Lucky Number Seven on the Limited Release Front
July 31, 2009
There are seven limited releases coming out this week, and all seven of them are earning overall positive reviews, and most of them are earning overwhelmingly positive reviews. The Cove is likely the best bet for most people, while if you live in Canada, check out Fifty Dead Men Walking.
Adam - Reviews
The Cove - Reviews
Fifty Dead Men Walking - Reviews
Flame and Citron - Reviews
Lorna's Silence - Reviews
Not Quite Hollywood - Reviews
Thirst - Reviews
Hugh Dancy stars as the titular character, a man with Asperger's Syndrome who tries to development a relationship with his upstairs neighbor, Beth. The movie has a good mix of romance and comedy within this drama; however, its reviews are only good but not great, and limited releases usually need great reviews to thrive. Adam opened on Wednesday in four theaters, and has already made $15,000 during its first day of release.
An amazing documentary about the abuses that take place in a cove near Taijii, Japan in the Dolphin harvesting industry. A film that is almost guaranteed to disturb all those who see it, it is one of the most power, and entertaining documentaries to come out in a while. A lot of critics are comparing the movie to spy thrillers in the same vein as the Bourne Trilogy, which is probably overstating things a little, but it is not your run-of-the-mill advocacy doc either. The Cove opens tonight in four theaters, evenly split between New York City and the Los Angeles area.
A Canadian film starring Jim Sturgess as Martin McGartland, who was recruited by the British government to go undercover in the IRA. The film, which also stars Ben Kingsley and Rose McGowan, is earning excellent reviews, but it is a Canadian film, so odds are it will go nowhere at the box office. Fifty Dead Men Walking opens tonight across Canada, while at the Varsity Theatre in Toronto, there will be a there will be a Q&A with the director, Kari Skogland, after the 1 p.m. screening on Saturday.
A Danish film about the anti-Nazi resistance in that country during World War II. The film's reviews are just above the 80% positive level I normally associate with film's that have a chance at success in limited release, but I think there are mitigating circumstances that will keep it relegated to the art house circuit. Flame and Citron opens tonight in two theaters in New York City: the Lincoln Plaza Cinema and Sunshine Cinema.
A French drama starring Arta Dobroshi as an Albanian immigrant looking for a better life. Written and directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, who have previously made L'Enfant and other films. L'Enfant made $650,000 at the box office here, and perhaps this film can build on that total. We will know after the weekend how likely that is. Lorna's Silence opens tonight in six theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area, but also in New York City.
A documentary about the movie business in Australia during the 1970s and 80s. This movie is earning amazing reviews, but I'm not sure there is a huge audience for a documentary about the Australian film industry. Not Quite Hollywood opens tonight in the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles and other theaters.
A South Korean horror film about a priest who is turned into a vampire by a blood transfusion. The film is earning excellent reviews, but it's still the wrong genre for limited release. It could do good business opening weekend, but I don't know if it will have any real shot at expansion. On the other hand, Let the Right One In. Thirst opens tonight in four theaters, half in New York City and the other half in the Los Angeles area, but it will likely have to wait till the home market to really find its audience.
Filed under: Limited Releases, The Cove, Thirst, Flammen og Citronen, Not Quite Hollywood, Adam