Tag: U.S. Indie Film
No Longer Seeking Susan; Hal Hartley Lands Aubrey Plaza Opposite Henry Fool Jr. in “Ned Rifle”
Moving from Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress) to a zombie romance (Life After Beth) with a rare indie sci-fi flick in between (Safety Not...
The Den | Review
Unlawful Entry: Donohue’s Debut a Promising Idea with Faulty Execution
Director Zachary Donohue brings the home invasion thriller to the millennial doorstep with his directorial...
Criterion Collection: George Washington | Blu-ray Review
As director David Gordon Green returns to the mind frame of independent cinema with a duo of films like Prince Avalanche and (especially) the...
The Tree of Lincoln; Amplify to Face Adversity with A.J. Edwards’ “Better Angels”
Joining their other Sundance pick-up (God Help The Girl), the folks at the newly minted Amplify have picked up the rights to A.J. Edwards'...
Bad Words | Review
Scatological Prowess: Bateman’s Directorial Debut an Amusing Vulgarity
Fans of fare like Bad Santa and Bad Teacher should rejoice in Bad Words, foul-mouthed fodder involving...
Haunt | Review
Haunt Me Tender: Carter’s Debut Reduced to Derivative Schlock
As Mac Carter’s directorial debut, Haunt, quickly unfurls a haul of standard haunted house clichés, don’t...
Interior. Leather Bar | Review
Exterior. The Heternormative: Franco & Matthews’ Experimental Exercise Takes Temperatures
James Franco, already cementing a reputation as one of the most eclectic and noteworthy cinematic...
HairBrained | Review
School Ties: Kent’s Latest Film Doesn’t Make the Grade
If you’re at all familiar with director Billy Kent’s previous film, 2006’s The Oh in Ohio,...
Hits | 2014 Sundance Review
David Cross Graduates from Small Screen Satire, Inviting Hipsters and Libertarians to the Party
David Cross translates sketch comedy prowess into organized chaos, marking his...
Barefoot | Review
Sterile Cuckoo: Fleming’s Latest a Series of Rotund Clichés
Director Andrew Fleming returns with his first film since 2008’s neglected Hamlet 2, a road trip/mental...
Criterion Collection: Fantastic Mr. Fox | Blu-ray Review
No one was surprised when it was announced in the wake of The Darjeeling Limited that Wes Anderson’s next endeavor would be wholly animated...
Towheads | Review
O is for the Other Things: Plumb’s Debut an Idiosyncratic Exercise in Domestic Ennui
Video and performance artist Shannon Plumb makes her directorial debut with...
Sundance Twitterverse 2014: U.S. Documentary Competition
Part two in this year's Sundance Twitterverse series, we are bringing you direct contact with most of next year's Oscar short list. No one...
Jean-Francois Richet Can’t Shake Disease; Helmer Boards Black List Fave “Pox Americana”
Jean-Francois Richet (the French helmer whose services were called upon form U.S actioneer Assault on Precinct 13 and the shot in Quebec-France Mesrine films)...
Dada Films Sees Double with Jenee LaMarque’s The Pretty One
It wasn't the best of years for the '13 edition of the Tribeca Film Fest, but there were a couple of mention-worthy items on...
Diamond on Vinyl | Review
Sound Off: Hughto’s Film Explores Artificiality of Performance and Interaction to Varying Effect
It’s unfortunate that director J.R. Hughto’s sophomore effort, Diamond on Vinyl never...
Hollywood Sells Californication; Tribeca Film Shows Affection for Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto
It landed in public consciousness in book form and then the film format via the perfect fall film festival trifecta of Venice, Telluride and...
Hellbenders | Review
Hath No Fury: Petty’s Latest a 3D Misfire
Serving as a glaringly obvious example of the degradation of the horror genre via raunchy slapstick is...
We Are What We Are | Review
It Is What It Is: Mickle’s Latest a Subpar Remake
Director Jim Mickle’s latest, We Are What We Are, is a remake of the excellent...
Four | Review
Looking for a Love That’s Never Enough: Joshua Sanchez Directs a Broody Debut
Director Joshua Sanchez has chosen excellent material to adapt for his film...
Mother of George | Review
When You’re Expecting: Dosunmu’s Sophomore Feature a Gorgeously Shot Tale of Immigrant Tradition
After debuting his 2011 feature Restless City to critical acclaim on the...
Jayne Mansfield’s Car | Review
Brains of a Blonde: Thornton’s Unnecessary Return to the Director’s Chair
After his astonishingly strong 1996 directorial debut, Sling Blade, you’d be hard pressed to...
Adore | Review
M Is For the Many Things You Gave Me: Fontaine’s Cougars and MoFos Fashion Her Striking English Debut
Two parts high trash and one part...
Afternoon Delight | Review
Slight Delight: Soloway’s Debut an Overly Familiar Dessert
Television writer/producer Jill Soloway makes her directorial debut with Afternoon Delight, a sometimes successfully coordinated comedic vehicle...
Satellite | VOD Review
Eight years after its festival debut, the lo-fi drama Satellite, chocked with obscure Indie band gems and unlikely romantic gestures is now available....
Drinking Buddies | Review
Supersize Me: Swanberg Remains Intimate Despite Bigger Budget
Harkening back to the studio system of the 1930s and 40s, the prolific writer/director Joe Swanberg has...
Lovelace | Review
Deep Throat’s Journey: Epstein & Friedman’s Porn Star Biopic By-the-Numbers
In their first outing not placing significant focus on the recuperation of queer subjects or...
Computer Chess | Review
Bujalski adds Technology to the Perils of Human Connection
In an Andrew Bujalski film, there is nothing harder than making yourself understood. Funny Haha is...
V/H/S/2 | Review
Improved Frequencies: Sequel to Found Footage Anthology Film an Improved Bag of Goodies
While last year’s horror anthology, VHS, was an entertaining enough horror film...
Frances Ha | Review
Baumbach Stops Wallowing In Cynicism To Lens His Best Yet
Noah Baumbach has built an oeuvre on characters frozen in time, refusing to let go...
The Rambler | Review
Aimlessly Devoted To You: Reeder Culls More Stars and Less Sense for Sophomore Film
More proof that horror as a genre has been hedged out...
The East | Review
Activism Unchained: Batmanglij Thrills With Eco-Terror
Seemingly a perfect union, the writing duo of director Zal Batmanglij and his hypnotic on screen muse, Brit Marling,...
Before Midnight | Review
Bewitching Hour: Linklater Scores Greatest Hour Yet with Trilogy Cap
Nearly another decade has passed, and Richard Linklater has finally treated us to what seems...
Sun Don’t Shine | Review (AFI Film Fest)
Madlands: Seimetz’ Relationship Drama Takes Us on a Road Trip to Love Hell
Managing to balance an insanely busy schedule that boasts quality and quantity,...
Sun Don’t Shine | Review (SXSW)
Orange State: Seimetz ninety minutes.
Between them, they barely own one T-shirt. Crystal and Leo, two people with next to nothing, roam the deserted highways...
It’s a Disaster | Review
An Incredible Mess: Todd Berger’s Apocalypse a Hilarious Gas
The end of days have never looked like a better time to spend with friends than...
Factory 25 is Obsessive about Andrew Semans’ Nancy, Please
The Brooklyn distrib label that we adore has added one more indie treat to their upcoming slate with Andrew Semans' Nancy, Please. The 2012...
Brady Corbet to Lend Brotherly Support in Paradise Lost
Actor turned director Andrea Di Stefano’s ambitious directorial debut already has big names on its roster, such as Benicio del Toro, and teenage star...
The Place Beyond the Pines | Review
The Pompatus of Fate: Cianfrance’s Masterpiece an Ode to Ties that Bind
After his gloriously depressing 2010 sophomore film, Blue Valentine, a hellish drama revolving...
Spring Breakers | Review
In Harmony Korine’s previous work, from his incendiary debut Gummo all the way through the almost-impenetrable Trash Humpers, he afforded his audience the luxury...
Criterion Collection: Badlands | Blu-ray Review
1973’s Badlands marked the first feature film from writer/director Terrence Malick and it squarely put him on the path to his current cinematic sainthood....
Eden | Review
Garden Snakes: Griffiths’ Latest a Harrowing Tale with Compelling Lead
Director Megan Griffith’s follows up her well acted yet downtroddingly paced sophomore effort The Off...
K-11 | Review
Hamshank Redemption: Stewart’s Debut a Trashy, Lurid Queersploitation Effort
Jules Stewart, mother of that actress Kristen Stewart, makes a curious and fascinatingly trashy exploitation grindhouse...
If I Were You | Review
Rough Draft: Carr-Wiggin’s Latest Buoyed Exclusively on the Charms of Lead Actress
If one were to look for fresh evidence of the perennial talents of...
Better Mus’ Come | Review
From the Wicked, Carry Us Away: Saulter’s Debut an Energetic Cold War Period Piece
Jamaican writer/director Storm Saulter makes an impressive debut with period piece...
Emperor | Review
Classroom Exercise: Webber’s Latest Historical Drama Dry and Sleepy
Arriving with all the subdued excitement of a vaguely written history textbook comes Peter Webber’s latest...
Stoker | Review
India Song: Park-wook’s English Language is Stylized Creepy and Kooky
South Korean master Park Chan-wook returns with his English language debut, Stoker, a heavily stylized...
Future Weather | Review
Climate Control: Deller’s Debut Features Compelling Lead Performance
For her feature film debut, writer/director Jenny Deller has made a solidly crafted film, Future Weather, which...
Welcome to Pine Hill | Review
Transcendental Hurrah: Miller’s Moving Film an Exercise in Isolation
Based on his 2010 short film, Prince/William, Keith Miller has expanded his debut Welcome to Pine...
Bless Me, Ultima | Review
Bless This Mess: Franklin’s Period Piece Strangles Intriguing Premise
Carl Franklin returns with Bless Me, Ultima, his first feature since 2003’s Out of Time. An...
