
BY JOE REID |
This Weekend's Indies: 'Prince Avalanche,' 'Lovelace,' and More
Opening in limited release today are a buddy-comedy crowd-pleaser, a daring performance of an adult-film legend, and the latest from Lake Bell and the folks behind 'Borat.'

Prince Avalanche: The last few films from director David Gordon Green have settled into the stoner-comedy vein, with Pineapple Express and Your Highness. With Prince Avalanche, he's hearkening back to earlier films like All the Real Girls, with its sweet comedy of awkwardness and a true beating heart not far below the surface. Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch have a fantastic give-and-take that should easily please crowds.
Lovelace: The life of celebrated porn actress Linda Lovelace would seem like the perfect idea for a shocking indie drama, particularly in a world where Boogie Nights was such a sensation. In the title role, Amanda Seyfried takes on her biggest acting challenge to date, though she's surrounded by a fascinating cast, including Peter Sarsgaard, James Franco, Juno Temple, Chloe Sevigny, and Sharon Stone.
In a World: Writer/director Lake Bell took home a screenwriting award at Sundance for this comedy where she plays a voiceover actress battling her way through a male-dominated niche of the entertainment industry. Word is that it's fantastically funny, and peppered as it is with co-stars like Rob Corddry, Demetri Martin, Tig Notaro, Eva Longoria (as herself!), Geena Davis, and Fred Melamed (who was so wonderful in the Coens' A Serious Man), it could be an oddball good time.
I Give It a Year: Look, either you're onboard with the Minnie Driver Comeback or you're standing in the way. Driver isn't the lead in this relationship comedy -- those would be Rose Byrne and Rafe Spall, though with a supporting cast that includes Anna Faris, Stephen Merchant, Olivia Colman, and Simon Baker, everybody should get the chance to shine at least a little bit.