For Your Consideration - Best Laid Plans... 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.

This week's recommendations are all about people's life dreams and the way the world loves to flatly ignore them. World's Greatest Dad is the tale of an aspiring writer turned middle-aged school teacher/father of the worst kid on the planet, while Fifty Dead Men Walking chronicles an unambitious hoodlum's evolution into a spy. Yup - fair trades all around.

WORLD'S GREATEST DAD

What: The fourth feature film from comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, World's Greatest Dad is the tale of Lance Clayton, a doormat of a man whose dreams and aspirations have shrunken smaller than the attendance rate of his poetry class at the local high school. His only living family member is his perverted 16-year-old son who is more interested in watching people felch on the internet than socializing and, to make matters worse, Lance's 'girlfriend' doesn't want anyone to know they are even dating. His life is completely unbearable until a freak occurrence presents him with an ethically dubious path to salvation.

Where: NY - Landmark Sunshine Cinema; LA - Opens 8/28 at the Sunset 5, Playhouse 7, and the Landmark.

Why: World's Greatest Dad is a pitch black, comedic parable that isn't for everyone. While far from a perfect film, it's refreshing to see a director competently combine gross-out comedy with a genuine examination of some of the less talked about aspects of the human condition, especially after Funny People's try-hard, bloated, and ultimately unsuccessful attempt at the same thing. It also features what would be a career-reviving performance from Robin Williams if more than five people actually see it.

FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING

What: The latest feature from prolific, but relatively unsung, Canadian director Kari Skogland, Fifty Dead Men Walking, is a loose adaptation of the memoirs of Martin McGartland. Set in 1980s Northern Ireland, the film follows a local Belfast hood named Marty as he becomes an spy within the IRA at the behest of the British government. Naturally, his life becomes more and more imperiled the deeper and deeper he gets. The film's odd title comes from the real Marty McGartland's claim that his undercover work saved at least fifty lives.

Where: NY - Quad Cinema, AMC Empire 25; LA - Next Week

Why: Although on the surface it may appear to be just another traditional spy movie, early buzz is praising it for its moral complexity and the even-handed way that it portrays such a polarizing topic. Also, it's always nice to see Ben Kingsley take a break from his busy schedule of phoning in performances to every B movie being released these days and Jim Sturgess is receiving rave reviews for his wide-ranging performance that shows him sliding between cocksure swagger and immense vulnerability.

Everything Else

MY ONE & ONLY

ART & COPY

FIVE MINUTES IN HEAVEN

THE BAADER MEINHOF KOMPLEX

Los Angeles - (500) DAYS OF SUMMER - Walking Tour Led by Key Assistant Location Manager

On August 30 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm there will be a walking tour inspired by the film (500) DAYS OF SUMMER. The tour will walk past many of the landmarks featured in the film, such as the Barclay Hotel, the Bradbury Building and the Angels' Knoll Bench. The tour will start at the Old Bank DVD Building, located at 400 S. Main Street in downtown LA. One of the guides will be key assistant location manager Marty Cummins. The walking tour is free but donations to the Los Angeles Conservancy will be graciously accepted. In addition to seeing some great examples of historic architecture, they will screen the film’s “Bank Heist” music video companion piece, starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, shot at downtown’s Farmers & Merchants Bank Building, and celebrate 100 years of filming in downtown Los Angeles by screening clips of old movies shot in downtown L.A.

(500) Days of Summer tour locations include:
Old Bank DVD (video & record store) – starting place
Barclay Hotel (café where Tom’s friends hang out)
Harlem Alley (French black & white fantasy sequence)
Bradbury Building (Tom takes an important meeting)
Angels’ Knoll Bench (Tom’s favorite spot)
Redwood Bar & Grill (Tom & Summer karaoke scene) – final stop

Los Angeles - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Director Introduction

*THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT*

Director Quentin Tarantino will introduce the 12:01AM show of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS on August 21 (Thursday night/Friday Morning) at the Arclight Hollywood.

Tickets are available here.

Los Angeles - BRIGHT STAR - Advance Screening

There will be an advance screening of BRIGHT STAR at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on September 10 at 7:30pm.

Tickets are available here.

New York - ART & COPY - Cinematographer & Executive Producer Appearance

Following the 6:20pm and 8:20pm shows of ART & COPY at the IFC Center in NY on August 21, cinematographer Peter Nelson and executive producer Kirk Souder will make an appearance.

Tickets are available here.

New York - BRIGHT STAR - Advance Screening & Director Q&A

Following an advance screening of BRIGHT STAR at the Director's Guild Theater in NY on September 14th at 7:00 PM director Jane Campion will hold a Q&A session.

Tickets are available here

New York - PASSING STRANGE - Director & Cast Appearances

Director Spike Lee and cast members Stew and Heidi Rodewald will be at the 6:15pm and 9:20pm showings of PASSING STRANGE on August 21 at the IFC Center. Stew and Heidi will also attend the 9:20pm shows on August 22 and the 3:30pm show on August 23. There will also be a special live musical performance featuring Stew and Heidi as part of the 6:15pm show on August 22.

Tickets are available here.

The Week in Preview - 8/17

The Week in Preview is posted every Monday and serves to give you a heads up to events taking place during the week. Be sure to check back on Friday morning for Coming Attractions, a rundown of all the events occurring over the weekend.

LOS ANGELES:

MONDAY
WORLD'S GREATEST DAD - Free Advance Screening
The Silent Movie Theater
Monday, August 17 at 8:00pm.

TUESDAY
WORLD'S GREATEST DAD - Advance Screening & Director Q&A
The Arclight Hollywood
Tuesday, August 18 at 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY
YOUTH KNOWS NO PAIN - Filmmaker Q&A
The Arclight Hollywood
Wednesday, August 19 following 8:00pm show.

THURSDAY
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Director Signing & Introduction
Amoeba Music/Arclight Hollywood
Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm.

FRIDAY
EARTH DAYS - Filmmaker Q&A
Sunset 5
Friday, August 21 following 7:10pm show.

BEESWAX - Director Appearance
The Nuart
Friday, August 21 following 7:30pm and 10:00pm showings.

SATURDAY
EARTH DAYS - Filmmaker Q&A
Sunset 5
Saturday, August 22 following 7:10pm show.

BEESWAX - Director Appearance
The Nuart
Saturday, August 22 following 7:30pm and 10:00pm showings.

EXTRACT - Advance Screening & Director Q&A
The Aero
Saturday, August 22 at 7:30pm.

SUNDAY
EARTH DAYS - Filmmaker Q&A
Sunset 5
Sunday, August 23 following 4:20pm show.

NEW YORK:

MONDAY
AMREEKA - Director Appearance
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Monday, August 17 at 8:30pm.

THURSDAY
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE - Advance Screening & Filmmaker, Cinematographer & Special Guest Appearance
The Paley Center for Media
Thursday, August 20 at 6:30pm.

FRIDAY
PASSING STRANGE - Director & Cast Appearance
IFC Center
Friday, August 21 at 6:15pm and 9:20pm.

ART & COPY - Cinematographer & Executive Producer Appearance
IFC Center
Friday, August 21 at 6:20pm and 8:20pm.

SATURDAY
PASSING STRANGE - Cast Appearance & Performance
IFC Center
Saturday, August 22 at 6:15pm (performance) and 9:20pm (appearance).

SUNDAY
PASSING STRANGE - Director & Cast Appearance
IFC Center
Sunday, August 23 at 3:30pm.

Los Angeles - WORLD'S GREATEST DAD - Free Advance Screening

There will be a free advance screening of WORLD'S GREATEST DAD at the Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles on August 17 at 8:00pm. There are no tickets, so it is advised that you show up early as seats will be granted on a first come, first serve basis.

Los Angeles - INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Director Signing & Introduction

In anticipation of the opening of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS and to celebrate the soundtrack release, director Quentin Tarantino will make special appearances. A special $30 fanpack at Amoeba Music will be available starting at 10:30am on August 18. The first 300 purchasers will receive a copy of the soundtrack, a guaranteed place in line at a signing with Tarantino at 8:00pm on August 20, and a ticket to the midnight showing of Inglorious Basterds at the Arclight Hollywood on August 20. Tarantino will also introduce the screening. The signing will be limited to those 300 who purchased the fanpack.

New York - EARTH DAYS - Director Q&A

Following the 7:30pm show of EARTH DAY on August 14, director Robert Stone will hold a Q&A session. He will also hold a Q&A session after the 3:00pm show on August 16. At the Quad Cinema.

Tickets are available here.

Los Angeles & New York - AVATAR - Extended First Look

On August 21, an extended first look at AVATAR will show in many IMAX theaters across the country. Theaters have yet to be announced, but the screenings will take place between 6 and 7pm. According to the LA Times, tickets will be available at the official Avatar website on August 17 at 12pm PST, 3pm EST. Tickets will be free and limited to 2 per customer, as such they are likely to sell out quickly.