For Your Consideration - Soul Mate Edition

For Your Consideration is a weekly round-up of upcoming indie limited releases. The idea is to either expose you to or remind you of films that can't afford to plaster their posters on the sides of buildings or accompany your Happy Meal in toy form.

Are you feeling lost this week? Looking for a cinematic getaway this weekend that is a little more metaphysical than the latest action movie based around a toyline? Perhaps you're just afraid that you won't be able to afford the new cooking hobby/addiction you'll no doubt pick-up if you see the hulking tidal wave of charm presented by Amy Adams and Meryl Streep's latest pairing? Then perhaps this week's FYC can help. This week's stunningly similar recommendations are both Sundance darlings, both star actors playing themselves, and both involve said actors-turned-subjects traveling great distances to uncover answers about two of life's greatest mysteries - does true love exist and where on Earth is Paul Giamatti's soul?

PAPER HEART

What: The first feature film from Nick Jasenovec, Paper Heart chronicles comedienne Charlyne Yi and a problem that has been nagging her for a while - she doesn't believe in love. She decides to scour the country with her director friend Nick interviewing friends, strangers, experts, bikers, psychics, and couples to learn more about the nebulous nature of love. Things become complicated when she begins falling for Michael Cera shortly after filming commences on their project. Will the invasive chronicling of their interactions as part of her documentary shed light on what it means to be in love or sink their burgeoning relationship before it can find its footing?

Where: LA - The Landmark, Arclight Hollywood, Playhouse 7, NY - AMC Empire 25, AMC Loews Lincoln Square

Why: A documentary mashed together with large chunks of traditional narrative storytelling and fantasy - but not nearly as pretentious as all of that makes it sound - Paper Heart is a refreshingly unique take on the romantic comedy. Paper Heart may seem to have all of the ironic and detached trappings of Hipsterdom attached to it, but it's actually a relentlessly sincere film that revels in spotlighting humanity at its best - a bit of chicken soup for these cynical Bruno times. It's an engaging film that eschews formula and examines not just love, but also the nature of the love story, but be warned, the more cynical among you may walk away annoyed by its preciously upbeat world view.

COLD SOULS

What: The first film from writer/director Sophie Barthes, Cold Souls is a surreal comedy starring Paul Giamatti as an actor named Paul Giamatti. Gripped with existential fear after reading Anton Checkov's Uncle Vanya, he finds himself unable to do anything but sit around and mope all day. Luckily, the New Yorker comes to the rescue with an article detailing a company that will deep-freeze and store your soul until you're ready to deal with it. After experiencing a shift in his personality, Paul goes back to retrieve his soul only to find himself the victim of "soul-trafficking," which sets him off an existential adventure to find who now owns his soul.

Where: LA - The Landmark, Playhouse 7, Arclight Sherman Oaks; NY - Landmark Sunshine Cinema, Lincoln Plaza Cinema

Why: At its Sundance premiere, Cold Souls drew a lot comparisons to the work of Charlie Kaufman - unsurprising considering it is a reflective tale centered around a member of show-business peppered with a large dose of magical realism, but most early reviews show that, despite these superficial similarities, the film manages to stand on its own thematically and structurally, and isn't that what's important? Let us not forget, that many derided Charlie Kaufman as little more than a Woody Allen knock-off early in his career. I could continue defending this film, but derivative-or-not, it looks darn enjoyable.

Everything Else

BEESWAX

BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA

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Told from the point-of-view of the Obama Campaign, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama is the most in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2004 presidential race. Spending the first third of the film on the underdog battle to win the Iowa caucus and following through the the battle for the Democratic nomination and ending at the White House, the film is a rare, first-hand look at the rigors of running for the Oval Office.