Ian McKellen In ‘The Critic’, Aubrey Plaza-Starring ‘My Old Ass’, Anime Series ‘Dan Da Dan: First Encounter’ And More ‘Kneecap’ – Specialty Preview

Irish rap trio Kneecap is back in theaters at the start another U.S. tour, with Ian McKellen as The Critic, Aubrey Plaza in coming-of-age My Old Ass and handful of Indian films, and special events including GKids’ DAN DA DAN: First Encounter.

The first three episodes of the show DAN DA DAN, which is shaping up to be the fall’s biggest new anime, are out on 600 screens in a special program. The series is adapted from the manga by Yukinobu Tatsu and directed by Fuga Yamashiro at the studio Science SARU. The first episode premiered at Anime Expo in Los Angeles and Anime NYC in New York. GKids is holding special limited event screenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday followed by a global theatrical rollout ahead of the show’s October streaming debut. It’s one of the first times a major new series like this has debuted in cinemas globally and presales are looking very good, the distributor said.

Also in moderate release, Greenwich Entertainment’s opens The Critic, directed by Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie) and starring Sir Ian McKellen, who is seeing some Best Oscar nomination buzz, at 556 theaters in the U.S and Canada. Debuted at TIFF last year, see Deadline review.

Watch on Deadline

McKellen is Jimmy Erksine, the most feared theater critic in 1930s London, who lives as flamboyantly as he writes and takes pleasure in savagely taking down any actor who fails to meet his standards. When the owner of the Daily Chronicle newspaper dies, and his son David Brooke (Mark Strong) takes over, Jimmy quickly finds himself at odds with his new boss and his position under threat. Written Patrick Marber. With Gemma Arterton, Romola Garai, Ben Barnes and Alfred Enoch.

Kneecap is the popular Sony Pictures Classics’ Sundance acquisition that’s barely out of theaters after first opening on August 3. The indie has grossed over $1 million in the U.S. and nearly $2 million in the UK and is back at 154 theaters in NY, LA, San Francisco and other major markets across the U.S., supporting the band as it goes back on tour in the U.S. hitting Philadelphia and Boston and other cities.

The film by Rich Peppiatt stars the members of the eponymous Irish rap trio as themselves, growing up, coming together and finding their groove in Belfast. The first to rap in native Irish, Kneecap became a target of authorities, and a cultural phenomenon. Ireland’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature.

My Old Ass from Amazon MGM Studios opens in limited release at 7 theaters across New York, Los Angeles and Austin, expanding across North America over the following two weekends. Amazon acquired the Aubrey Plaza-starring coming-of-age film at Sundance where it premiered to strong reviews. Written and directed by Megan Park (The Fallout), produced by LuckyChap’s Tom Ackerley, Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara, and Indian Paintbrush’s Steven Rales.

Maisy Stella stars as free-spirited Elliot whose 18th birthday mushroom trip brings her face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer. 

The Cinema Guild presents Matt And Mara by Kazik Radwanski at the IFC Center in NYC. Stars Matt Johnson (Blackberry) and Deragh Campbell (Anne at 13000 Ft.). Premiered at Berlin, playing TIFF. When Mara (Campbell) a young creative writing professor, reunites with Matt (Johnson), a charismatic, free-spirited author from her past, a chance encounter threatens to spin her life in a thrilling new direction. Bonded by their history and shared interests, the two grow closer, while Mara contends with her strained marriage to an experimental musician. When her husband unexpectedly cancels plans to drive Mara to a conference out of town, Matt accompanies her instead and the pressure in their undefined relationship slowly builds.

Well Go USA’s How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies opens on 56 screens. The Thai film has been taking Southeast Asia by storm and is a likely frontrunner for the Thailand’s Oscar entry. Directed by Pat Boonnitipat, the drama follows a scheming young man who, after hearing his grandmother is diagnosed with cancer, moves in to care for her, motivated by a desire to secure her fortune for himself. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that winning Grandma’s favor is no easy feat.

Docs include Abramorama’s Sweetheart Deal, a documentary from directors Elisa Levine and Gabriel Miller, opens at the Angelika Village East in New York for a weeklong run followed by nationwide theatrical engagements.The story of four sex workers caught in the spiral of addiction who turn to a self-proclaimed healer offering friendship and a path to salvation from the streets of Seattle. An official selection of the Slamdance Film Festival, San Francisco Documentary Festival and Doctober, it won awards at the Seattle Film Critics Society, Seattle International Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Festival, Bend Film, Atlanta Underground Film Festival and the Brooklyn Film Festival.

And Utopia opens surfer doc Trilogy: New Wave day and date. Directed by sports photographer/producer Andrew Mackenzie, the film stars Griffin Colapinto (currently ranked #1 in the World Surf League), Ethan Ewing (currently ranked #2 in WSL) and Seth Moniz on a dream quest across the globe for pristine waves in eight pristine, remote locations from Indonesiaa and Peru, to South Africa and Tahiti. Putting rivalries aside, they discover how the power of friendship can unlock greater success in and out of the water. The original Trilogy, a classic surf film directed by Taylor Steele, debuted in 2007. Since then, surfing has transitioned from countercultural pastime to mainstream sport. Trilogy: New Wave examines this evolution with a new lens and unexpected perspective. On eight screens this weekend including the Laemmle Monica LA and Roxy Cinema NYC.

MORE…