Limited and VOD Releases: Oscar-Bait is Back

December 7, 2018

Mary Queen of Scots

It’s a strange week for limited releases. There is not an overwhelming number of releases on this week’s list, but three of them were widely expected to be Awards Season players: Ben is Back, Mary Queen of Scots, and Vox Lux. However, of these three, none of them of earning award-worthy reviews. In fact, none of them are earning reviews that suggest they will truly thrive in limited release. Worse still, the competition between the three of them could result in none of them doing particularly well over the weekend. Hopefully that’s not the case.

Back Roads - Reviews
 Video on Demand
When Harley’s mother goes to jail for killing his abusive father, he has to become the parent to his three younger siblings. This film is earning some of the best reviews on this week’s list, arguably better than the three Oscar-bait films. However, I think it will struggle in theaters, because of this competition. Also, it is playing on VOD, so that’s where most people will see it.

Ben is Back - Reviews
 The first of three Oscar-bait films on this week’s list. In this film, Julia Roberts, plays a mother who has to deal with her son, Lucas Hedges, who returns home suddenly on Christmas Eve. He has been dealing with drug addiction and she worries that he won’t be able to stay clean. The reviews could be good enough to survive in limited release, but they are not award-worthy, so many will see it as a disappointment.

Clara’s Ghost - Reviews
 Video on Demand
Clara Reynolds is the only non-actor in a show biz family and the rest of the family give her a hard time as a result. Fortunately, she does have one friend... a ghost only she can interact with. The reviews are good, but not great. It is definitely worth checking out, but I think for most people renting it on VOD will be a better deal than going to the theaters to see it.

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes - Reviews
 A documentary / dramatization about Roger Ailes, who is one of the most odious men to ever enter politics, and that’s saying a lot. The people behind this film don’t believe in the adage, “Don’t speak ill of the dead.” and this film benefits as a result. It might be a little dry at times and relies a little too heavily on talking heads, but it is worth seeing. In fact, it could be a hit at the box office, as documentaries have done surprisingly well this year.

Dumplin’ - Reviews
 Danielle Macdonald stars as the titular Dumplin’, a plus-sized teenage girl whose mother was a beauty queen winner. She decides to enter a beauty pageant as a form of protest and soon others join in. The film’s reviews are mixed, but it earned a Golden Globes Nomination for Best Song, so maybe that will help its box office chances. I wouldn’t bet on it, but it is possible.

Mary Queen of Scots - Reviews
 This film stars Saoirse Ronan as Mary Queen of Scots and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I. This film was made to win Oscars, but I don’t think it is going to get there, at least not in the prestige categories. (Its costume design, production design, etc. could earn some nominations.) The reviews are barely good enough to survive in limited release. The buzz should help it for a little while, but that’s it.

Swimming With Men - Reviews
 Rob Brydon stars as a man going through a mid-life crisis who decides to join a synchronized swimming team filled with other men going through the same issues. The film’s reviews are mixed, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Tyrel - Reviews
 Jason Mitchell plays the titular Tyrel, an African American man, who travels with a group of friends to the Catskills for a party. It isn’t until he gets there that he realizes he’s the only Black person at the party and as the alcohol flows, this becomes more and more uncomfortable. The reviews are merely good, so I don’t think it will thrive in limited release.

Vox Lux - Reviews
 Natalie Portman plays Celeste, who as a teenager survived a violent tragedy and along with her sister sang at the memorial service. The performance attracted the attention of a talent agent and propelled her into stardom. Nearly 20 years later she’s on a comeback tour after scandals nearly derailed her career. This film had been earning a lot of Awards Season buzz, but its reviews are weak enough that it would normally not survive in limited release. I think the buzz will help it during its opening weekend, but I don’t think it will have long legs.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Asher - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hospitality Reviews - Video on Demand
There are only two secondary VOD releases on this week’s list and Asher is definitely the better of the two options.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Mary Queen of Scots, Dumplin’, Asher, Tyrel, Clara’s Ghost, Ben is Back, Swimming With Men, Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes, Vox Lux, Hospitality, Back Roads, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Rob Brydon, Juliette Lewis, Alex Pettyfer, Natalie Portman, Saoirse Ronan, Lucas Hedges, Jason Mitchell, Margot Robbie, Danielle Macdonald, Paula Niedert Elliott