May ‘09: In Theaters

A scene from Olivier Assayas's "Summer Hours." Image courtesy of IFC Films.

The following is a list of upcoming theatrical releases for the month of May. It is subject to change, and will be updated regularly as information becomes available. If you have news on an upcoming release that should be featured here, or in future editions, don’t hesitate to contact us at editors@indiewire.com

Also check out March and April theatrical releases.

May 1, 2009

The Limits of Control (Focus), U.S.
Dir: Jim Jarmusch
Writer: Jim Jarmusch
With: Isaach de Bankolé, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton
Synopsis: Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, “The Limits of Control” is set in the varied landscapes of contemporary Spain and shot by acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Doyle (“In the Mood for Love,” “Paranoid Park”). “The Limits of Control” is the story of a mysterious loner (played by Mr. De Bankolé), a stranger, whose activities remain meticulously outside the law. He is in the process of completing a job, yet he trusts no one, and his objectives are not initially divulged.  His journey, paradoxically both intently focused and dreamlike, takes him not only across Spain but also through his own consciousness. [Synopsis courtesy of Focus Features]

The Skeptic (IFC Films), U.S.
Dir: Tennyson Bardwell
Writer: Tennyson Bardwell
With: Tim Daly, Tom Arnold
Synopsis: Following the mysterious death of his aunt, power lawyer Bryan Becket (Tim Daly) moves into the elderly woman’s purportedly haunted Victorian mansion. A die hard skeptic, he dismisses one eerie incident after another, until the haunting turns so personal and vicious, Becket’s cool, unemotional veneer begins to unravel. Whispers in the night, things he sees in the darkness, clues of a horrible secret, turn our rationalist into a terrified and reluctant seeker. A seeker of a truth so unspeakable it could destroy him. And the mystery, always just out of reach down the darkened hall, is not fully revealed until the film’s final moments. And even then, it leaves a tantalizing question. [Synopsis courtesy of IFC Films]

Battle For Terra (Lionsgate), U.S.
Dir: Aristomenis Tsirbas
Writer: Evan Spiliotopoulos
With: Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long, Luke Wilson, Brian Cox
Synopsis: Animated sci-fi film about a post-apocalyptic battle for Earth. Mala (voice of Evan Rachel Wood) is a precocious girl living on the beautiful planet Terra, a place where peace and tolerance are celebrated. Unbeknownst to Mala and her fellow Terrians, the last inhabitants of Earth have exhausted the resources of their planet and those of three others, and are now searching for a new home. This Earthforce has discovered that the use of a Terraformer will make Terra habitable for humans but poisonous for Terrians. [Synposis courtesy of the film’s official website]

May 8, 2009

Julia (Magnolia), U.S./France
Dir: Erick Zonca
Writer: Erick Zonca, Aude Py, Michael Collins, Camille Natta
With: Tilda Swinton, Ezra Buzzington, Eugene Byrd, Kate Del Castillo
Synopsis: Julia, 40, is an alcoholic. She is a manipulative, unreliable, compulsive liar, all strung out beneath her still flamboyant exterior. Between shots of vodka and one-night stands, Julia gets by on nickel-and-dime jobs. Increasingly lonely, the only consideration she receives comes from her friend Mitch, who tries to help her. But she shrugs him off, as her alcohol-induced confusion daily reinforces her sense that life has dealt her a losing hand and that she is not to blame for the mess she has made of it. Glimpsing imminent perdition, and after a chance encounter with Elena, a Mexican woman, Julia convinces herself – as much in panic and despair as for financial gain – to commit a violent act. As the story unfolds, Julia’s journey becomes a headlong flight on a collision course, but somehow she makes the choice of life over death.
iW Coverage: “I Don’t Live On This Planet”: Tilda Swinton On Her Post-Oscar Career and the Evolution of Independent Film; BERLINALE ‘08 | Swinton on Zonca

Little Ashes (Regent Releasing), U.K.
Dir: Paul Morrison
Writer: Philippa Goslett
With: Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty
Synopsis: A romantic story about the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Bunuel and writer Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1922, Madrid is wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of Jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dali arrives at the university, 18 years old and determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university’s social elite - Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Bunuel. Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time Salvador, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid. However as time passes, Salvador feels an increasingly strong pull towards the charismatic Federico - who is himself oblivious of the attentions he is getting from his beautiful writer friend, Margarita. Finally, in the face of his friends’ preoccupations - and Federico’s growing renown as a poet - Luis sets off for Paris in search of his own artistic success. Federico and Salvador spend the holiday in the sea-side town of Cadaques. Both the idyllic surroundings and the warmth of the Dali family sweep Federico off his feet. Salvador and he draw closer, sharing their deepest beliefs, inspirations and secrets, convinced that they have found a kind of friendship undreamt of by others. It is more that a meeting of the minds; it is a fusion of souls. And then one night, in the phosphorescent water, it becomes something else. [Synopsis courtesy of Regent Releasing]

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A scene from Atom Egoyan’s “Adoration.” Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics. My Life in Ruins (Fox Searchlight), U.S./Spain Dir: Donald Petrie Writer: Mike Reiss With: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Dratch, Harland Williams Synopsis: A Greek tour guide named Georgia (Nia Vardalos) attempts to recapture her kefi (Greek for “mojo”) by guiding a ragtag group of tourists around Greece and showing them the beauty of her native land in this sun-soaked comedy from director Donald Petrie. Along the way, she manages to open their eyes to wonders of an exotic foreign land while beginning to see the world through a new set of eyes in the process. Adoration (Sony Classics), Canada Dir/Writer: Atom Egoyan With: Devon Bostik, Arsinee Khanjian, Scott Speedman, Rachel Blanchard Synopsis: Sabine (Arsinee Khanjian), a high school French teacher, gives her class a translation exercise based on a real news story about a terrorist who plants a bomb in the airline luggage of his pregnant girlfriend. The assignment has a profound effect on one student, Simon (Devon Bostik), who lives with his uncle (Scott Speedman). In the course of translating, Simon re-imagines that the news item is his own family’s story, with the terrorist standing in for his father. Years ago, Simon’s father (Noam Jenkins) crashed the family car, killing both himself and his wife (Rachel Blanchard), making Simon an orphan. Simon has always feared that the accident was intentional. Simon reads his version to the class and then takes it to the Internet. In essence, he has created a false identity which allows him to probe his family secret. As Simon uses his new persona to journey deeper into his past, the public reaction is swift and strong. Then an exotic woman reveals her true identity. The truth about Simon’s family emerges. The mystery is solved and a new family is formed. [Synopsis courtesy of Sony Classics] iW Coverage: TIFFG Unveils Canada’s Top 10 for ‘08; TORONTO ‘08 | “Adoration” for Blanchard and Bostick Rudo y Cursi (Sony Classics), U.S./Mexico Dir: Carlos Cuarón Writer: Carlos Cuarón With: Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Guillermo Fracella Synopsis: Beto (Luna) and Tato (Bernal) are a pair of rivaling, dim-witted brothers who work on a dusty banana ranch and play soccer for their local team. Beto, a goalie whose hot temper on the field earns him the nickname of Rudo, dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, while Tato wants to be a famous singer. They both share the dream of building a big house for their mother, Elvira, but all of their desires seem completely out of reach, that is, until a talent scout, Batuta, discovers their skill on the field. To Beto’s chagrin, it is Tato, whose curlicue field play earns him the nickname of Cursi, who is chosen to become a star player. Not to be bested, Beto scores a goalie position on a rival team, further intensifying the competition between them. But success makes the brothers confront their own personal demons and sets them on a chase for more than just soccer balls. [Synopsis courtesy of Sundance Film Festival] iW Coverage: Sundance Live III: Anna Wintour Hits Park City, “Amreeka,” “Rudo y Cursi,” “Push,”  More; Gael Celebrates “Rudo” Premiere at Sundance; Sony Classics to Bring Sundance Title “Rudo Y Cursi” to North America “Outrage” (Magnolia) Dir: Kirby Dick Synopsis: Academy Award nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick (“This Film Is Not Yet Rated”) delivers a documentary about the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to.  “Outrage” reveals the hidden lives of some of our nation’s most powerful policymakers, details the harm they’ve inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media’s complicity in keeping their secrets. [Synopsis courtesy of Magnolia Pictures].     (1 of 2)  Next Page › Login to recommend this article » posted on April 7, 2009 |Share Comments 1 sasha says on March 31, 2009 at 5:29pm JERICHOW, a film by Christian Petzold, opens in NYC at Film Forum on May 15 Login to Leave a Comment »