The Week Really Limited Releases went on Vacation
February 15, 2008
It's a strange week for limited releases with only two films opening in less than 10 theaters, and one of those in Canadian and it is very, very rare for Canadian films to open in more than 10 theaters. But the list also includes four films opening in more than a dozen theaters and one that even breaks 100 theaters.
Ezra - Reviews
George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead - Reviews
Jodhaa Akbar - Reviews
Vexville - Reviews
A Winter Tale - No Reviews
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation - Reviews
A movie about a child in Sierra Leone who is kidnapped at age seven and forced to become a soldier. A powerful story that is helping the film earn strong reviews. But there are also complaints that it is too ham-fisted to be as effective as it could be and this will likely prevent it from reaching its potential on the competitive limited release market. Ezra opened on Wednesday at the Film Forum in New York City.
George A. Romero returns to the genre he helped make famous back in 1968 with Night of the Living Dead. However, reviews for the franchise have slipped and have fallen below the overall positive level. (However, it is worth noting that this film is very close to 60% positive and might be able to creep above it.) Diary of the Dead opens tonight in more than 40 theaters in major cities nationwide.
A Bollywood historical epic featuring Aishwarya Rai, who is arguably the best-known Bollywood star outside of the niche market. She and Hrithik Roshan star as a princess and an emperor forced into a marriage for political reasons, but whose relationship blossoms into love. Jodhaa Akbar opens tonight in nearly 100 theaters, and should do as well as other films with the same target audience.
The widest release of the week, this Japanese animated film tells the story of a secret agent sent into Japan to determine if they are developing robotic technology, which was banned due to the threat to humanity. It should please those who enjoy the anime style, but that is not enough to sustain a opening theater count of 117.
A bullet meant for a drug dealer accidentally kills a young boy who is walking on the streets of his Toronto neighborhood. In the wake of this tragedy, six men start a support group to help heal the wounds of their community and prevent such events from happening again. A Winter Tale started its two-week run at the Revue Cinema in Toronto, Canada on Wednesday and is earning good buzz. Worth checking out.
A coming of age story centered on family abandonment and soccer. Twelve-year old Mauro is dropped off at his grandfather's place after his parents are forced to go underground.
But his grandfather dies. He is then raised by the neighbors while waiting for his parents to return from watching Brazil in the World Cup. The Year My Parents Went on Vacation opens tonight in 18 theaters, mostly in Florida but also a few in New York City and the Los Angeles area.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Jodhaa Akbar, Diary of the Dead