Over the last few years, A24 has quickly become one of the most respected second-tier distributors currently putting movies out in North America. In their first year (2013), the company put out three of the best films of that year, includingHarmony Korine’s wild-eyedSpring Breakers,The Spectacular Now, andSofia Coppola’s fantasticThe Bling Ring. Over the last two years, the company has gone on to put out a handful of out-and-out masterworks that have continued to push pop cinema into its most strange and personal corners of thought and feeling, whether inUnder the SkinandThe RoverorEx Machinaand this year’sThe Witch. And I’m leaving major works off that list, including Oscar-winnerRoomand new cult-favoriteGreen Room.
The Witch,Green Room,The Lobster, andSwiss Army Manhas made A24 even more popular in the eyes of adventurous cinephiles worldwide this year, and they’re looking to back that up with a busy third and fourth quarter. We’ve already heard aboutEquals,Morris from America, andBen Wheatley’sFree Fire(which could be moved to 2017), and today, we’ve got release information on three other major releases from the company. First of all, there’sMike Mills'20th Century Women, the Air collaborator’s follow-up toBeginners, which A24 picked up today and is planning on releasing some time in 2016’s fourth quarter. The film starsAnnette Bening,Greta Gerwig, andElle Fanningas three women who are involved with Bening’s character’s son growing up over the years; the film will be set in 1979, at least at the beginning.
Those who have seen Mills' first two films will know the man has a way with imagery that can be quite gorgeous in passages, and the same goes forAndrea Arnold. The Scottish-born director made a splash at Cannes this year withAmerican Honey, her follow-up to her recent, rather goodWuthering Heightsadaptation, and A24 will release her film on September 30th. And then there’sMoonlight, the new film byBarry Jenkins, adapted fromIn Moonlight Black Boys Look BluebyTarell Alvin McCraney, which will be released on October 21st by A24. Jenkins made a small commotion with his promising first feature,Medicine for Melancholy, which followed an unlikely courtship between two San-Franciscoans, played byWyatt CenacandTracey Heggins, but he’s only made shorts since then. With a cast that includesHouse of CardsstandoutMahershala Ali,The Knick’sAndre Holland, and Moneypenny herselfNaomie Harris,Moonlighthas major potential, which is something I find myself saying a lot in regards to A24 releases.
