Success can be measured many different ways from a Fantasy Moguls perspective. It all depends on what you paid, and what you're getting back in return. Summer, however, is a special season. Blockbusters sometimes grab as many PTA points as arthouse films, and they also get you Top 5 points and many millions at the box office. So good arthouse opportunities are much rarer, and harder to spot, than during other times of the year. Still, this week, I'm looking far ahead, across the entire May/July season, to present to you 10 films that may not have a big impact in terms of ticket sales, but that should be worth the consideration of Ultimate Movie Moguls players. And, as a special bonus, I've also singled out five arthouse films that have that, given the right circumstances, might actually make a dent in the Box Office Moguls game. Is there a new Once or Waitress hiding here? Let's find out.

(Note: All of the films discussed under both headings are available for just $2 in Box Office leagues. And we all know what that means. You've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky?)

FOR ULTIMATE PLAYERS ONLY: The Top 10 Independent Films of Summer

Padre Nuestro (May 14)
Ultimate price tag: $5
As I mentioned in my last column, Padre Nuestro will not be the breakout indie hit of the season, or even of the month of May. But the Grand Jury winner from Sundance 2007 does open in only one theater on a weekend when, apart from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, no new film is likely to overshadow it. So with a subject matter (illegal immigration) that clearly has some traction, given the success last month of Under the Same Moon, and with a price tag that makes it one of the cheapest arthouse films of the season, Padre Nuestro would not be an aberration on any Ultimate slate.

The Edge of Heaven (May 21)
Ultimate price tag: $4
I hate to say things like this, because I'm a player too, and I like to bet on films others don't ... but I've long been a big believer in this film. First, because I've seen it, and loved it. Second, because it's cheap. And finally, because it has all the characteristics of a big (by Fantasy Moguls standards) indie success: It's 1) a foreign film (in this case German), made by 2) a promising filmmaker (Fatih Akin), which was 3) a big success in Europe last year, even winning 4) a Best Screenplay Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Add to all of that that the film should open in only one theater in New York City, and already has a very solid User Rating, and it becomes a must-have for any Ultimate Moguls player, even if the distributor is small-time player Strand Releasing.

The Children of Huang Shi (May 23)
Ultimate price tag: $7
The one arthouse film opening against The Edge of Heaven is this one. It's an epic story set in 1930s China, with a skilled director at the helm (Roger Spottiswoode) and a good-looking cast in front of the camera (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh). With such a positive outlook on the paper, the film is guaranteed a certain notoriety when Sony Classics unleashes it on the arthouse circuit. There are reasons, though, to fear the film won't have much staying power as, generally speaking, intercontinental productions don't result in great films (the film is a coproduction between firms in Australia, China and Germany). It should be able to pick 2 or 3 PTA points though, and a User Rating around 7.

Mongol (June 6)
Ultimate price tag: $9
Foreign films that are also Oscar nominees (and especially ones that are Oscar winners) are rarely disappointing in the PTA and User Rating categories. Film buffs make it a point to pack up arthouse cinemas to see them. What Mongol has on its side as a bonus is that it's a film that could very well attract a few young geek males eager to see an R-rated epic tale of Genghis Khan's life that smells of authenticity rather than of old hat. A film that will be supported by both established film critics AND Internet gurus like Harry Knowles. The price tag is high enough to be cause for concern, but if you like to take risks, this is one that could very well pay off.

When Did You Last See Your Father? (June 6)
Ultimate price tag: $9
This one may have mixed reviews, as is often the fate of melodramas. But it should also connect with audiences, and I can really picture this father-and-son relationship drama, with a story that moves between the present and the past, becoming a moderate crowd pleaser. The fact that the film went almost entirely unnoticed after being released last fall in its native United Kingdom does not necessarily mean that its failure will repeat itself on this side of the Atlantic. June sees a lot of strong arthouse films, so this and other June openers won't come cheap, but the cast of this family drama, which includes Bridget Jones regulars Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent, could help to make it a winner. Firth, remember was part of the successful launch of Helen Hunt's Then She Found Me, and any man who doubts his appeal has only to ask his wife or girlfriend whether she thinks Mr. Darcy is hot.

Encounters at the End of the World (June 13)
Ultimate price tag: $12
Werner Herzog likes to alternate fiction and documentaries. And after the relative success last year of Rescue Dawn (7.7 User Rating, $5.5 million at the box office), it seems advisable for Ultimate players to keep an eye on the German director's new documentary, set all the way down there on the ice of Antartica. Herzog's name alone will sell the film, so it's no surpise to see that it costs $12. But reading the reviews that have come out of the few festivals where the film has been screened so far, it seems clear Encounters will be an event for cinephiles, supported by strong reviews and word of mouth (already a 9.0 rating on IMDb with more than 160 votes). Expensive, but it sure won't leave you without points.

Brick Lane (June 20)
Ultimate price tag: $11
If I made a list of 2008's best surprises up until now, Brick Lane would be in it. It's a charming and smart film about a Bengali woman living in the United Kingdom, and I dare say this is one of the most beautiful portraits of a woman I have seen on the silver screen in a few years. Will it translate into gold at the U.S. box-office? It's not a Bollywood film, and it doesn't even really deal with the Indian community (Bengal is a historic region that spans present-day India and Bangladesh), but there definitely is an audience for such a film. The price tag is high, but I'm guessing that Brick Lane, which has a few festival win under its belt, as well as a BAFTA (British equivalent of the Oscars) nomination, won't pass by unnoticed.

Religulous (June 20)
Ultimate price tag: $12
The guy who directed Borat making a documentary about religion with one of the most controversial talking heads in America? Is this for real? Yes, as unbelievable as it seems, it is for real, as Larry Charles and Bill Maher join forces to come up with a reflection on the current state of religion in the world. Now, with these two teaming up, no one expects a regular doc. Curiosity is already here, as there is still a lot we don't know about this film. All I've been able to deduce for now is that it ought to be funny and original. And, knowing how arthouse audiences tend to love documentaries that take unusual paths, Religulous will probably be one film we will be talking about a lot in coming weeks. It is still a bit early to say if it is worth $12, but stay focused on it, because it just may be worth it.

Lou Reed's Berlin (July 18)
Ultimate price tag: $7
It looks like it could be an interesting summer to invest in documentaries. Not all at once of course, but between Werner Herzog's film, Larry Charles's film, and now this one, it could be a great summer for the genre even despite the still-unfolding flop of Morgan Spurlock's Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? What is there to say about Lou Reed's Berlin that will put into the light its qualities on an Ultimate slate? The film is a filmed concert, performed in Brooklyn in 2006 (for Lou Reed fans who haven't guessed as much yet, the musician performs his famous Berlin album, released in 1973). The director behind the camera is not an unknown either, as he is none other than Julian Schnabel, just months after he snared a Best Director Oscar nomination for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. A well-respected filmmaker capturing a well-respected musician? All proportions aside, this does remind us of Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light, which followed the Rolling Stones. Berlin is much cheaper to grab, and will play in far fewer theaters (so less box office, but much more PTA potential).

Brideshead Revisited (July 25)
Ultimate price tag: $8
Based on Evelyn Waugh's novel, Brideshead Revisited is, let me be clear, too expensive, at $8, to be worth being put on your May/July slate. There's just one weekend for it perform before the end of the season. But this is a good opportunity to let you know that an interesting Ultimate film is being released at the end of July, so that you can bear it in mind for the June-August and July-September seasons. The film, directed by the man who helmed last year's Becoming Jane, is a period drama set in England in the 1920s and 1940s, and stars promising actors like Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Hayley Atwell, and established ones such as Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon and Greta Scacchi. Miramax will handle the North American distribution. All the right ingredients to make an arthouse success are in place, though reviews will be a big factor.

KILLER CROSSOVERS: Five Films That Could Score for both Box Office and Ultimate Players
(Reminder: Just like all of the films discussed previously, these films are all available in Box Office leagues for just $2.)

Son of Rambow (May 2)
Ultimate price tag: $12
I already chronicled that film a couple of weeks ago, but the fact it opens at the very beginning of the summer season must not let us forget that despite the long delay and the high price tag in Ultimate leagues, the second feature film by Garth Jennings (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) is one of the strongest offerings this season on the arthouse circuit. It's already had a successful U.K. release, and as far as buzz goes, you can't do much better than this one right now. If the nostalgia of being a 1980s kid in the British countryside hooks audiences and does not get totally overshadowed by Iron Man, then Son of Rambow could dream of a career a la Once.

The Foot Fist Way (May 30)
Ultimate price tag: $8
From the same studio that distributes Son of Rambow (Paramount Vantage) will come a few weeks later the weirdest (over and above the funniest-looking) comedy of the summer. A debut for its helmer, Jody Hill, this very low-budget tale of a redneck tae kwon do instructor took advantage of its long way to theaters (it was made in 2006) to build an unexpected word of mouth. It also happens to have caught the eye of the kings of comedy that are Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Judd Apatow, etc., in other words the whole fun gang, resulting in Ferrell and Adam McKay's choosing to "sponsorize" the release of the film. Incidentally, all those guys also have latched on to star of the film, Danny McBride, and placed him in a bunch of supporting roles in a few of their films, from the already released The Heartbreak Kid and Drillbit Taylor to the upcoming Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, all shot after The Foot Fist Way. With such reputation and godfathers, that delirious little comedy has everything it takes to become a summer sleeper hit, beginning with a limited release before finishing who knows where. Maybe higher than we think.

The Promotion (June 6)
Ultimate price tag: $7
I was hesitant about putting this one among the films with potential. Because honestly, many of us know that The Promotion was hurt by some harsh reviews after it was screened at South by Southwest a couple of months ago, notably from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the latter of which called the film "one of the unfunniest comedies ever." But if you don't stop at those few, you'll find out there are also many excellent reviews. Now, of course, we're still a few weeks away from the release, so by that time, the balance will have probably chosen a side, but until then, the doubt is allowed, especially when the film in question is a comedy by the man who wrote and produced The Weather Man, which is one of the most underappreciated Nicolas Cage movies. Of course it would help if Dimension, the distributor, put more work behind that corporate-rivalry-themed comedy starring John C. Reilly and Seann William Scott, as there are still no poster or trailer to be seen, only five weeks prior to the release.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (June 20 limited, wide on July 2)
Ultimate price tag: $4
If there is one small film that is almost sure to grab some consequent box-office money, this is the one. Simply because Picturehouse forecasts a platform release for that young girls-oriented mystery comedy, scheduled to open wide for the 4th of July weekend against Will Smith's Hancock, after a couple of weeks in a limited run. Seeing how young girls can be a major force as an audience these days (Hannah Montana, anyone?), Kit Kittredge must be seriously considered. Especially since, beyond a well-thought release strategy and a well-known source material (no, not a literary source, a ... doll line?), the girl-friendly movie has an impressive cast that includes Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Chris O'Donnell, Jane Krakowski, Julia Ormond, Glenne Headly and (last, but not least) Stanley Tucci. For $4 (in Ultimate), you can't do much better with box office and PTA potential.

The Wackness (July 3)
Ultimate price tag: $8
I already mentionned The Wackness's potential a few columns back. The New York-set dramedy came out of its Sundance presentation with some of the best buzz, and one of the most positive critical echos, of the festival. It also grabbed the Audience Award, and happens to be the second feature film of a young director, Jonathan Levine, whose debut, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, has yet to be released in the United States, but has a very cool reputation on its own. Add to that a very decent cast which features the likes of Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby and (how weird is this?) Mary-Kate Olsen, and in this slow month of July on the arthouse front, this one could find a very interesting niche.

That's it for this Special Edition of Dances with the Arthouse. I hope it will give you hints as to how to handle the limited releases in your summer leagues. Talk to you next week, with the films that will dare to defy the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise!

Indie Jones would dare to defy the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise ... but that would be sort of like defying himself. Well, at least kind of. After a manner of speaking. Talk to him about your own self-"defial" at danceswiththearthouse@gmail.com.