Art-House Dramas:
Summary:
Jesse returns home for his college professor father’s retirement party. While
wandering the campus, he meets Zibby, an undergrad, and begins to fall for her.
Now, he must address with the powerful attraction that is developing between
them while dealing with their age difference (he is his mid-thirties and her in
her early-twenties). Filmmakers: This is the
second feature from writer-director-producer Josh Radnor (or as you know him:
Ted Mosby, architect), following Happythankyoumoreplease
(which was decent). He is again working with cinematographer Seamus Tierney and production
designer Jade Healy. New to
the team is composer Ben Toth.
Cast: Radnor also stars in the film (like he
did with his first feature) along with Elizabeth Olsen (looking to star
in another good film to build off her great work in the solid Martha
Marcy May Marlene). Richard
Jenkins, Allison Janney, Elizabeth Reaser, Michael Weston, and Zac Efron make up the supporting
cast. Expectations: Liberal Arts looks like
a better film than Happythankyoumoreplease, but still along the same thematic
lines – focusing on relationships and the complexity of them while also trying
to find the positives in life. Much like his character Ted on How I Met Your Mother, Radnor’s
work seems to have a sort of intellectual romanticism about it. I think this
will be well worth renting for fans of indie dramedies. Trailer: Here.
Art-House Comedies:
Summary:
Becky is getting married. She enlists Gena, Katie and Regan to be her
bridesmaids. The problem is they are not really her friends, having
continuously ridiculed her in high school. Thus, the planning of the wedding
becomes more about Gena, Katie and Regan and their issues than Becky. Filmmakers: First-time writer-director Leslye
Headland makes her feature debut with the film. Previously, she was a staff
writer on the short-lived but excellent series Terriers. She is working with
producers Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, cinematographer Doug Emmett (Damsels in Distress) and
production designer Richard
Hoover (Temple Grandin).
Cast: It stars Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher and Kirsten Dunst, with Rebel Wilson, James Marsden and Adam Scott in support making up
a great comedic group. Expectations: Yes, Bachelorette
does look a lot like Bridesmaids,
but who was not expecting more comedies starring women specifically along the
same lines as Bridesmaids (honestly I am surprised one did not come about
sooner). That said, this does look quite funny and maybe a little darker than
Bridesmaids. It is well worth checking out (though probably as a rental). Plus,
it is one of the independent films to venture into video-on-demand (VOD) before
being released theatrically (you can watch it right now here
through Amazon), which could change the landscape of indie cinema. Trailer: Here.
Summary:
A bunch of friends reconnect for their 10-year high school reunion. Filmmakers: 10 Years marks writer-director Jamie
Linden’s feature debut, having also written the screenplays for Dear John and We Are Marshall. He is working
with composer Chad Fischer (Garden
State), cinematographer Steven
Fierberg (Entourage) and
production designer Kara
Lindstrom (Everything
Must Go). Cast: The ensemble cast
features Channing Tatum (who
is also producing), Jenna
Dewan-Tatum, Chris Pratt,
Lynn Collins, Kate Mara, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long, Ari Graynor, Anthony Mackie, Aubrey Plaza, Oscar Isaac, Ron Livingston, Scott Porter, and Max Minghella. Expectations: 10 Years probably went from
straight-to-video to a theatrical release thanks to the big year Channing Tatum
is having (thank you 21
Jump Street and Magic
Mike). Though, the cast is fairly impressive with lots of young talented B
and C-listers. The narrative of a reunion is fairly played out, and this does
not look that much more than a by-the-numbers clichéd drama/comedy within the
thematic range of its narrative construct, but with all the acting talent it
very well may be enjoyable and worth renting. Trailer:
Here.
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