Limited Releases Made to be Seen

January 9, 2009

It is one of the worst times of the year to put out a limited release, and you can tell by this week's selection. Of the four entries on this week's list, two are re-releases, and one is a horror film festival, and none are likely to thrive in limited release.

Afterdark's Horrorfest III - No Reviews
Eight more horror films released under the After Dark banner. This includes films from South Korea, Australia, the U.K., as well as the latest in the Butterfly Effect franchise. So far these Horrorfests have not done particularly well at the box office, and act more like ads for the DVD releases. Afterdark's Horrorfest III opens tonight in 50 theaters before hitting the home market in the Spring.

Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk District - No Reviews
A film based on a Russian opera that tells the story of a woman stuck in a loveless marriage who is drawn to one of her husband's workers. The opera is most famous for being censored by the old Soviet state for its sympathetic depiction of Katerina, the wife in the story. There's almost no information online, not even on the distributor's official site.

Made in the U.S.A. - Reviews
A French film made in 1966 by the master, Jean-Luc Godard. It stars Anna Karina as Paula Nelson, a journalist who gets caught up in political intrigue when she tries to discover who killed her former fiancée. Made in the U.S.A. opens tonight at the Film Forum for a two week run, and expands to Los Angeles at the Nuart Theatre next week.

Yonkers Joe - Reviews
The only real limited release this week, as the others are either re-releases or a mini-film festival. This film stars Chazz Palminteri as Joe, a dice hustler looking for one last con while lamenting how his time has passed him by. So far the reviews have been mixed, which is deadly for limited releases. Perhaps it will find an audience on the home market. Yonkers Joe opens tonight in two theaters, including the Quad Cinema in New York City.

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Filed under: Limited Releases