Limited Releases: God Loves Limited Releases

October 11, 2013

The headline might claim God loves limited releases, but it is clear the critics don't. There are more than a dozen limited releases on this week's list, but many of them are earning reviews that are weak, or much, much worse. God Loves Uganda is practically the lone exception, as it is earning perfect reviews. Unfortunately, it's a documentary, so its chances of expanding significantly are very limited. On the other hand, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete might be the breakout hit of the week. Its reviews are not as good, but good enough to suggest it will find an audience, but it is opening in more than 100 theaters, which might be too many.

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane - Reviews
We have been talking about this film for six years and it has had several release dates that were pulled, sometimes at the last minute. Hopefully this time it comes out for real. On the other hand, the reviews are weak and it is the wrong genre for limited release. We don't have a theater count for the film, and the official site isn't helping in this regard, but hopefully that doesn't mean it was pulled from the schedule, again. It is playing on Video on Demand, and you can rent it from Amazon.

As I Lay Dying - Reviews
I talked about this film here, but it got pushed back at the last minute. Now it is opening tonight at the AMC Empire 25 in New York City.

Broadway Idiot - Reviews
A documentary about turning American Idiot, the Green Day album, into a Broadway musical. The reviews are only mixed, so its box office chances are rather weak. Broadway Idiot opens tonight at the Village East Cinema in New York City.

CBGB - Reviews
A film about the founding of influential music club, CBGB, which actually stands for Country, Blue-Grass, and Blues, but is best known for launching the American Punk movement. This is an interesting topic, but the reviews are just damn awful. Most critics are complaining that the stunt casting took a priority over the script. CBGB opens tonight in select cities nationwide.

Design is One - Reviews
A documentary about two of the most influential graphic and interior designers, Massimo and Lella Vignelli. The films reviews are merely mixed, so it likely won't find an audience outside of graphic and interior design students / aficionados. Design is One opens tonight in three theaters, including the IFC Center in New York City.

Escape from Tomorrow - Reviews
A horror / social satire film shot undercover in Walt Disney World. It's an interesting idea, but the execution was mixed. Also, Walt Disney corporation is taking a very hands off approach here, which means there's nearly no controversy to boost ticket sales. Escape from Tomorrow opens tonight in 20 theaters.

Ghost Team One - Reviews
Paranormal investigation mixed with a love triangle. Well, it starts out as a love triangle till one of the unleashed demons gets involved. The reviews are weak, too weak for limited release, but not too weak for the home market. Ghost Team One opens tonight in 15 theaters, which seems to be a popular theater count this week.

God Loves Uganda - Reviews
A documentary about the Christian Right in the United States, which is losing political power in the States (less than 30% of Americans go to church on a monthly basis. It might actually be lower than 20%). Because of this, they have been focusing their attention on other nations, like Uganda, which has some of the most brutal anti-gay legislation around. (They are also involved in Russia in the same way.) The film's reviews are currently 100% positive, making this film a must see and a potential Oscar-winner. God Loves Uganda opens tonight at the Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas in New York City, and it will slowly expand over the coming weeks / months.

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Reviews
A romance with a paranormal angle, sort of like Twilight, but with worse reviews. Granted, there are only six of them on Rotten Tomatoes, so it might turn things around, but at the moment, none of the reviews are positive. I Will Follow You Into the Dark opens tonight in 15 theaters.

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete - Reviews
One of only two films earning overwhelmingly positive reviews. It deals with two homeless kids trying to survive despite the terrible circumstances they find themselves in. The film not only has great reviews, but there are a number of big names in the cast. This should help it find an audience. The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete opens tonight in 146 theaters, which be too thin, and actually kill its chances at the box office.

Romeo and Juliet - Reviews
Romeo is played by Douglas Booth and Juliet is played by Hailee Steinfeld and the reviews are unacceptably bad. That's all you need to know. Romeo and Juliet is opening tonight in more than 400 theaters, but it likely will crash and burn at the box office.

Sweetwater - Reviews
Set in the 1800s, January Jones plays a former prostitute who is trying to go legit, but a corrupt preacher, Jason Isaacs, destroys her chance at happiness, so she decides to go for revenge instead. The film has a big name cast, but simply awful reviews. Sweetwater opens tonight in 15 theaters, but that's likely as far as it will go.

Unlimited - No Reviews
A device that creates unlimited energy, drug cartels, and an orphanage. And it's inspired by a true story. There are no reviews are really no chance at the box office. Unlimited opens tonight in five theaters.

Watermark - Reviews
A Canadian film that is opening in its native country after getting a limited release in the United States earlier. The environmental documentary is about water and its reviews are currently perfect, so hopefully it will find an audience. Watermark opens tonight in Vancouver and Calgary.

Zero Charisma - Reviews
A film about interpersonal conflict after an interloper usurps the power of... the gamesmaster of a weekly D&D group. As a gamesmaster, I'm really interested in seeing this movie, as it sounds funny. However, the reviews are not quite as strong as I would like, and the subject matter isn't exactly arthouse, so its box office chances are weak. Zero Charisma opens tonight at the Cinema Village in New York City as well as Video on Demand.

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Filed under: Limited Releases, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Romeo & Juliet, Ghost Team One, Sweetwater, As I Lay Dying, CBGB, Zero Charisma, Design is One, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, Escape from Tomorrow, God Loves Uganda, Broadway Idiot, I Will Follow You Into the Dark, Unlimited, Watermark, Twilight, Jason Isaacs, January Jones, Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth