Thinking Outside the Multiplex – ”Opening Elsewhere” Supplement

by MIKE MACCOLLUM

So you’re planning on seeing both Clash of the Titans and Chloe in theaters on the same day- but you can’t help thinking that your personal celebration of “Liam Neeson Day” would be ever-so-much better if you could see a third theatrical feature on the same day. Well, you may be in luck, since a third film with Liam Neeson in its cast opened on Friday, April 9. You’ll have to go elsewhere for your Neeson-fest, however- Chicago is the nearest city to Indiana in which you can find all three movies on theater screens. As for the other movies listed below, I would bet good money- if I had any- that The Square is the only one of them with a decent shot at getting a theatrical release in Indiana.

After.Life- Anna was severely injured in a car wreck- so severely injured that she returns to consciousness in a funeral home, with the director of the home, Eliot Deacon, starting to prepare her body for burial. Anna is understandably upset by this situation, but Eliot insists that Anna is really dead, and that he can talk to the departed. Since the two are alone in the funeral home, Anna finds that she is starting to believe Eliot- but on the outside, Anna’s boyfriend Paul tries to find out what is really going on before Anna is buried…. Christina Ricci, Justin Long and (drum roll, please) Liam Neeson star in After.Life; it opened on Friday, April 9, in at least thirty-nine theaters across the US (ten in California, seven in Texas, five in Arizona, four each in Florida and Georgia, three each in Illinois and Pennsylvania, two in New York, and one in New Jersey).

Bass Ackwards- Linas Phillips directs and stars in this road-trip movie, parts of which were based on a written script, parts of which were improvised- and parts of which feature documentary-style footage of the various people that Phillips and his companions/co-writers encountered on their journey. Bass Ackwards started Friday, April 2, at the Criterion Cinemas in New Haven, CT.

Eatrip- This documentary about the ritual of eating in Japan includes interviews with several Japanese celebrities- and (from the photos on the film’s site) many hunger-inducing images of tasty dishes. Eatrip opened on Saturday, April 10, at the VIZ Cinema in San Francisco. The film’s official Japanese site doesn’t have any real English-language options on it, as far as I can see- but this page on the VIZ Cinema site has a subtitled trailer for the film, as well as a brief description; scroll down to about three-quarters of the way down the page.

Everyone Else- German honeymooners are having a good time in an Italian resort- until they start to get on each other’s nerves as they get to know each other better. But these are only minor irritations- the real trouble starts when they meet another young couple, who are much happier than they are…. Everyone Else opened on Friday, April 9, at the IFC Center in New York City.

Fresh- The American agricultural-industrial complex that has arisen recently (from factory farms to big box stores that sell their products) isn’t exactly beloved, even by some of us who regularly consume its output. This documentary examines several people who actually are trying to change this system by growing healthier food in a more sustainable manner. Fresh started Friday, April 9, at the Quad Cinema in New York City.

Gasland- Director Josh Fox was inspired to make this film when he found out that energy companies would start drilling for natural gas in the area where he lives. In fact, drilling for gas has been spreading in many other parts of the country as well, and Fox investigates the consequences- from toxic waste that sickens animals and people to flammable water to gas explosions. Gasland started Friday, April 9, at the Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino, CA.

In Ghost House Inn- That’s the odd English-language title for this Malayalam-language comedy/”horror” film from India. It’s actually the third entry in a series; this time out, one of the four main characters buys a vacation getaway that is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who was murdered there seven decades ago. He and his friends (and their families too, apparently) go there to check out the mysterious house…. If In Ghost House Inn has a website, I couldn’t find it- but the film’s Wikipedia page is here, and a youtube trailer is here. In Ghost House Inn started Friday, April 9, at the FunAsia Irving in Irving, TX, and the Bollywood 6 in Houston.

It Came from Kuchar- Underground filmmakers George and Mike Kuchar (who have been making 8 and 16mm movies and videos for over fifty years, since they were pre- teens) are at the center of this documentary, which features clips from their works and interviews with fans (including John Waters, Atom Egoyan, Wayne Wang, Buck Henry and Guy Maddin). It Came from Kuchar was directed by Jennifer Kroot, a former student of George K.’s at the San Francisco Art Institute; it started Friday, April 9, at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City.

La Mission- Benjamin Bratt stars as Che Rivera, an ex-con and former drinker who grew up and still lives in San Francisco’s Mission district. Che has been trying to live a good life in recent years to set an example for his son Jes, who Che has been raising by himself since his wife died. But Che still has a temper, and sometimes resorts to violence- and after he finds out that Jes is gay, Che pummels him. Che soon realizes that what he did was horribly wrong, and he must make major changes in his life yet again…. La Mission started Friday, April 9, at twelve theaters in and around Los Angeles, and at two theaters in New York City.

Not Since You- A group who have been friends since their college days are surprised when Sam shows up at a wedding; Sam was one of them, but has been out of touch for years. His ex, Amy, has a husband now- but her hubby is fairly dull, compared to Sam. As the other friends sort out their own personal problems, they wonder if something will happen between the former couple. Desmond Harrington, Jon Abrahams, Liane Balaban, Barry Corbin, Sara Rue, Elden Henson, Kathleen Robertson and Sara Rue are all in the cast of Not Since You, which started on Friday, April 2, at the Athens Cine in Athens, GA; it continues there through April 15.

Prince- Vivek Obeoi plays the title role in this Hindi-language film from India. “Prince” is a super-intelligent master-thief who has just pulled off an amazing heist- but when he wakes up the next day, he discovers that he has been shot- although he doesn’t remember how or when he got wounded. Prince realizes that he can’t remember some other important information, either- and this could be a problem, since both the authorities and some other criminals are out to get him…. Prince starts Friday, April 9, at forty-five theaters across the US (eight in California, seven in New Jersey, five in Texas, four in Illinois, three in New York, two each in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and one each in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Kansas, Arizona, and Washington state).

The Square- Raymond is tired of his dull married life, and starts an affair with Carla. When she suggests that they get rid of her criminal husband and run away with his ill-gotten gains, Raymond agrees. In spite of some deadly mistakes, the couple eventually thinks that they may have pulled off their plan. But when someone tries to blackmail them, Raymond and Carla have to think about how to make their new problem go away…. This noirish thriller from Australia started Friday, April 9, at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles and the Sunshine Cinema in New York City. (By the way- this Facebook page for The Square has some features that are not available on the film’s official site, for those who want additional information.)

Thanthonni- According to the official site of this Malayalam language film from India, its title could be translated as a reference to an iron-willed person who does whatever he or she wants, without much regard for the impact of their actions on others. The title certainly fits the main character, Kochukunju, who is the youngest child of a very wealthy extended family; he lives with several relatives in a huge house. While everyone else in his family is prominent and/or wealthy, Kochukunju is far too much of a loose cannon to fit in (with his family, or society in general). Thanthonni started Thursday, April 8, at the Golf Glen 5 in Niles, IL.

When You’re Strange- With a title like that, this has to be about The Doors- and indeed, it is. Johnny Depp narrates this documentary, which was written and directed by Tom DiCillo (Johnny Suede; Living in Oblivion). According to its official site, the film “uncovers historic and previously unseen footage” of the band, and offers “new insight” into how The Doors influenced later musicians. When You’re Strange started Friday, April 9, on twelve screens (five in California, and one each in New York, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts); another theater, in Washington state, opened When You’re Strange on Saturday, April 10.

Who Do You Love?- A number of black musicians got their first wide exposure to white audiences by way of Chess Records. Who Do You Love? tells the story of how brothers Phil and Leonard Chess founded the label- and how the related pressures affected Leonard’s family life. Alessandro Nivola and Jon Abrahams star as the Chess brothers, and the supporting cast includes Keb’ Mo’ and Chi McBride; Jerry Zaks (Marvin’s Room) directed. Who Do You Love? started Friday, April 9, at three theaters in New York City.

Women Without Men- Artist Shirin Neshat makes her directorial debut with this drama, which follows the lives of five Iranian women after a coup (backed by the US and Britain) overthrows Iran’s freely elected government in 1953. Per the film’s official site, the five women eventually come together in “a metaphorical garden,” while the world around them is changed by powerful forces beyond their control. Women Without Men started Friday, April 9, in three theaters in the Los Angeles area.