Who Killed the Limited Releases?
June 29, 2006
Just a handful of limited releases this week, including some that opened yesterday. But will they be able to get the attention they deserve, of will this week's blockbuster kill any hopes that they had?
The Blood of My Brother - Reviews
The Motel - Reviews
Rank - Reviews
Strangers with Candy - Reviews
Who Killed the Electric Car? - Reviews
There's a Swahili proverb that states, "When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers." This documentary takes a look at a tragic death in Iraq and shows that when armies fight, it is the peasants that suffer. The film is good, mainly because of the footage director Andrew Berends was able to get, (he had access to all sides of the war, moreso than most journalists have been granted), but also helps bring a more human side to the story. The Blood of My Brotheropens tomorrow at the Cinema Village
in New York City.
A coming of age story about a Chinese-American boy who lives at the sleazy sex motel run by his parents. Earned praise at Sundance, and for the most part that praise has continued with the critics who have commended the film's focus on the little things that make big differences in the live of a 13-year old. The Motel opened yesterday at the Film Forum in New York City.
A documentary about the spot of bull riding. Obviously, one's enjoyment of the movie will depend heavily on one's appreciation for bull riding, but even those without much previous knowledge of the sport should enjoy the visuals and be intrigued by the participants. Like most IFC Films, Rank opened at the IFC Center in New York City on Wednesday.
The TV series this movie is based on has a cult following, mainly because it is too bizarre for mainstream appeal. While fans of the show will be happy that they get to see more of Jerri Blank, they won't be overly enthusiastic about the movie as it feels like an overlong episode. (This is a common peril for the based on a TV series genre.) Also, they seemed to have toned down the possibly offensive material for the movie, which seems really strange. However, the movie is still offensive enough that it won't earn mainstream appeal, but should be a big seller to its core audience. Strangers with Candy opened on Wednesday at the Clearview's Chelsea and the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, both in New York City.
The widest release of the week, it is also the best reviewed. A documentary about the electric car produced by General Motors, the EV1. Watching this film back-to-back with An Inconvenient Truth might fill people with enough rage to actually do something about greedy oil companies and environmental issues. But I doubt it. Who Killed the Electric Car? opened on Wednesday in 8 theatres in the New York and Los Angeles areas.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Who Killed the Electric Car?