Limited Releases: Trio of First Timers

June 17, 2005

Of the five films opening this week, we have not one, not two, but three being helmed by first timers. And while it's rare for a director to hit a home run the first time at bat, it usually results in something interesting to watch, even if it's just the thrill of following a career from the beginning.

The Deal - Reviews
Starring Christian Slater, which is pretty much all you need to know about the film. Whenever I think of Christian Slater I'm reminded of a quote from The Simpsons, "I remember when Al Jolson ran amok at the Winter Garden and climbed the Chrysler building. After that, he couldn't get arrested in this town." In the case of Christian Slater, that would be a step up. The film opens in 8 theaters in select cities, but probably won't expand beyond that.

Heights - Reviews
Marking the feature film directorial debut of Chris Terrio, the most star-studded limited release of the weekend. The film is getting good reviews overall, but the cream-of-the-crop are not being as kind. The film opens in seven theaters in New York and Los Angeles and should expand during the coming weeks.

Me You and Everyone We Know - Reviews
The directorial debut of Miranda July, who also wrote and stars in the movie. Like in real life, Mirada July plays a performance artist in the film, which tells of her interactions with an array of unusual characters. The winner of the "Originality of Vision" at Sundance, the film opens tonight at the new IFC Center in New York before expanding to Los Angeles and Chicago next weekend.

My Summer of Love - Reviews
Nathalie Press and Emily Blunt star as Mona and Tamsin, two women who are polar opposites. But their initial animosity turns to friendship and then more. The film opens in 17 theaters in select cities, which is a lot more than most films of this nature attempt. Hopefully the release approach works, since the film really deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

The Talent Given Us - Reviews
Another film by a first time director, but this one is less successful that the first two. The director, Andrew Wagner, who also wrote and starred in the film, cast practically his entire family in the film and that does add a certain charm. However, not enough of the film works to recommend it. The Talent Given Us opens tonight at the Angelika Film Center in New York City.

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Filed under: Limited Releases, Heights, My Summer of Love