Indie Spotlight: New Releases for Dec. 19

The Saturday before Christmas tends to be the biggest shopping day of the year (the idea that it's the day after Thanksgiving is an urban legend) -- so that's all the more reason to skip the malls and go to the movies instead! The multiplexes have a variety of offerings in store for you, but the Indie Spotlight is here to tell you about what's happening at the art houses. 'Tis the season for limited-release Oscar-bait!

Today's new offerings are: The Class, Moscow, Belgium, Nothing But the Truth, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, and The Wrestler. Here's the lowdown on each of them:

The Wrestler
What it is: OK, it stretches the definition of "indie," but this drama about a washed-up professional wrestler seeking redemption certainly feels like a non-studio film.
What they're saying: This one's been getting raves ever since it won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival in September. Cinematical's James Rocchi, reviewing it at Toronto, called it "one of the best American movies of 2008." At Rotten Tomatoes, all but two of the 58 critics weighing in have praised it -- and one of the two naysayers is Armond White, who can usually be counted on to have the opposite opinion of everyone else and who I think might be a fictional character anyway.
Where it's playing: New York City (Lincoln Plaza, Landmark Sunshine), Los Angeles (ArcLight Hollywood, The Landmark).
More info: The official site has a long list of release dates for other cities, including some next week.

Nothing But the Truth
What it is: A political drama about a journalist refusing to identify her source on a story that outed a covert CIA agent. Vera Farmiga, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, and Matt Dillon are among the stars.
What they're saying: Cinematical's me, Eric D. Snider, reviewed it mostly favorably at Toronto. Not a great film, maybe, but a good, solid, meaty one, with terrific performances and intelligent dialogue. The reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are 71% positive.
Where it's playing: New York City (Regal E-Walk 13), Los Angeles (Mann Beverly Center, Majestic Crest).
More info: Here's the official site, which has almost nothing (but what it does have is the truth).

The Class
What it is: A French drama set in a junior high school classroom, filmed mostly with non-actors and based on the writer's real teaching experiences.
What they're saying: Cinematical's James Rocchi saw it at Cannes (where it picked up a prize or two) and liked its subtly, realism, and honesty. There are 27 reviews posted at Rotten Tomotoes, with all but one of them praising it -- and what do you know, the one naysayer is Armond White!
Where it's playing: New York City (Lincoln Plaza), Los Angeles (The Landmark). This is just a week-long Oscar-qualifying run; the real release will be in January.
More info: The official site lets you download the screenplay if you want to -- exactly the kind of cheating you would have done in junior high school!

Moscow, Belgium
What it is: A Dutch-language romantic comedy, set in the small town of the title, about a middle-aged woman falling in love.
What they're saying: All six reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are positive, calling the film warm, funny, sentimental, and pleasant.
Where it's playing: New York City (Cinema Village).
More info: The official site.

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
What it is: A documentary about the avant-garde rock musician, who I'm not going to pretend I've heard of.
What they're saying: Fifteen of the 17 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes are positive, saying the film is riveting, straightforward, and fascinating; a couple critics also suggest it's a parody of pop-documentary pretension.
Where it's playing: New York City (IFC Center).
More info: The official site has some release dates for other cities.