Operation: Limited Releases

July 16, 2010

It's not a strong week for limited releases and we have solid theater counts for only two films, but there are a couple of others that are also opening. (Plus, Standing Ovation might be better classified as a limited release.) I'm not sure any of them will thrive, but one of them, Kisses, is earning reviews that suggest it has what it takes.

The Contenders - No Reviews
A death at a birthday party causes chaos. Probably the most interesting aspect of this film is where it is opening, the INDIEHouse Cinema, a new theater in New York City. (The ticket details on on their Official Site.) On the other hand, it is writer / director Marta Mondelli's first film and there are no reviews, so it is impossible to judge the quality of the film or its box office chances.

Kisses - Reviews
An Irish film about two runaways (Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry) who spend the night in inner-city Dublin. This is the best reviewed film on this week's list. In fact, it is earning better reviews that Inception. Additionally, it was one of the big players at last year's Irish Film and Television Awards, so it has the potential to be the breakout hit on this week's list. Kisses opens tonight at the Angelika Film Center in New York City and the Laemmles Sunset 5 in Los Angeles.

Operation: Endgame - Reviews
This film has a cast that is quite eclectic and includes award-winning actors like Ellen Barkin, as well as relative newcomers like Oddette Yustman. There are also more than a few actors better known for their comedic work, like Rob Corddry, Zach Galifianakis, Bob Odenkirk, and others. It's a strange mixture of action and dark comedy, which is not a genre that usually thrives in limited release. Also, the DVD and Blu-ray are coming out in less than two weeks and given the reviews, this is probably better as a rental. Operation: Endgame opens tonight in two theaters, the Laemmles Sunset 5 in Los Angeles and the Quad Cinema in New York City.

Udaan - Reviews
An Indian film, but not the usual Bollywood musical extravaganza. It's about a boy returning after eight years at boarding school to live with his father and his younger brother whom he didn't even know existed. Now he is being forced to follow in his father's footsteps when what he wants to be is a writer. Like many films from India, this one is opening without a Tomatometer Score, but it is also only playing in two theaters, which is a lot smaller than the normal theater count for Indian films. Udaan opens tonight in two theaters in the Big Cinemas chain.

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Filed under: Limited Releases, Operation: Endgame