Limited Releases: Awards Season Contenders Shine Bright
December 20, 2012
There are not a lot of limited releases on this week's list; however, there are three films that have already found some Awards Season success, plus a couple others that are earning great reviews. Of the Awards Season hopefuls, Zero Dark Thirty is poised to earn the best per theater average, but it likely won't be the only success story over the weekend.
Amour - Reviews
Barbara - Reviews
Django - Reviews
The Impossible - Reviews
Not Fade Away - Reviews
On the Road - Reviews
Zero Dark Thirty - Reviews
Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) are both in their eighties, but still very much in love. However, when Anne has a stroke, their love is tested. The film's reviews are fantastic and it has already picked up a number of awards and nominations and perhaps an Oscar is in its future. Amour opened on Wednesday in New York City and Los Angeles.
Nina Hoss stars as the titular Barbara, a doctor living in East Berlin under communist control. When she applies for an exit visa to be with her true love, she's punished by the government and forced to work in a small country hospital. The film's reviews are amazing and perhaps it will pick up an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language film. Barbara opens tonight in 15 theaters, mainly in New York City and the Los Angeles area, but also in Seattle, Washington, and other cities.
This 1960s Western is getting a re-release this week to take advantage of the publicity for Django Unchained. Since the two films are related by name and genre alone, I don't now if that will turn out to be a wise move. Django opens tonight in 8 theaters, which can be found here.
For an Oscar contender, this film doesn't have a lot of buzz. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor star as a couple vacationing in Thailand with their three kids when the 2004 Tsunami strikes. The reviews are excellent and Naomi Watts and Tom Holland (who plays one of the sons) have been earning a lot of Awards Season recognition. It should do well at the box office, but it won't be a monster hit. The Impossible opens tonight in 15 theaters, mainly in New York City and the Los Angeles area, but also in Chicago, Toronto, and other major cities.
Set in the 1960s, this film is a semi-autobiographical coming of age story centered on a group of musicians trying to make it big in rock'n'roll. The film's reviews are great; however, while it might have thrived in limited release if it opened another weekend, the competition is just too strong to think it will thrive in theaters. Not Fade Away opens tonight in three theaters, two in New York City and the third in Los Angeles.
Based on the book by Jack Kerouc, it stars Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, and Kristen Stewart. Given the source material and the time of year it is coming out, one assumed it was made to win awards. However, given its reviews, that is unlikely. Perhaps it will pick up nominations for technical awards, as even a lot of negative reviews praise the look of the film. On the Road opens tonight in four theaters split between New York City and the Los Angeles area.
Based on the real life events that led up to the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound and the death of the leader of Al Queada. This film has a proven track record during Awards Season. Its reviews are just as impressive as the number of nominations and awards it has won and odds are it will earn at least half a dozen Oscar nods, including four of the most prestigious awards. It was originally planned for a wide opening, but given the level of competition, it was wisely pushed to a limited release. Odds of expanding wide enough to earn some measure of mainstream success are nearly 100%. Zero Dark Thirty opened on Wednesday in five theaters, split between New York City and the Los Angeles area.
Filed under: Awards Season, Limited Releases, On the Road, The Impossible, Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained, Not Fade Away, Django, Amour, Barbara, Ewan McGregor, Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Naomi Watts, Nina Hoss