Written and directed by Tony-nominated Chris D’Arienzo (Rock of Ages), the SXSW film features wannabe ladies’ man Barry, played by Patrick Wilson (Little Children, Hard Candy). The less-than-smooth operator gets attacked, wakes up to find his nuggets (yep, those) missing, then learns he’s facing a paternity suit from a woman he doesn’t remember smushing. Seeing as this may be his only chance to be a father, he reaches out. The ball’s in your court now.
It’s like: Knocked Up meets the ’70s.
Take your: Guy. Maybe he’ll see it doesn’t take cojones to be a man.
Premiered: October 1

We hear it’s the year of the doc. And Oscar-nominated director Charles Ferguson’s (No End in Sight) latest has us intrigued. A festival circuit staple (New York, Cannes, Telluride, Toronto), Inside Job investigates the events surrounding the 2008 financial crisis and encourages viewers to do something about it. Narrated by Matt Damon, it’s sure to hit home — no pun intended.
It’s like: Roger & Me meets The Cove.
Take your: Attorney — you may have a claim.
Premieres: Today

British artist Sam Taylor-Wood’s chronicle of John Lennon’s youth and the start of his skiffle and rock band, The Quarrymen (turned Beatles later on), starring Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) as Lennon and Kristin Scott Thomas (Life as a House) as his Aunt Mimi, has four BAFTA noms in its pocket. We can’t wait to twist and shout about it.
It’s like: Easy Virtue to the tune of “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.”
Take your: Fab Four.
Premieres: Today

Tony Goldwyn’s (yes, Carl from Ghost) latest feature, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, tells the story of high school dropout Betty’s (Hilary Swank) decision to put herself through law school to represent and save her brother (Sam Rockwell) from a wrongful murder conviction. The score’s uplifting, and the two have unmatched chemistry. Plus, who doesn’t love a do-gooder?
It’s like: Presumed Innocent meets In the Name of the Father.
Take your: Sibling, and put the petty stuff aside.
Premieres: October 15

Clint Eastwood’s TIFF screener and NYFF closer follows the hereafter (life after loss) of three main characters (hello again, Matt Damon) who are all touched by death. Laying off the vigilantes this time (Gran Torino, Mystic River), Eastwood pushes the boundaries and examines what it means to be alive, loved — and even killed. People are labeling this one a supernatural thriller, but we think it could just be a reality check.
It’s like: Crash meets The Gift.
Take: Your sixth sense.
Premieres: October 22

We’re drained when it comes to tweeny Twilight sagas. But Cloverfield director Matt Reeves infuses new blood into his reimagining of Swedish vamp movie Let the Right One In (previously nominated for a BAFTA). Set in a snowy New Mexico town, bullied kid Owen (known as Oskar in the original) befriends young, undead Abby, and the star-crossed outcasts fashion a unique companionship.
It’s like: the original — without subtitles.
Take your: Friends who love a good scare.
Premiered: October 1

Cowritten and directed by Drake Doremus (Spooner), the Sundance charmer stars Doremus’s real-life buddies as estranged brothers. Try to keep up: Sam, the d-bag in question, is about to marry the beautiful Steph. He convinces his dateless, doodle-drawing brother, Tom, to travel across the country to convince Tom’s fifth-grade crush to be his plus-one at the wedding. Brotherly bonding ensues.
It’s like: Sideways without Payne’s shoestring budget.
Take your: Sarcastic older brother.
Premiered: October 1

Husband-and-wife writing/directing duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, underappreciated Sugar) tackle humor in what we hope is kind of a sweet story. The dramedy follows stressed-out, 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist), as he checks himself into an adult psych ward, finds a mentor in quirky cohabitant Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), and learns about love, life, and growing up. Aside from radiating that general indie feel we love, we dig the directors’ style of getting the point across without saying a word.
It’s like: 500 Days of Summer meets One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Take your: Friends from the puzzle factory; we all have them.
Premieres: Today

Stephen Frears’s (The Queen) film adaptation of Posy Simmonds’s graphic novel has delighted Cannes, Toronto, and Telluride festival-goers. The ugly duckling tale follows Bond girl Gemma Arterton as she returns home to the English countryside to look after her late mother’s estate. Thanks to a nose job, what appears to be enhancements of the booby kind, and jorts of the Daisy variety, people from the neighboring farmsteads turn into slack-jawed yokels.
It’s like: Sabrina meets Much Ado About Nothing.
Take: a sick day and grab your mates.
Premieres: Today