Limited and VOD Releases: Steve Jobs and Killer Frogs

October 9, 2015

Yakuza Apocalypse

This is not a particularly deep week for limited releases. Steve Jobs is the only film that has a significant chance of earning some measure of mainstream success. In fact, its reviews and buzz suggest it could be a player during Awards Season. On the other hand, The Forbidden Room, Victoria, and Yakuza Apocalypse are more interesting in my mind.

Big Stone Gap - Reviews
An ensemble comedy with an impressive cast and terrible reviews. It is directed by Adriana Trigiani, and based on a screenplay adapted by Adriana Trigiani, which is based on the novel written by Adriana Trigiani. That's unusual. It's not enough to make me want to see the film, but at least it gives me something to write about.

The Forbidden Room - Reviews
The latest film from Guy Maddin, whose previous films include The Saddest Music in the World, Brand Upon the Brain!, and My Winnipeg. He's never made a bad movie, but his movies also tend to be less accessible that the average film. This has resulted in him having a small, but loyal, fan base. This film won't be his first mainstream hit, but fans should be pleased.

I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance Is Mine - Reviews
Video on Demand
A combination of low expectations / exploitation genres. If you like the genre, it is fine for VOD. Personally, if this genre disappeared from history, I wouldn't miss it.

Knock Knock - Reviews
Video on Demand
Are we beginning to see the "What ever happened to..." stage of Eli Roth's career? He hasn't directed a box office hit in a decade and his most recent film, this one, will likely flame out in limited release. It is the wrong genre for limited release. Additionally, even if its Tomatometer Score suddenly doubled, it would still be too low for limited release. It is also coming out on VOD, but 36% positive reviews are likely too low for even that format.

Steve Jobs - Reviews
This is by far the biggest limited release on this week's list and has about a 90% chance of expanding truly wide. Not only are the reviews amazing, Michael Fassbender is earning a lot of Awards Season buzz and should earn his second Oscar nomination. Steve Jobs opens tonight in four theaters before expanding nationwide on the 23rd.

Trash - Reviews
Video on Demand
Three kids living in poverty go through the garbage looking for items of value. They find a wallet that can blow the cover on corrupt cops and now they find themselves on the run. The reviews are good, but not great, so it is worth checking out, but on VOD. Trash opens tonight in 17 theaters, which will likely be too many to thrive.

Victoria - Reviews
A German film about a bank heist. That's not the thing that makes it stand out. The impressive feat is that the film is one take. It is one take, not several shorter takes edited in a way to appear to be one take, but literally one take. Fortunately, the film is better than just a gimmick. Victoria opens tonight in three theaters, two in New York City and the other in Los Angeles, before expanding over the coming weeks. Check out the official site for more details.

The Wine of Summer - No Reviews
Where I come from, the wine of summer is, "It's too hot! I'm all sticky and gross!" The film was shot in 2013 and is only coming out now. I couldn't even find a page on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a really, really bad sign. I only mentioned it so I could do that really bad joke. ... Moving on.

Yakuza Apocalypse - Reviews
Video on Demand
The latest film directed by Takashi Miike. There's no way in Hades this film will appear in a theater near me, but I've already pre-ordered the Blu-ray.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Trash, Steve Jobs, Knock Knock, The Wine of Summer, The Forbidden Room, Big Stone Gap, Gokudou daisensou, Victoria, I Spit on Your Grave 3, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Takashi Miike, Guy Maddin, Adriana Trigiani