Movie theaters are in a rough spot at the moment, and people should be making informed decisions on whether or not they feel comfortable going to the movies amidst the rise in coronavirus infections and breakout cases.
For those who are willing to attend theaters, however, the eight indie films on this list -- some of which also have digital release plans -- look to be worth the ticket price and deserving of support alongside their big-budget box office competition.
In Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed played a drummer whose life changes when he goes deaf. In Mogul Mowgli, Ahmed plays a rapper whose life changes when he's diagnosed with a chronic illness. "Musician dealing with a disability" is an awfully specific niche for one actor to fill twice within two years, but Mogul Mowgli promises to be comparable to Sound of Metal's cinematic ambition and powerful performances, having earned rave reviews and won awards upon its initial release in the United Kingdom last year.
Directed and co-written by Bassam Tariq, Mogul Mowgli stars Riz Ahmed, Aiysha Hart, Alyy Khan, Sudha Bhuchar, Nabhaan Rizwan and Anjana Vasan, and will premiere in theaters on Sept. 3.
"Movies about COVID" might be one of the least appealing genres right now, but the variety of international filmmaking talent involved in the filmed-in-quarantine anthology feature The Year of the Everlasting Storm makes this a lot more appealing than most others in this realm. The film's seven directors include Jafar Panahi (who was already living under house arrest in Iran for years before the lockdowns began), Anthony Chen, Malik Vitthal, Laura Poitras, Dominga Sotomayor, David Lowery and Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
The Year of the Everlasting Storm premieres in theaters on September 3.
Paul Schrader is best known as the writer of such Martin Scorsese classics as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Scorsese is executive producing and "presenting" The Card Counter, Schrader's directorial follow-up to the critically acclaimed religious drama First Reformed. Oscar Isaac plays William Tell, an ex-military interrogator turned professional gambler with dark secrets in his past and a quest for revenge. This thriller will make its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2, eight days before its theatrical release.
Written and directed by Paul Schrader, The Card Counter stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe and premieres in theaters on Sept. 10.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye, based on Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato's documentary of the same name, tells the story of the rise and fall of televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Tammy Faye broke from evangelical norms by embracing her status as a gay icon, while Jim brought down their ministry due to a combination of financial and sexual misconduct. These real-life characters should offer great material for Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield. The film premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Michael Showalter, The Eyes of Tammy Faye stars Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Fredric Lehne, Louis Cancelmi, Sam Jaeger, Gabriel Olds, Mark Wystrach and Vincent D'Onofrio and premieres in theaters on Sept. 17.
Blue Bayou, about a Korean American adoptee in Louisiana facing deportation despite having no memory of life outside America, is the fourth film written and directed by Justin Chon, whom you might know from his popular YouTube videos or as Eric Yorkie in the Twilight movies. Reviews from the Cannes Film Festival were mixed, with some critics finding the drama deeply moving while others dismissed it as overly manipulative, but with such relevant subject matter, moviegoers looking for a tearjerker might want to give this film a chance.
Written, directed and starring Justin Chon, Blue Bayou also stars Alicia Vikander, Mark O'Brien, Linh Dan Pham, Sydney Kowalske, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Emory Cohen and premieres in theaters on Sept. 17.
Mélanie Laurent, best known in the States for starring in Inglourious Basterds and 6 Underground, is more prolific as a writer-director than you might have realized. Her latest film, The Mad Women's Ball, will likely be her most-watched auteur project to date thanks to an international release on Amazon Prime Video. Based on the popular novel by Victoria Mas, this French historical thriller follows a woman committed by her family to an insane asylum due to communicating with spirits. The movie makes its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed, co-written and starring by Mélanie Laurent, The Mad Women's Ball also stars Lou de Laâge, Emmanuelle Bercot, Benjamin Voisin, Cédric Khan and Grégoire Bonnet and begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video Sept. 17.
Whereas Pig offered a surprisingly subdued and serious display of Nicolas Cage's acting talents, Prisoners of the Ghostland showcases Cage at his loudest and most over-the-top in a post-apocalyptic story that combines ultraviolence and surrealism. Cage has called this movie -- the first English-language film by Japanese cult auteur Sion Sono -- the "wildest" he's ever been in. CBR's review from the 2021 Sundance Film Festival concurs, saying the movie "will put a huge grin on the faces of anyone who can roll with its mix of glorious nonsense and genuinely interesting ideas."
Directed by Sion Sono, Prisoners of the Ghostland stars Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Nick Cassavetes, Bill Moseley, Tak Sakaguchi and Yuzuka Nakaya and will premiere in theaters, on VOD and digital Sept. 17.
If you're a fan of robot/human love stories like Her or WandaVision, the German movie I'm Your Man is one to put on your radar. Fans of Netflix's Unorthodox will also be interested, as this is the follow-up project of director Maria Schrader (no relation to Paul Schrader). This rom-com follows a scientist who participates in a research study living with a robot built for pleasure. Legion's Dan Stevens plays the sexy android. Reviews from the Berlin International Film Festival were highly positive. The film makes its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed and co-written by Maria Schrader, I'm Your Man stars Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens and Sandra Hüller and premieres in theaters on Sept. 24.
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