


“I Am Michael”
Director: Justin Kelly
After writing and directing music videos, Justin Kelly makes the transition to feature with the help of mentor Gus Van Sant. Written and directed by Kelly and based on Benoit Denizen-Lewis’ New York Times Magazine article “My Ex-Gay Friend,” the drama tells the controversial story of a gay activist who becomes a Christian pastor. And who else but James Franco could play such a part? We’re expecting nothing less than a gripping exploration of love, desire, religion and betrayal.
“Mistress America”
Director: Noah Baumbach
“Frances Ha” duo Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are back with their second under-the-radar offering. Not much is known about the comedy apart from the fact that it stars Gerwig as an outgoing young woman who invades the life of her soon-to-be stepsister (played by “Gone Girl” breakout Lola Kirke). Gerwig excels at playing larger than life personas, and she created true magic with Baumbach in “Frances Ha.” We have a feeling lightening struck twice with this duo. Fox Searchlight snatched up rights to distribute the comedy earlier this month, which bodes of good things to come.


“Sleeping With Other People”
Director: Leslye Headland
A story about the will-they-won’t-they platonic relationship between a charming womanizer (Jason Sudeikis) and a serial cheater (Alison Brie) may sound like a giant rom-com cliché, but you should never underestimate the edgy charms of former playwright Leslye Headland. The writer-director’s 2012 debut, “Bachelorette,” had the misfortune of following in the footsteps of the similarly themed blockbuster “Bridesmaids,” but the NYU Tisch graduate showed a promising comic spirit that was feistier and more fearless than any Melissa McCarthy poop-in-the-sink joke. Last February, her raunchy screenplay for the Kevin Hart-starring “About Last Night” was a delightful surprise as it confidently walked the line between naughty and crude without ever indulging in crass immaturity. Given the talented ensemble and the starry Sundance premiere the director has lined up for “Sleeping With Other People,” this rom-com will be Headland’s biggest break yet and we can’t wait to see how she pulls it off. Luckily for Headland, the lovely Alison Brie (“Community”) is poised for a star-making turn of her own, and we’re hopeful these two ladies will be a match made in comedy heaven.

Director: John MacLean

Director: Nikole Beckwith
Saorise Ronan plays a young woman who was kidnapped as a little girl and now, 17 years later, is returned to live with her parents. The fact that Ronan anchors the film is more than enough of a reason to go see the film, as she has consistently delivered strong performances since her breakout in 2007’s “Atonement.” Ronan’s role in “Stockholm, Pennsylvania,” however, stands in stark contrast with most of the roles she has had up until this point — resilient female characters in films such as “Hanna” and “The Lovely Bones,” who manage to push through their anxieties in order to accomplish what they seek. According to the synopses, Ronan’s character in “Stockholm, Pennsylvania” appears to spend the majority of the film not only struggling with how to find her place in a world that she has only just come to know, but also finding the courage to allow other people, namely her parents, help her make the adjustment. And while the role certainly offers new challenges for Ronan, we’re excited to see what she makes of them onscreen.


“Z for Zachariah”
Director: Craig Zobel
Romance meets the apocalypse in Craig Zobel’s emotionally charged adaptation of Robert C. O’Brien’s 1974 award-winning novel, in which a love triangle develops between three of civilization’s last known survivors. All eyes are on the gorgeous Margot Robbie this year as she follows up her breakout role in “The Wolf of Wall Street” by playing elusive love interests in both this science-fiction drama and February’s heist thriller, “Focus.” But considering the latter is more of Will Smith’s show, “Z for Zachariah” will be the first opportunity Robbie has to front a picture all her own, and our gut feeling tells us she’ll be just as confident and sizzling as she makes the jump from supporting to lead. Also enticing is the involvement of director Zobel, whose debut “Compliance” was one of 2012’s best independent thrillers. Considering “Compliance” was also about the psychological chess game between three characters in a very specific environment, we’re confident Zobel has everything he needs for a second feature knockout.
[Editor’s Note: Paula Bernstein, Shipra Gupta, Eric Kohn and Nigel M. Smith contributed to this article.]
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