Limited Releases Looking to Ca$h In
March 26, 2010
Just like last week, there is another large list of limited releases this week, and like last week, this includes one that appears to be opening in far too many theaters. On the other hand, there are many that are opening in just one theater, including Bluebeard, which is the best reviewed release of the week.
Bluebeard - Reviews
Ca$h - Reviews
Chloe - Reviews
Dancing Across Borders - Buy from Amazon
Dream Boy - Reviews
The Eclipse - Reviews
Just Say Love - Reviews
Manuela and Manuel - Reviews
Waking Sleeping Beauty - Reviews
The best reviewed film on this week's list. It's even earning better reviews than How to Train Your Dragon. The film tells the story two sisters, the older of whom is telling a story to the younger. That story is about two sisters in the past, one of whom is betrothed to a wealthy aristocrat, who has a fierce reputation. A re-telling of a popular French fairytale, this film should find an audience among the art house circuit. It might even score some measure of mainstream success. Bluebeard opens at the IFC Center in New York City.
One of the wider releases of the week; however, it only has one review on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's negative. The film stars Chris Hemsworth (who will soon be Thor) and Victoria Profeta as a young couple who come across some money. When the criminal who stole it in the first place, Sean Bean, comes looking for it, he forces them to commit a series of violent crimes to recover the money they had already spent. An opening theater count of 27 is likely too high for the film to thrive and I expect it to struggle on the per theater chart.
For the second weekend in a row we have a limited release opening in more than 100 theaters with less than spectacular reviews. Last week it was The Runaways, which struggled at the box office. Chloe is a wider release, has weaker reviews, and less advance buzz going in. It could surprise and challenge for a spot in the top ten. But missing the Mendoza Line is just as likely.
A documentary about a dancer, Sokvannara Sar, who was discovered in Cambodia and then immigrated to the states with the help of some patrons of the arts. So far the film has only earned mixed reviews with a few critics complaining that they don't show enough of the dancing, while others have said Sokvannara Sar might be talented, but he hasn't done enough to justify being the subject of a documentary.
The first of three gay films sponsored by Gay.com. This one is a coming of age story set in the south. None of them have a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but I've seen others online and they are mostly mixed. It might connect with its target audience, but it is unlikely to find crossover appeal. Dream Boy opens tonight at the Clearview Chelsea in New York City.
An Irish ghost story involving a father trying to raise his two kids after his wife dies. The film's reviews are good, but not great, which could hurt the film at the box office. This is the second film actor Conor McPherson has written and directed after 2003's The Actors. That film earned only mixed reviews, so this film appears to be an improvement in terms of critical reception. Will it be enough of an improvement to help it at the box office? We'll find out shortly. The Eclipse opens tonight in six theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area.
The second of three gay films sponsored by Gay.com. This one is based on a play, and you can tell (at least according to the few reviews I've seen). Unfortunately, it is earning the fewest reviews of the three, which is trouble, because limited releases need plenty of reviews to build up advance word-of-mouth. Maybe it can surprise, but I don't think it will earn much in the way of crossover appeal. Just Say Love opens tonight at the Clearview Chelsea in New York City.
The final of three gay films sponsored by Gay.com. In this movie a gay man agrees to pretend to be the father of his best-friend's unborn baby so her conservative father doesn't find out she got pregnant after a one-night stand. Of course, this means he has to pretend to be straight. The film is from Puerto Rico and it has a certain telenovela feel to it, which may or may not be a selling point. If you are a fan of gay cinema, or drag queen cinema, as well as telenovelas, then this is the movie for you. However, the style severely limits crossover appeal. Manuela and Manuel opens tonight at the Clearview Chelsea in New York City.
A documentary about the revival of the Disney animation department. Since it's produced by Disney, you get a lot of inside information, but by the same token, it's a little too self-congratulatory for some and doesn't go into the darker side of Disney. That said, it's the kind of thing that fans of studio should enjoy, even if it isn't perfect. Waking Sleeping Beauty opens tonight in five theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area, but also in New York City and Chicago.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Ca$h, Waking Sleeping Beauty, The Eclipse, Chloe