Are Limited Releases Broken?
June 25, 2010
After two weeks of success on the limited release front, there doesn't seem to be a limited release on this list that is likely to continue that streak. That's not to say there's nothing worth checking out, it's just that their box office potential is not as bright as Cyrus, which opened last weekend.
Dogtooth - Reviews
Restrepo - Reviews
This Movie is Broken - Review
Wild Grass - Reviews
A strange film from Greece about a family that lives in an isolated country estate where the father has performed weird mind control experiments on his own three children. The film is not only earning excellent reviews, but it also won numerous awards in Film Festivals worldwide. That said, its bizarre nature will likely prevent it from finding mainstream success during its theatrical run. It might find more success on the home market, on the other hand. Dogtooth opens tonight in two theaters, both in New York City.
A documentary about the life in Afghanistan for the soldiers stationed there, specifically at the Restrepo fort in Korengal Valley. This documentary takes an apolitical stance and uses a "Fly on the wall" approach to film its subjects, which many critics have argued makes it even more powerful. However, while the reviews are amazing, the subject matter might limit its box office. After all, Afghanistan is the longest war America has ever been in and exhaustion might have set in. Restrepo opens tonight in three theaters, including the Angelika Film Center in New York City and the Landmark in Los Angeles.
A Canadian film by Bruce McDonald, who previously made Hard Core Logo, The Tracey Fragments, Pontypool, and others. This film is about a man that has one last chance to tell the woman he loves how he feels before she leaves for France. It is also a concert film for Broken Social Scene. It's this combination that makes it most interesting, but I doubt it will be enough for it to thrive. I can't remember a Canadian film that was able to. This Movie is Broken opens tonight in Toronto and Vancouver and if you live in those two cities, try to check it out.
The latest from French director Alain Resnais, who has been making movies for more than 60 years. His latest is about a man, Georges, who finds the wallet of a woman, Marguerite, thus beginning a relationship. Reviews are strong, but perhaps not strong enough to thrive in limited release. Also, because it is a foreign language, its potential to expand is even more limited. Wild Grass opens tonight in four theaters, split begin New York City and the Los Angeles area.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Les herbes folles, Restrepo