Indie Watch: May 2013

For our complete list of movies to see (and one to avoid) for the month of May, head to Film.com. For just the most important indie flicks of the month, read on!

“Frances Ha” (May 17)

“The Squid and the Whale” and “Greenberg” helmer Noah Baumbach is back, reunited with “Greenberg” break out Greta Gerwig in this comedy, who stars and co-writes. The film played to solid reviews out of Telluride, Toronto, New York and more and also stars beloved Girls boy Adam Driver. In a month chock full of major studio movies, “Frances Ha”, described as a “modern fable exploring New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure and redemption” is a much needed alternative, currently rocking 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Before Midnight” (May 24)

Ultimately whichever film wins the box office over Memorial Day is irrelevant, because the only movie that actually matters that weekend is “Before Midnight.” The third movie in this most unusual of trilogies, following 1995′s “Before Sunrise” and 2004′s “Before Sunset,” the latest chapter again follows one day in the relationship between Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke), this time finding them in their early 40s … and that’s all you need to know. A must see for any human, be prepared to experience sensations in your soul you did not know existed. Go go go go go go go go go.

“The East” (May 30)

Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling collaborate once again after beginning to build a fanbase with last year’s “Sound of my Voice”. Eco Espionage Thriller is the name of the game this time around, with a healthy dose of Stockholm Syndrome for good measure. In “The East,” Brit Marling stars as a rookie FBI agent who infiltrates an anarchist group and starts to connect with its charismatic leader played by Alexander Skarsgard. It’s been called captivating and inventive, and apparently features a fantastic performance from Ellen Page. If you make a point to see one Indie this month, make sure it’s “Before Midnight.” But if you see two, “The East” should definitely be on your list.