New York independent film and music distributor Factory 25 has acquired rights to mumblecore god Joe Swanberg‘s (Drinking Buddies) All the Light in the Sky, starring Jane Adams (Hung.) Adams plays Marie, a middle-aged actress living in Malibu who’s struggling to find work in the twilight of her career. When her young niece (Sophia Takal) comes to visit her waterfront home, Marie feels compelled to confront her midlife insecurities, mostly involving trust issues with men.

All the Light in the Sky was one of our favorite films from SF Indiefest earlier this year, and we’re very glad it got picked up. The film also stars several Swanberg regulars including Simon Barrett, Kent Osborne, Larry Fassenden, Ti West, and more.

Factory 25 will release the film on VOD and iTunes on December 3rd, with a theatrical run in New York following shortly thereafter on December 20th.

Watch the trailer for All the Light in the Sky:

Having liked Lynn Shelton’s previous feature, Humpday, I was anxious to see if she could duplicate her efforts in Your Sister’s Sister. I will tell you right now, she does just that and then some. Shelton’s greatest achievement here is taking simple conventional situations and making them into complex and extraordinary without sacrificing believability. It is something that is commonly tried but rarely achieved, at least to the degree it was here.

Friends gather around having drinks and sharing stories about their friend Tom who passed away a year ago. We never actually meet Tom in the film but from hearing some of the stories it leads you believe he was a nice and likeable guy. That is until his brother Jack (Mark Duplass) gets up and tells the group the side he knows of him, which is a physical and mental manipulative person. Jack has a typical brother assessment but completely inappropriate time and place to express that. Needless to say the crowded room fell awkwardly silent.

Luckily for Jack, he has a close friend who is keeping an eye on him. Her name is Iris (Emily Blunt) and at one point she dated his brother Tom. She tells him that for a year now he has been a mess and that he needs to change his current destructive ways. In order to achieve this she comes up with a plan to send him off to her dad’s remote cabin that is located on peaceful an island.

This cabin has no television or internet, a perfect scenario for Jack not to get distracted and allow him to think about his life just watching the waves in the water that surrounds the cabin. At least that was the plan. But as we all know, life often does not go according to plan, it is especially the case in films.

When he arrives at the cabin he approaches the front door only to see that there is someone already there. Not sure what to do he peers through the window until he makes himself noticed by making a sound. As the woman comes charging out the cabin with an ore in her hand, he notices that it is just Iris’s sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt).

The two did not start out on a good note but eventually make amends when they find themselves sharing a bottle of tequila around the table at 3:00 A.M. Hannah divulges that she has just got out of a 7 year relationship with a female partner. Jack explains how he has had a “shitty year” and came to the cabin for solitude. Several shots later a proposition from Jack arises for the two to hookup, even though she is a lesbian. We are not sure if it was the tequila or the intention to let go by try something different, but she accepts.

Almost exactly at the half way point in the film, I began to wonder how Shelton would advance the rest of the story. There is an obvious way the film could go and it does but not for very long. Somehow I knew, or maybe just hoped, that it would not stay on that obvious path for very long. Thankfully, it did not. It continued to hold your attention through it’s entirety.

For me, one of the best qualities a film can possess is for it to come off genuine. Do not get me wrong, I adore the weird crazy out-there films as well. But when a film can accurately replicate that awkward moment when someone prepares food in which you must lie by saying it is wonderful because they were so excited for you to try it, like found in Your Sister’s Sister, it is extraordinary.

I was shocked at how well the dialog was considering it was largely improvised. By definition it is a mumblecore film but for those of you who are turned off by that “genre”, do not worry. While the film still captures raw emotions in the moment with everyday dialog, it never feels like it rambles on for too long. It feels loose but not too loose. I guess you could call it Mumblecore 2.0 but the bottom line is that it worked well.

Remarkably, Shelton shot Your Sister’s Sister in just 12 days. When I first heard that I was expecting for it to be evident in the film. However, after watching the film you would never have guessed it was shot in less than two weeks.

I will admit that if you read just the synopsis of Your Sister’s Sister you will most likely think a typical sitcom is in store. Instead, the film is more of an intelligent romantic comedy featuring terrific characters in a very honest manner. It is an excellent example of how wonderful improvisational dialog can be when you have the right cast members and director. To cap it all off, instead of opting for a safe ending Shelton gives us an ending that fit perfectly with the rest of the film.

Cold Weather is a low-budget indie film by Aaron Katz that firmly believes less is more, focusing often on subtle interactions between characters. The film’s dialog is natural enough to be considered mumblecore, meaning seemingly improvised. Cold Weather goes to great lengths to show just how ordinary the twentysomething character’s daily lives are before they are blindsided by the mystery that unfolds.

Doug (Cris Lankenau) dropped out of a forensic science program in college but still hopes to one day become a detective. After interning in a kitchen for two months without pay he settles on a job in an ice making factory. He has recently moved from Chicago into a small apartment with his sister, Gail (Trieste Kelly Dunn), in Portland.

Oddly enough Doug’s ex-girlfriend Rachel (Robyn Rikoon) is in town for a potential job opening so the two hang out together again. It must have not been too bad of a break up because the two seem more like close friends than ex-lovers. She tells him she wants to check out his place and he casually invites her over for board games.

Joining them for a night of board games is Doug’s new friend from the ice making factory, Carlos (Raul Castillo). The group hit it off rather well and hangs out together on a couple different occasions. Carlos brings up the fact he is looking for someone to attend a Star Trek convention with him but Doug has no interest. However, come to find out that Rachel is a Star Trek fan so Carlos asks Doug if it is okay to invite her to go with. Since their relationship is strictly friends at this point he responds, “I’m totally fine with it. And you guys are dorks.”

Carlos and Rachel attend the convention and supposedly had a great time there. Carlos becomes very paranoid when she does not end up showing up for their second “date”. He is so worried he frantically calls Doug five times while he is sleeping and eventually stops over. Doug thinks Carlos has been taking the Sherlock Holmes books he had recently lent him far too seriously.

This dream of being a detective finally comes true when Carlos presents enough evidence to get Doug to side with him. The two get to act out their fantasy playing Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they try to find clues to Rachel’s disappearance. Although, Carlos is not as willing to skip work as Doug is, so he eventually brings Gail in to be his side-kick.

Cris Lankenau plays the part of Doug perfectly as if the role was written for him. Which could very well be the case considering Katz was one of the writers of Cold Weather and Lankenau worked with Katz before in his last film Quiet City. It would be hard not to like his character and it does not take long to believe in him because of how realistic and how down-to-earth he portrays the character. The best part of it all is that you forget that he is acting.

There are at least two different parts of the film that are seat grabbing worthy. The fact Katz was able to evoke such feelings from such a low-key tempo, which it greatly benefits from, is one of the best qualities of the film. The thing I liked least about the film though was how Carlos and Rachel’s involvement to seemed to fade out even though they were initially very important to the story.

Cold Weather does not have the kind of pace that your typical detective thriller has. In fact, although the focal point of film is the thriller, it is more about the brother-sister relationship Doug and Gail have. He finds out more about her personal life while sitting in a car on a stake out than he probably ever would have otherwise. The ending may not sit well for most people, I am split on it, but it achieves the outcome it feels is important. Whether you do or not is beside the point.

Cyrus is not quite the comedy the trailers have you believe it is. This indie film is much more than your typical John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill slapstick you are accustom to seeing in Judd Apatow films, it adds a touch of dark creepiness. Written and directed by upcoming indie superstar duo Mark and Jay Duplass, Cyrus takes cues from their previous films such as, The Puffy Chair and Baghead. In other words, it is wonderful. I would be lying if I said I was not excited when it was announced they were doing this film.

John (John C. Reilly) is socially inept who openly admits is lonely, depressed and desperate after being separated from his wife for seven years now. Just days away from his ex-wife getting married, she feels bad for John and wants him to move on with his life. She knows he needs a relationship for this to happen, so she drags him to a party.

At a party that he not only was not thrilled on going to, let alone meet someone at, he finds a girl named Molly (Marisa Tomei). Even though John is completely drunk beyond reason, for which he can thank his ex-wife for, Molly looks past that. She is in a lot of ways like John, lonely and single for far too long.

He is overly excited when she comes over for the first date, someone that every male can probably empathize with. He purchases condoms, wine, makes dinner and even puts in a few last minute sit-ups. What John lacks in confidence, which is a lot, he more than compensates in honestly. As in this case, sometimes the two are not completely unrelated. The date goes well but ends mysteriously when she tries to sneak out but is caught by John.

John suspiciously follows her home and accidentally falls asleep in his car. The next morning he discovers that she has a son named Cyrus (Jonah Hill). The two oddly hit it off being completely and sometimes too open with each other. Cyrus being overly welcome, invites him to stay for dinner, which John eagerly agrees to.

Something strange happens the next morning as he is about to leave, his shoes are missing. He becomes a little paranoid that something is up. He consults his ex-wife whom which is also his co-worker it turns out. She tells him to forget about it and pretend it never happened. Partly, because she does not believe they took the shoes but mostly because she wants him to be in a relationship more than anyone.

John, as well as the viewer, begins to question whether or not Cyrus is trying to sabotage their relationship or if the bizarre and overly welcome encounters are legit. The film then shifts it’s focus around Cyrus. Hence, the title of the film. The romantic comedy takes a sharp turn and reveals a darker side.

We see John go through an amazing character development as he transforms into a new person. He goes from the timid and lonely, depressed person, to a smart and tactful one. In many ways, his character is a reprise from his character in Magnolia. I am not only talking about him being in a more serious role in general but specifically similar personalities. I missed that John C Reilly. Apparently, so did others as he was nominated for Best Male Lead at Independent Spirit Awards.

Cyrus does not rely solely on John C. Reilly to carry the film though, nearly equally as impressive are Marisa Tomei and Jonah Hill. Tomei is plays a lovable character that is hard not to like. Hill shows that he can play an unlikeable, dark and creepy character instead of the usual pure comedy role. I am not putting down his typical roles, because I find them, and subsequently him, to be hilarious. It is delightful to see this different side of him.

For better or worse, the film was shot in a typical Duplass style. Which feels very amateur, almost home movie style with random snap-zooms. Personally, I think it works here but others may not agree. The dialog between characters was very natural and believable. The film as a whole is completely realistic. Which is tends to be a recurring trademark of the Duplass brothers and what has become known as the mumblecore movement. They achieve this by less script and rehearsal and more improvisation on the set.

Cyrus is a straight forward and incredibly honest film, two simple qualities that big budget films should take note of. It proves that you do not need an overly complicated plot with unrealistic situations in order to make a film interesting. Throw in terrific acting performances by the cast and you have yourself one very superb indie film.

While the basic premise behind Humpday is simple and somewhat idiotic, the film is far from it. This indie comedy won the John Cassavetes Award at 2010 Independent Spirit Awards. It also won the Special Jury Prize and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. And rightfully so.

A longtime friend Andrew (Joshua Leonard) arrives without notice at Ben’s (Mark Duplass) house late one night. They are re-connected for the first time in years. Ben’s life consists of a pretty normal “white picket fence” type lifestyle according to Andrew. Andrew is a free-spirited artist that couldn’t be more different than Ben. The only thing they really share in common now are their old college day memories together. Andrew meets some new people the next day who happen to be artists and invites Ben over for dinner. Coincidentally Ben was originally meaning to invite Andrew over for a home cooked meal that his wife Anna was making just for the three of them. Ben breaks it to Anna that their plans are not going to happen because he feels slightly obligated to stay.

Andrew and Ben end up getting drunk and the newly founded artist friends inform the two of a upcoming local amateur porn festival. Andrew is immediately interested in the festival. Ben feels maybe slightly forced to fit in and drunkenly says that if they want to do something for the festival that it has to be something no one has done before. It must be unique. So he suggests he and Andrew have sex on camera because two straight guys having sex is not something that is usually done.

Sober the next day neither one of them want to back down and still think it’s a good idea. But there was still one more hurdle to get over, Ben needs to inform Anna of their plans. This is not an easy task to say the least.

Mark Duplass seems to play similar characters in his roles, just as in The Puffy Chair, he reminds me so much of myself, which really allows me to connect to the film better. Often mannerisms and what he says in situations are similar to how I am. I get the feeling that Duplass on the screen and off the screen are pretty similar.

Ben doesn’t know why it’s important to him to make this video, although it seems like it’s partly to prove to his good friend that he isn’t just a settled down domestic family man with a “white picket fence”. However, without realizing it they both are trying to prove something to themselves. Ben is trying to convince himself that his marriage is really open and that he can have his own freedom and independence. Also to see if he gets any sort of positive homosexual feelings from it. For Andrew he is trying to live his life the way he perceives his lifestyle should be, but then realizes that he may not be as open minded as he had thought. He is also trying to finally finish something from start to end in his life, something that he struggles to do.

All the actors and dialog seemed very natural in Humpday. It’s incredibly honest. Humpday didn’t really feel like a film because it was so real, instead it felt more like a documentary. There is no overly complicated plot here. Nothing happens in the film that couldn’t easily happen in real life, including the ending. Which some people may not appreciate but you must take it for what it is, realistic.