Limited Releases Fighting Mad

March 30, 2012

There are a number of films opening in limited release this week, including a few documentaries. The biggest of these is Bully, which earned a boost in its publicity thanks to a ratings fight with the MPAA. The Island President is another documentary worth checking out. Meanwhile, Goon makes its theatrical debut in the States and it deserves to find an audience south of the border.

The Beat Hotel - Reviews
A documentary about a cheap dive in Paris, which in 1957 became the epicenter of the Beat poet movie, and hence became known as the Beat Hotel. The film's reviews are weak with more critics complaining that the movie doesn't go into enough detail to be memorable or insightful. The Beat Hotel opens tonight at the Cinema Village in New York City, while it expands to Chicago and New Orleans next week.

Bully - Reviews
Arguably the most important film to come out this year. This documentary deals with the epidemic of bullying, which really has gotten worse over the recent years. I have read some reviews that stated that the movie is better as a social movement than a movie and it could be more comprehensive, but that still means a lot of people should see it. Hopefully they won't be scared away by the Unrated release. The MPAA's rules regarding the F-Bomb are strict and very arbitrary. Bully opens tonight in five theaters in New York City and the Los Angeles area.

Dark Tide - Reviews
This film has been released on Video on Demand already, which usually hurts the film's box office numbers. Additionally, the film's Tomatometer Score is currently just 0% positive, although it has just 6 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes so far. It's also opening in more theaters than most limited releases, so its chances are even weaker. Dark Tide opens tonight in 17 theaters, but that's likely as far as it will go.

Goon - Buy from Amazon
This film came out in Canada at the end of February, while it has been out on Video on Demand in the United States. Odds are it won't make a lot of money in theaters, even though the reviews are very strong. There's not much more that needs to be said, other than the film's reviews have gotten better and are now 77% positive. Goon opens tonight in more than a dozen theaters in some of the more Hockey-crazed cities. Check the listings here.

I Kissed a Vampire - Reviews
A musical about a high school boy, Dylan, who was bitten by a vampire exchange student, and is now trying to avoid becoming one himself, without letting his girlfriend, Sara, know what's going on. There are not a lot of reviews online and they suggest this is more Disney Channel TV movie and not the kind of film that thrives in limited release. I Kissed a Vampire opens tonight in ten theaters, but not in the usual cities for a limited release, so check the official site for more details.

Intruders - Reviews
This is the biggest limited release of the week, at least it has the largest theater count. However, it's reviews are on the low end at just 31% positive. In the film, Clive Owen plays the father to Ella Purnell, who is having nightmares about a faceless creature trying to get her. Meanwhile in Spain, the son of a single mother is suffering from the same nightmares. Critics are saying that the film has a good setup, but fails in its execution, especially the climax. Intruders opens tonight in 33 theaters, but that's likely as far as it will go.

The Island President - Reviews
A documentary about the archipelago nation of Maldives, which recently became a democracy. However, the move from despotism to democracy is nothing compared to the move it might have to make. Maldives average height above sea level is less than 5 feet. It's tallest point is less than 8 feet above sea level. With global warming and the rise of the sea levels, it is literally being consumed by the ocean. The film is earning amazingly strong reviews and hopefully it will find an audience, because it is an incredibly important film. The Island President opened on Wednesday in New York City, expands to San Francisco on Friday, and into Los Angeles next weekend.

Servitude - Reviews
The quickest way to describe this movie is to call it a Canadian version of Waiting... A group of waiters and waitresses at a steak house take over when they learn they are all being fired. If you've worked in a restaurant or been summarily fired, there might be something here for you, but the lowbrow humor and juvenile jokes will probably limit its audience. Servitude opens tonight at the Cumberland Cinemas in Toronto and the Empire Granville 7 Cinemas in Vancouver. Additionally, the cast will be at the 6:40 p.m. and the 9:20 p.m. showings on both Friday and Saturday in Toronto.

Turn Me On, Dammit! - Reviews
A coming of age story about a 15-year old dealing with raging hormones. This is a story we've seen hundreds of times; however, this film is rather unique, because the main character is a girl. With excellent reviews, it could find an audience on the art house circuit, but this is not the kind of film that will play well in multiplexes. Turn Me On, Dammit! opens tonight at the Angelika Film Center and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, both in New York City.

Womb - Reviews
Eva Green and Matt Smith play two people who fell in love as kids, but they were separated when her mother moved away. When they reunite, the fall madly in love again, but their time together ends when he dies in a car crash. So, she decides to clone her dead lover and gift birth to this clone. This film might be too weird, even for the art house circuit. Additionally, some critics have complained about the film's pace. Womb opens tonight at Cinema Village in New York City.


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Filed under: Limited Releases, Dark Tide, Goon, Intruders, Womb, Bully, Få meg på, for faen , The Island President, I Kissed a Vampire, The Beat Hotel