No End to Limited Releases

July 27, 2007

It is documentary week this weekend, as we have six of them opening today. Almost all of them are earning overwhelmingly positive reviews and a couple might even have some mainstream success in their future.

Arctic Tale - Reviews
The first of roughly six hundred documentaries to come out this week. This one has a connection to The March of the Penguins to help sell it. And it will need it as it has the weakest reviews of any of the new documentaries. It's not a bad movie per se, but it goes for cuddly over educational and that will turn off a lot of serious documentary lovers while it could still struggle to find an audience with families. Arctic Tale opens tonight in four theaters, half in New York City and the other half in the Los Angeles area.

The Camden 28 - Reviews
A documentary about 28 people arrested in 1971 for breaking into the FBI and destroyed records to prevent them from being drafted. The filmmakers obviously see a parallel between the dissent during the Vietnam War and today's political environment. And after watching the movie, a lot of people will agree with them. The Camden 28 opens tonight at the Cinema Village in New York City.

The Devil Came on Horseback - Reviews
A documentary about the genocide happening in Darfur. There are several documentaries coming out tomorrow, and this is one of two that rate a must see and hopefully will make people start to act to stop the horrors. The cynic in me says they won't, but there's some hope. The Devil Came on Horseback opened on Wednesday at the IFC Center in New York City.

Laura Smiles - Reviews
A story of a women whose normal life deteriorates as she has a mental collapse. Unfortunately, the movie is tired and filled with clichés, which prevents the audience from becoming fully engaged with the characters. Laura Smiles opens tonight at the CC Village East Cinemas in New York City.

Molière - Reviews
A biopic about Molière, who some consider a master of comedies in the English literature. So it comes as no great surprise that his biography is a comedy. The film works as both a period piece and a light comedy and could find a receptive audience. Molière opens tonight in six theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area.

No End in Sight - Our Review
It is a busy week for documentaries but I would suggest that if you see just one, make it this one. And the critics seem to agree. No End in Sight opens tonight at the Film Forum in New York City and Landmark's E-Street Cinema in Washington, D.C.

The Sugar Curtain - Reviews
A documentary that follows writer / director Camila Guzmán Urzúa's nostalgic trip to her childhood growing up in 1970s and 1980s Cuba. The subject matter may be interesting, especially if one has a connection to that place and time, but overall the film feels too much like a home movie. The Sugar Curtain opened on Wednesday at the Pioneer Theater in New York City.

This is England - Reviews
A 12-year old boy looking for role models falls in with a gang of skinheads who become his surrogate family. Written and directed by Shane Meadows, the film is partially based on his childhood, which adds an interesting layer to the movie. This is England opened on Wednesday at the IFC Center in New York City.

Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard - No Reviews
A documentary about Werner Erhard, who created Est, a movement of personal human advancement through guru medition... Okay, I admit it, I have no idea what Est is. I had to look it up on Wikipedia, and I'm still not sure. However, this film does feature the first interview with Werner Erhard in more than a decade, and that is a major drawing factor. Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard opens tonight at the Quad Cinema in New York City.

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Filed under: Limited Releases, No End In Sight, Molière, This is England, The Devil Came on Horseback, Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard, The Camden 28, Laura Smiles, El telón de azúcar, Arctic Tale