering a tape recording of a mass murder that implicates an American politician. Fans of Spike TV and Ritalin might enjoy this B-shlock action picture.
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Insidious - James Wan - FilmDistrict (Wide) Showing at the TIFF Midnight Madness (alongside the title below) this rehashes the all too familiar premise of the family that moves into a house with supernatural forces and soon find their child possessed by said forces. Doesn't anyone talk to the neighbors?
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SUPER - James Gunn - IFC Films (Limited) "Kick-Ass" for the 40-something man/boy? We missed this Ted Hope produced film at the handful of film feasts its been at since TIFF -- we're kind of tired of the street fighter/non-super power vigilante in spandex type, but the Rainn-Page combo might appease fans.
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Trust - David Schwimmer - Millennium Films (Limited) Screened at the Chicago and TIFF, Schwimmer's 3rd film as a director could be a companion piece to 2005's Hard Candy -- another cautionary tale about how we connect and communicate with each other online. If marketed properly it could draw a modest audience. But still worth a look.
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Two Gates of Sleep - Alistair Banks Griffin - Factory 25 (NYC) A highly mediative visual feast which some are comparing to the great Malick. Alistair Banks Griffin directorial debut will appeal to those with attention spans longer than say....a fruit fly. This is cine for the cinephile.
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Wrecked - Michael Greenspan - IFC Midnight (NYC) Adrien Brody claims his new indie thriller somehow echoes his Oscar-winning role in The Pianist. How? Well that remains to be seen. However the premise of a man waking up in a wrecked car with no memory of who he is and what he's done sounds like a promising rental.
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: 34% 
: 40.1%Foreign
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In a Better World - Susanne Bier - SPC - NYC/LA The Dane has been riding a small wave of accolades since the Venice preemie and the Oscar win confirms that this is engrossing and heartfelt account of the risky friendship that develops between two very different boys. Part revenge, part redemption, this film packs a powerful punch. Highly recommended.
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Queen to Play Caroline Bottaro - Zeitgeist - NYC/LA Almost two years to the date from its Tribeca Film Fest preem, the story of a middle-aged woman transforming her humdrum life through the game of chess might not sound appealing but it does have Kevin Kline in his first french speaking role. Who knew!
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Rubber - Quentin Dupieux - Magnet Releasing - Limited What can one say about a murderous tire that has the power to make small animals explode? What are you smoking and can I have some. The video helmet's debut was the "it" title in the Critic's Week section (Cannes) and was a popular item in genre fests via Magnet.
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Documentary
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Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead - Joe Cross - NYC Wanna see a fat guy lose weight? Not me. I say skip this Super Size-Me ripoff and instead, take a walk outside or ride your bike. Your heart and wallet will thank you.
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Le Quattro Volte - Michelangelo Frammartino - Lorber Films - NYC Sweetgrass for goats. More an ethnological mediation on death and life, this documentary chronicles the last days of a shepherd in a quiet medieval village. We love this docu-essay.
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Studio
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Hop - Tim Hill - Universal Pictures - Wide From the creators of Despicable Me comes this live-action "comedy" about a teenage bunny determined to break into the music industry despite his Easter Bunny father's wish for him to take over the family business. Panned by critics everywhere, families would be wise to avoid this mess and see Rango instead.
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Source Code - Duncan Jones - Summit - Wide You know its bad when fifteen minutes in your 68 year-old father knows who the bomber is. Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. And for Duncan Jones his sophomore effort is an utter disappointment. Gone were the atmospheric stylings and moody score that made Moon such a cult hit. But despite its many flaws and illogical rules, this SXSW opener will still offer a subtle and entertaining science fiction to fans of the genre.
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