Showing Up And 4 Other Overlooked A24 Movies You Probably Missed
Projects that are bold, original, and worthy of more attention.
A24 is one of the most important brands in the modern film industry, with films conquering festivals, competing for Oscars and, most importantly, attracting millions of loyal viewers who are ready to see every new release.
But there is another side to this rich catalog – some worthy films are overshadowed by more high-profile and successful releases.
1. Obvious Child, 2014
Movies about abortion are usually emotionally draining dramas about the injustice of the law and the difficulty of a woman's choice. Rarely are comedies made about such a sensitive subject. Obvious Child is one of them.
Gillian Robespierre's debut is dedicated to a stand-up comedian who is going through a bad patch in her life: she breaks up with her boyfriend, loses her job and gets pregnant after a night with a man she barely knows.
Obvious Child is an honest dramedy about finding yourself, supporting your friends, and having an inner core that allows you to laugh in the wildest situations.
2. Showing Up, 2022
Showing Up is a funny and life-affirming movie that was somehow ignored by viewers, despite the participation of Michelle Williams and Hong Chau.
The story revolves around an artist who is preparing for an important exhibition, but cannot finish a sculpture because she is constantly distracted by insignificant and sometimes absurd tasks.
Without the pretentious ideas inherent in the subject, Kelly Reichardt reflects on how everyday worries and small disappointments turn out to be an integral part of art.
3. Funny Pages, 2022
Owen Kline's debut, a film about trying to break into the indie comics industry, captures the vibe of the genre: eccentric characters with strange appearances and broken psyches, absurd situations, dark humor, and an oppressive sense of paranoia – as if something terrible is about to happen.
It's no coincidence that the film was produced by the Safdie brothers, who know how to not only tickle the audience's nerves, but also break their hearts with stories about how dreams collide with harsh reality.
4. The End of the Tour, 2015
Before Jesse Eisenberg started making road movies about conversations between two different people, the actor starred in one himself.
Eisenberg played writer and Rolling Stone journalist David Lipsky, who spent several days in the mid-1990s interviewing David Foster Wallace, who had just published the monumental Infinite Jest.
The movie is based on long but sharp intellectual conversations about art, inspiration, ego, the nature of success and the loneliness that follows.
5. Earth Mama, 2023
At first glance, Savanah Leaf's film is yet another social drama about the hardships of poverty: a pregnant woman tries to get back on her feet and regain custody of her children.
Instead of a stereotypical plot about bureaucratic hell and endless trials, Leaf offers viewers an intimate drama about motherhood and boundless love, which motivates the main character not to give up and start a new fight again and again.