Quirky Comedies, Bollywood Drama and Documentary or Two

January 23, 2004

Plenty of movies open in limited release this weekend and that means plenty of choices for eclectic tastes. While none of the new releases have a really strong shot at mainstream success, a couple of them could be signs of things to come.

Dirt - Reviews: Easily the film I'm most looking forward to seeing this weekend. Of course, since I live in a small town in Canada I'll have to wait for the DVD release of this one. The film was shot in 2001 and had its release delayed at least twice. Fans of the Coen Brothers' movies should make an effort to find this movie as the creators and stars, Michael Covert and Tracy Fraim, could be on their way to a big future.

Khakee - No reviews available: This movie has the widest release of any of the limited releases, but with a very niche market there's little hope for cross-over success. On a side note, star Aishwarya Rai should start to see some mainstream success outside the Bollywood market in the coming years.

Made-Up - Reviews: Tony Shalhoub's first directorial effort is a mockumentary about aging and how woman react to it. Written by his sister-in-law and staring his wife, so it was a family affair.

Touching the Void - Reviews: A documentary about the 1985 expedition to climb the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. The cinematography alone is worth the price of admission. Just a note, they went back to the mountain to recreate the expedition so it's a recreation of the events and not the original.

Wooly Boys - No reviews available: This is the first major film set in and filmed North Dakota and it tells the story of two sheep ranchers and their adventures when one becomes ill and is tricked into the hospital by his daughter. It might do well in North Dakota where its setting helps, but it probably won't get a major, nation wide release.


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Filed under: Touching the Void, Khakee, Wooly Boys, Made-Up, Dirt