Limited Releases Look to Oscar

December 17, 2010

There are only five films on this week's limited release list, three of which were likely aiming for Oscars, of which two have already picked up major nominations. Hopefully this will be enough to escape a crowded limited release field, which includes some films that are expanding wide (in the case of The Fighter) or in the process of expanding wide (in the case of Black Swan).

Alien Girl - Reviews
A Russian film about organized crime and government corruption, both of which were terrible problems during the 1990s. Those are gripping subjects, but the end result is less compelling. With such bad reviews, its chances of box office success are extremely limited. Alien Girl opens tonight in three theaters, two in New York City and the other in Los Angeles.

And Soon the Darkness - Reviews
Not much to say about this remake, as its box office chances are minimal. Not only is it the wrong genre, it's coming out on DVD and Blu-ray at the end of the year. I should be receiving a screener, so I'll review it then. In the meantime, And Soon the Darkness opens tonight at the Laemmles Sunset 5 in Los Angeles.

Barney's Version - Reviews
This is the first of three times this film will appear on this list. It opens in an Oscar-qualifying run tonight in the United States, so most people won't have a chance to see it. It then opens in limited release in Canada next weekend (it is based on a novel by a Quebec author, Mordecai Richler, which could explain why Canada gets it first). Finally, it gets a normal theatrical release in January. Paul Giamatti picked up a Golden Globe nomination, so hopefully that will help the film's box office chances.

Casino Jack - Reviews
The second Awards Season player coming out this week, although given its reviews, it's probably going to come up short. Kevin Spacey did earn a Golden Globe nomination, but with reviews that are below 50% positive, that won't be enough. Casino Jack opens tonight in seven theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area, but also one in New York City. (On a side note, this is the second film on this list with Rachelle Lefevre in it. I guess getting dumped from Twilight hasn't hurt her career.)

Rabbit Hole - Reviews
The best-reviewed release of the week, it also picked up four nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards and a Golden Globe nomination. In the movie, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart play a married couple who have to deal with the death of their son, which changes everything about their relationship. Reviews suggest its a powerful film, while it has the best shot at earning mainstream success out of the five films on this week's list. Rabit Hole starts tonight in four theaters, evenly split between New York City and the Los Angeles area.

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Filed under: Limited Releases, Barney's Version, And Soon the Darkness, Chuzhaya, Black Swan, Rabbit Hole, Casino Jack