Strong choices among indie films
Fall is when Hollywood starts to parade its heavy hitters in front of audiences, the films that might produce Oscar nominations — and independents are no exception. This year’s bundle distinguishes itself with numerous strong roles for women. Here are ei
99 Homes: The Iran-born Ramin Bahrani is one of few contemporary directors interested in delving into the plight of the struggling class. In “Man Push Cart” and “Goodbye Solo,” he laid bare the lives of immigrants to America. Now Bahrani is back with “99 Homes,” showing what he can do with a substantial budget and name actors Andrew Garfield and Laura Dern. Garfield portrays a construction worker living with his mother in a modest suburban home. When their mortgage is foreclosed, a real estate speculator comes to his house to throw him out, but instead offers him a job evicting other families. Sept. 25. I Smile Back: The history of cinema reveals a mixed outcome for comedians who star in dramatic roles. Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg breached the gap and were rewarded with Oscars, but Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler have floundered in their attempts. Now Sarah Silverman appears in “I Smile Back” as a cloistered suburban housewife with a plethora of aberrant behaviors. She suffers from anxiety and bipolar mood swings, leading her to cheat on her husband and seek solace from drugs. Her performance won praise at the Sundance Film Festival. At Mill Valley on Oct. 9, opens Oct. 23. Suffragette: This drama serves as a reminder of the suffragists’ struggle to secure voting rights for women. Although the story centers on the battle waged in England, American women were
the front line at roughly the same time. Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep with yet another accent play the British foot soldiers. Sarah Gavron (“Brick Lane”) directs. Oct. 23. Burnt: There are still some posters around for a movie called “Adam Jones,” starring Bradley Cooper. But the title has been changed to the more revelatory “Burnt.” That pretty much describes the condition of Cooper’s character, a Michelin-level chef who sees his career go up in smoke because of a four-star drug problem. The movie follows his attempt at redemption at a new restaurant in London. Oct. 23. Trumbo: Bryan Cranston plays Dalton Trumbo, who is regarded as one of Hollywood’s brilliant screenwriters. However, he isn’t remembered for writing movies such as “Roman Holiday,” “Exodus” and “Spartacus” and writing the novel “Johnny Got his Gun.” Instead, his fame resides in his being one of the Hollywood Ten, blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee about alleged Communist associations. His personal story — particularly how he produces some of his finest work under others’ names — contains as much drama as anything he wrote. Nov. 6. Brooklyn: The immigrant experience has been portrayed so many times on film that it’s hard to imagine a fresh angle. But “Brooklyn,” based on Colm Toibin’s novel of the same name, serves up a story distinct from anything preceding it. A grownup Saoirse Ronan appears as a povertystricken young Irish woman who makes the leap to America (to 1950s Brooklyn, to be precise) and sees her fortunes ebb and flow as she finds herself torn between two lovers. As much as telling a tale of assimilation, “Brooklyn” looks at the role chance plays in determining the direction of a life. Nov. 6.
Spotlight: Newspaper movies were once a distinct genre, including such classics as “His Girl Friday” and “All the President’s Men.” Here is a shining new example of the category, relating how the Boston Globe got the story of a widespread cover-up within the Roman Cathin olic Church of pervasive child molestation by priests. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams play investigative reporters and Liev Shreiber their editor. Tom McCarthy (“The Station Agent,” “The Visitor”) directs. Nov. 13.
Carol: Patricia Highsmith is known for her hard-boiled crime fiction, notably “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and its sequels. But in 1953, under a pseudonym, she wrote a steamy lesbian romance called “The Price of Salt.” It came with an alternate title, “Carol,” and that’s what director Todd Haynes has chosen to call his movie version. In “Far From Heaven,” he proved to have an understanding of the repressed sexuality that lay beneath many supposedly happy marriages in the 1950s. This should be an asset to Haynes in telling the story of a young shopgirl who develops a crush on one of her well-heeled customers. Decades before Thelma and Louise, the two set out on a road trip across America. Another of the film’s assets: The lovers are played by Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. Nov. 20.