It Would Take an Act of God to Stop Limited Releases

May 1, 2009

A very weak list of limited releases this week. Of the six films, three are documentaries, four are earning poor to terrible reviews, and the other two have two reviews, combined. None really have a shot at expanding wide. The Canadian documentary Act of God is likely the best bet in terms of quality, but 90% of the people reading this live in the wrong country to see it.

Act of God - Reviews
A Canadian documentary about, "the metaphysical effects of getting hit by lightening." So far there's only one review, but it is positive, and it is a Canadian movie so the lack of reviews is not shocking. Act of God opened last night at the HotDocs Film Festival, while it begins its theatrical run tonight in select cities across Canada.

Home - Reviews
Marcia Gay Harden stars as a women dealing with a loveless marriage and a recent bout with breast cancer. So far the film has only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, it is positive, but the lack of reviews is still a bad sign. Home opens tonight at the Quad Cinema in New York City, as well as two other theaters in New York state.

The Limits of Control - Reviews
The latest from writer / director Jim Jarmusch. Coming off his biggest hit, some were thinking this could be the first breakout Indie hit of the summer. One look at the reviews, and that seems very unlikely. Most critics are complaining that the film simply tries too hard to be 'Indie Cool' to work. The Limits of Control opens tonight in 3 theaters, including the Angelika Film Center in New York City and the Arclight Cinemas in Los Angeles.

Naked Ambition: An R-Rated Look at an X-Rated Industry - Reviews
The second of three documentaries on this week's list, and the first of two that deals with adult subjects. And by adult I actually mean sexually explicit. (Although burlesque is not nearly as explicit as porn.) Reviews are again mixed, and the target audience might be a bit limited. Naked Ambition opens tonight in 2 theaters in the Los Angeles area, including the Laemmles Sunset 5.

The Skeptic - Reviews
Tim Daly stars as the titular skeptic who inherits a mansion that is rumored to be haunted. Of course he is skeptical at first (hence the name) but the evidence is overwhelming. (I would find these movies a lot more interesting if the skeptic was proven right in the end.) The film is the wrong genre for limited release, and its reviews are not going to help either. The Skeptic opens tonight at the IFC Center in New York City.

A Wink and a Smile - Reviews
A documentary about women taking a burlesque class in Seattle. Reviews are on the weak side with many critics complaining that the burlesque acts are not as effective / enticing / erotic on film as they are live. Complaining that a documentary isn't erotic enough? I guess it depends on your expectations of the genre. A Wink and a Smile opens tonight at the Quad Cinema in New York City.


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Filed under: Limited Releases, The Limits of Control, Home, The Skeptic, Naked Ambition: An R Rated Look at an X Rated Industry