JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2

When: February 10

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Chad Stahelski

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ruby Rose, Bridget Moynahan

Why We’re Excited: For fans of neon-colored carnage and tales of aggrieved pet owners kicking, punching and shooting their way through a luxury hotel full of Eastern European bad guys, 2014’s John Wick was manna from genre-flick heaven. This time, Reeves’ titular hitman-with-a-heart-of-gold is forced out of retirement to help seize control of an international assassins’ guild—, all set against the picaresque backdrop of Rome. With Chapter 1 co-director (with David Leitch) Chad Stahelski, a former stuntman, returning to the captain’s chair, John Wick: Chapter 2 is sure to be yet another high-octane blast of knowingly B-grade action movie fun, co-starring Orange is the New Black breakout Ruby Rose and a who’s-who of veteran character actors, from Lance Reddick to Ian McShane. (MW)

 

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO

When: February 3

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Raoul Peck

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson (voice)

Why We’re Excited: Based on an unfinished manuscript by subject James Baldwin, Raoul Peck’s new documentary is absolute essential viewing for these turbulent times—let alone the perfect way to honor Black History Month. Multiple-time Film Independent Spirit Award winner/nominee Samuel L. Jackson narrates Baldwin’s academic-yet-fascinating meditation on the history of institutionalized racism in the United States, centered on Baldwin’s own personal reminiscences of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. The stirring film has gone on to great acclaim since premiering at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and is currently nominated for a Spirit Award for Best Documentary. (MW)

TULIP FEVER

When: February 24

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Justin Chadwick

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Zach Galifianakis, Christoph Waltz

Why We’re Excited: Fresh off the glory of her Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress in The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander stars in Justin Chadwick’s latest period drama. Focusing around the “Tulip Mania” of 17^th-century Amsterdam, Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) brings Deborah Moggach’s novel to life in exquisite fashion, focusing on the love triangle that forms when Vikander becomes enamored with the artist (Dane DeHaan) hired to paint a portrait of her husband (Christoph Waltz). The film has been on the back burner since 2004, when it was originally set to star Jude Law and Keira Knightley. But the stars have finally aligned, even setting audiences up for a surprise turn from funnyman Zach Galifianakis, who co-stars. (CL)

 

xx

When: February 17

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Directors: Roxanne Benjamin, Sofìa Carrillo, Karyn Kusama, St. Vincent, Jovanka Vuckovic

Starring: Natalie Brown, Melanie Lynskey, Shelia Vand, Breeda Wool, Christina Kirk 

Why We’re Excited: Fresh of its premiere in the Midnight section of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, xx is perfectly calibrated to tickle the pleasure centers of gorehounds who have thrilled to such previous horror anthologies as V/H/S and The ABCs of Death. The hook here is that each of xx’s four stories–interspersed with striking stop-motion interludes created by Sofìa Carrillo—are helmed by female filmmakers, and feature female protagonists. The first story follows a mother (Natalie Brown) whose family begins starving to death after a mysterious subway encounter. The second follows harried housewife Melanie Lynskey as she attempts to dispose of her husband’s dead body. In the third, Breeda Wool (UnREAL) runs afoul of some ancient demons while camping in the desert. And finally, mom Christina Kirk learns that having a teenage son can be (literal) hell. Film Independent Member Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) is one of the film’s directors. Line producer Gabriela Gonzalez is also a Member. (MW)

 

LOVESONG

When: February 17

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: So Yong Kim

Starring: Riley Keough, Jessie Ok Gray, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Jena Malone

Why We’re Excited: A 2017 Spirit Award nominee for the John Cassavetes Award, So Yong Kim’s microbudget indie follows Sarah (Riley Keough, a 2017 Spirit Award Best Supporting Female nominee for American Honey) as her unhappy marriage sends her on an impromptu road trip to reunite with estranged best friend Mindy (Jena Malone)—who soon embarks on her own troubled marriage. This Sundance drama explores many of life’s main events: love, friendship and marriage as well as the challenges each one presents. You don’t want to miss this riveting character study from up-and-comer Kim, definitely one of the most impressive new voices in independent storytelling. (Also, don’t forget to vote for this year’s Spirit Awards. Learn how here.) (CL)

 

 

KING COBRA

When: February 14

Where You Can Watch: DVD/VOD

Director: Justin Kelly

Starring: Christian Slater, James Franco, Garrett Clayton 

Why We’re Excited: In the 1990s, Brent Corrigan rose to fame as gay porn’s biggest superstar—so sought after, in fact, that the contract he signed with one particular production company eventually led to bloodshed. Justin Kelly (director of last month’s Don’t-Miss Indies pick I am Michael) rips apart the prurient headlines to deliver a provocative, flesh-filled, edge-of-your seat with an all-star cast including two-time Spirit Award winner James Franco, Christian Slater, Alicia Silverstone and Molly Ringwald. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, where it was hailed as “a movie of such wit and daring, it could transcend LGBT appeal to become a crossover hit” (Graham Fuller, Screen Daily) and was picked up for release on DVD and VOD by IFC Films. (CL)

 

 

 

ALL WE HAD

When: February 28

Where You Can Watch: DVD/VOD

Director: Katie Holmes

Starring: Katie Holmes, Judy Greer, Luke Wilson

Why We’re Excited: Katie Holmes has definitely come a long way from her days as Joey on the hit TV series Dawson’s Creek. In All We Had—her directorial debut—Holmes stars as Rita, a single mother trying to provide the best life she can for 13-year-old daughter Ruthie (Stefania LaVie Owen). Soon, the two find themselves the newest residents of a town called Fat River and are welcomed by the townspeople, including transgender waitress “Peter Pam” (Eve Lindley), who helps Rita land a job at the diner. Fat River becomes the first place that Rita and Ruthie can call home. But comfort doesn’t come easy. Holmes showcases yet another facet of her talent by sitting in the director’s chair, and her performance was acclaimed by critics when the film premiered at last year’s TIFF. (CL)

 

 

T2 TRAINSPOTTING

When: February 10

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller

Why We’re Excited: It’s been over 20 years since Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting became one of the biggest hits of the entire Miramax era, earning praise from film critics and condemnations (including one from 1996 GOP Presidential nominee Bob Dole) for its allegedly cavalier depiction of heroin use. Well: Boyle’s long-in-the-works follow-up has finally arrived, and with much of the original film’s cast intact. Based only in part on novelist Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting follow-up Porno (published in 2002), the film finds Ewan McGregor’s reformed ex-addict Renton returning home to Edinburgh to reunite with estranged “mates” Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Things don’t exactly go as planned from there, if indeed there ever was a plan. (MW)

 

 

DYING LAUGHING

When: February 24

Where You Can Watch: Theater

Director: Lloyd Stanton, Paul Toogood

Starring: Stephen K. Amos, Dave Attell, Sandra Bernhard, Jerry Seinfeld 

Why We’re Excited: Directed by Film Independent Members Lloyd Stanton and Paul Toogood, Dying Laughing premiered as part of the US Documentary Competition at last year’s LA Film Festival. Delving deep into the psychology and process behind one of entertainment’s most deceptively simple art forms, Stanton and Toogood’s fascinating documentary captures a wide range of insight, analysis and anecdote from many of today’s most successful comedians, including Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Jamie Foxx, Steve Coogan, Billy Connolly and Amy Schumer, making it a must-see for fans of contemporary comedy.

 

 

GROWING UP SMITH

When: February 3

Where You Can Watch: Theaters

Director: Frank Lotito

Starring: Jason Lee, Anjul Nigam, Brighton Sharbino, Roni Akurati 

Why We’re Excited: Set in ochre-and-lime-colored year of 1979, Frank Lotito’s feature directorial debut follows the travails of an upbeat Indian family who moves stateside in timeless pursuit of the American dream. Settling in the South, 10-year-old Smith (Roni Akurati) becomes obsessed with reinventing himself as the archetypical American “good ‘ol boy”—especially as inspired by a local handyman played by My Name is Earl’s Jason Lee. Film Independent Member Dan Coplan is a co-producer of the quirky family comedy, which is sure to inspire audiences to reconsider the sartorial value of gold chains and flared pant cuffs; just check out the trailer’s nod to Saturday Night Fever. (MW)

 

 

Key

 Film Independent Fellow or Member
 LA Film Festival Alum
 Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
 First-time Filmmaker
 Microbudget 
 Female Filmmaker 
 Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color  
 LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters

 

[NOTE: Blurbs written by Matt Warren where indicated (MW)]