The official trailer for the Norwegian monster flick "The Troll Hunter" promises, with cheekiness presumably intended, "Sometimes you get to see a unique film so revealing that it changes your concept of society."
The 35th Atlanta Film Festival, which opened Thursday and runs through next weekend and includes "Troll Hunter" among the 125 titles being screened, will be doing its job if it simply tweaks viewers' concept of moviemaking and movie-going.
As usual, the fest will feature a wide array of narratives, documentaries, shorts and international films -- a vast majority independently made -- showing at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, the Plaza Theatre and the Lefont Sandy Springs.
Here's a glance at some of the opening weekend's highlights:
- "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," Morgan Spurlock's documentary/expose about the world of product placement, was, in a strange twist, financed through product placement from various brands. 7:30 tonight at Landmark Midtown. (It gets a commercial run in Atlanta starting May 6.)
- "Black, White and Blues" is a Southern-fried road movie from Mario Van Peebles, the "New Jack City" director and actor who in recent years has helmed TV episodes of "Damages," "Lost" and "Law and Order." Blues musician Jefferson Bailey (Morgan Simpson), seeking redemption and a way to get an angry debtor (Luke Perry) off his tail, hits the highway with helpful Augy (Michael Clarke Duncan). 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Landmark Midtown.
- Atlanta filmmaker Bret Woods' "The Little Death" is about a social reformer who ventures into a turn-of-the-20th-century brothel attempting to liberate a young woman she believes is being held as a sexual captive. If you've seen the Alliance Theatre's current production of "August: Osage County," that reformer will look familiar to you: In the play, Courtney Patterson portrays Karen Weston, one of three daughters suffering under the thumb of domineering mom Violet Weston (Brenda Bynum). In Woods' artistic, assured "Little Death," she's pitted against a tough brothel boss played by another Atlanta stage favorite, Daniel May. 11 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Landmark Midtown.
- Laura Newman's "We Are the Hartmans, " starring Richard Chamberlain in a comedy about locals rallying to save a suburban Pennsylvania rock club, is one of several films receiving world premieres at the Atlanta fest. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Landmark Midtown.
- When "Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same" played the Sundance Film Festival in January, Variety posited that the oddball gay romance could be pitched on Craigslist thusly: "Sweet, funny, clever comedy seeks crossover." 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 2:45 p.m. May 7, Landmark Midtown.
- "Late Rounders" is Evan A. Marshall's documentary about college players chosen late in the pro football draft trying to realize their NFL dreams. University of Kentucky defensive tackle Cory Peters, now with the Falcons, is one of the athletes featured. 5 p.m. Sunday, Landmark Midtown.
- Don McGlynn's "Rejoice and Shout" is a documentary about the history of gospel music. 5 p.m. Sunday, Plaza Theatre.
By the way, if you're interested in "Troll Hunter," the Nordic "mockumentary" is not showing this weekend, but at 10:45 p.m. Monday at Landmark Midtown. It's expected to go into wide release in June.
Event preview
Atlanta Film Festival
Through May 7 at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, the Plaza Theatre and the Lefont Sandy Springs. Most screenings, $10. 404-352-4225, www.atlantafilmfestival.com.
