5 YEARS IN AND THEY’RE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

Article By John Pugh
Sources: (A24, IMDB, & YouTube)

A24, the American independent entertainment company. The well-oiled machine that Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges formed back in 2012, turns 5 years old on August 20th, 2017. In just 5 years, this innovative company has disrupted the industry and become a force to be reckoned with. A24 functions as a collaborator, producer, financier, distributor, and exemplary addition to the independent film world. This independent studio aspires to new heights each year with their constant inspired choices in film and tv, begging the question, “Can they do no wrong?”

We’re well aware of the studio giants that have dominated the industry for decades; Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount, Universal, Sony, etc. We understand that they measure their success on opening weekend numbers and are on a mission, attempting to break new records for overall revenue. Though these studios will occasionally squeeze out some solid gems, their end focus will always rely on hitting the replay button to their own history of films. Producing and financing the same old uninspired work. This is where A24 serves as a breath of fresh air, making this relatively new studio stand as tall and important as the big guys we all grew up with.

A24, the studio that brought us Ex Machina (2014), The Witch (2015), The Lobster (2015), Room (2015), Swiss Army Man (2016), and of course Best Picture Winner Moonlight (2016), just to name a few. Nearly every trailer A24 has dropped, has fed my hunger for that unique exotic rich taste you get in independent filmmaking. Of course, there are similar studios like Amazon, Bleecker Street, Roadside Attractions and even Netflix that have been pushing for stronger original content, taking risks and showing the appreciation for independent filmmakers. That said, A24 still stands at the top of the list for me and I hope that by the end of this article, they’ll be at the top of your list, too.

There’s a lot of upcoming films to look forward to outside of what’s listed in this article. It Follows (2015) writer/director David Robert Mitchell has a new noir crime thriller in production called, Under the Silver Lake. In addition to Mitchell’s latest, there’s also Greta Gerwig‘s new anticipated comedy Lady Bird.

Further still, A24’s recent collaboration with Amazon Studios suggests promising partnerships on future projects. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Amazon attempts to, or already has attempted, to purchase A24 as both companies have similar likes and a comparable overall mission. Only time will tell.

Without further ado, check out some of the trailers and information on all the fantastic looking upcoming independent films this young, vibrant studio has to offer.

And be sure to wish A24 a Happy Birthday in a few days! The world of cinema is certainly better with them in it.

A GHOST STORY

RELEASE DATE: July 7th, 2017
WRITER/DIRECTOR: David Lowery
CAST: Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck

SYNOPSIS:

“With A Ghost Story, acclaimed director David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Pete’s Dragon) returns with a singular exploration of legacy, loss, and the essential human longing for meaning and connection. Recently deceased, a white-sheeted ghost (Academy Award-winner Casey Affleck) returns to his suburban home to console his bereft wife (Academy Award-nominee Rooney Mara), only to find that in his spectral state he has become unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the life he knew and the woman he loves slowly slip away. Increasingly unmoored, the ghost embarks on a cosmic journey through memory and history, confronting life’s ineffable questions and the enormity of existence. An unforgettable meditation on love and grief, A Ghost Story emerges ecstatic and surreal—a wholly-unique experience that lingers long after the credits roll.”

MENASHE

RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2017
DIRECTOR: Joshua Z Weinstein
CAST: Menashe Lustig, Ruben Nyborg

SYNOPSIS:

“Set within the New York Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, Menashe follows a kind but hapless grocery store clerk trying to maintain custody of his son Rieven after his wife, Lea, passes away. Since they live in a tradition-bound culture that requires a mother present in every home, Rieven is supposed to be adopted by the boy’s strict, married uncle, but Menashe’s Rabbi decides to grant him one week to spend with Rieven prior to Lea’s memorial. Their time together creates an emotional moment of father/son bonding as well as offers Menashe a final chance to prove to his skeptical community that he can be a capable parent.

Shot in secret entirely within the Hasidic community depicted in the film, and one of the only movies to be performed in Yiddish in nearly 70 years, Menashe is a warm, life-affirming look at the universal bonds between father and son that also sheds unusual light on a notoriously private community. Based largely on the real life of its Hasidic star Menashe Lustig, the film is a strikingly authentic and deeply moving portrait of family, love, connection, and community.”

GOOD TIME

RELEASE DATE: August 11, 2017
DIRECTOR: Ben Safdie, Joshua Safdie
CAST: Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi
ORIGINAL SCORE: Oneohtrix Point Never

SYNOPSIS:

“Following the mind-bending Heaven Knows What, celebrated filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie return to the mean streets of New York City with Good Time, a hypnotic crime thriller that explores with bracing immediacy the tragic sway of family and fate.

After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Constantine “Connie” Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city’s underworld in an increasingly desperate—and dangerous—attempt to get his brother Nick (Benny Safdie) out of jail. Over the course of one adrenalized night, Connie finds himself on a mad descent into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself, knowing their lives hang in the balance.

Anchored by a career-defining performance from Robert Pattinson, Good Time is a psychotic Symphony of propulsive intensity crafted by two of the most exciting young directors working today. Josh and Benny Safdie’s transcendent vision is an intoxicating portrait of desperation and destruction that will not be soon forgotten.”

WOODSHOCK

RELEASE DATE: September 15, 2017
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy
CAST: Kirsten Dunst, Joe Cole, and Pilou Asbæk

SYNOPSIS:

“The exquisite feature film debut of visionary fashion designers Kate and Laura Mulleavey (Rodarte), Woodshock is a hypnotic exploration of isolation, paranoia, and grief that exists in a dream-world all its own. Kirsten Dunst stars as Theresa, a haunted young woman spiraling in the wake of profound loss, torn between her fractured emotional state and the reality-altering effects of a potent cannabinoid drug. Immersive, spellbinding, and sublime, Woodshocktranscends genre to become a singularly thrilling cinematic experience that marks the arrival of the Mulleavy siblings as a major new voice in film.”

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

RELEASE DATE: October 6, 2017
DIRECTOR: Sean Baker
CAST: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto and Bria Vinait

SYNOPSIS:

“Warm, winning, and gloriously alive, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project is a deeply moving and unforgettably poignant look at childhood.

Set on a stretch of highway just outside the imagined utopia of Disney World, The Florida Project follows six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince in a stunning breakout turn) and her rebellious mother Halley (Bria Vinaite, another major discovery) over the course of a single summer. The two live week to week at “The Magic Castle,” a budget motel managed by Bobby (a career-best Willem Dafoe), whose stern exterior hides a deep reservoir of kindness and compassion.

Despite her harsh surroundings, the precocious and ebullient Moonee has no trouble making each day a celebration of life, her endless afternoons overflowing with mischief and grand adventure as she and her ragtag playmates—including Jancey, a new arrival to the area who quickly becomes Moonee’s best friend—fearlessly explore the utterly unique world into which they’ve been thrown. Unbeknownst to Moonee, however, her delicate fantasy is supported by the toil and sacrifice of Halley, who is forced to explore increasingly dangerous possibilities in order to provide for her daughter.”

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2017 (Limited)
DIRECTOR: Yorgos Lanthimos
CAST: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, and Alicia Silverstone

SYNOPSIS:

“A teenager’s attempts to bring a brilliant surgeon into his dysfunctional family take an unexpected turn.”

THE DISASTER ARTIST

RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2017
DIRECTOR: James Franco
CAST: James Franco, Dave Franco, and Seth Rogen

SYNOPSIS:

“With The Disaster Artist, James Franco transforms the tragicomic true-story of aspiring filmmaker and infamous Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau—an artist whose passion was as sincere as his methods were questionable—into a celebration of friendship, artistic expression, and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Based on Greg Sestero’s best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy’s cult-classic disasterpiece The Room (“The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”), The Disaster Artist is a hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend—and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing.”

BONUS AMAZON PRIME AND A24 COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

COMRADE DETECTIVE

SYNOPSIS:

“In the thick of 1980’s Cold War hysteria, the Romanian government created the country’s most popular and longest-running series, Comrade Detective, a sleek and gritty police show that not only entertained its citizens but also promoted Communist ideals and inspired a deep nationalism. The action-packed and blood-soaked first season finds Detectives Gregor Anghel (played by Piersic) and Iosef Baciu (played by Ulici) investigating the murder of fellow officer Nikita Ionesco and, in the process, unraveling a subversive plot to destroy their country that is fueled by—what else—but the greatest enemy: Capitalism. Though the beloved show was sadly forgotten about after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has been rediscovered and digitally remastered now with its main heroes voiced by Tatum and Gordon-Levitt. Comrade Detective is a true portal into a time and place and a powerful reminder of what art can be—and it is now ready to be seen by the modern world on a larger scale than ever before.”

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So there you have it, folks. The proof that can be seen within the proverbial pudding. Take a big scoop of that and get used to the taste. Your taste buds are sure to have you coming back for more.

A24 2017 Full Film Slate:

2/16 – THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER

5/5 – THE LOVERS

4/21 – FREE FIRE

6/2 – THE EXCEPTION

6/9 – IT COMES AT NIGHT

7/27 – A GHOST STORY

7/28 – MENASHE

8/11 – GOOD TIME

9/15 – WOODSHOCK

10/6 – THE FLORIDA PROJECT

10/27 – THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

11/10 – LADY BIRD

12/1 – THE DISASTER ARTIST

12/15 – THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN

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