Two Days of Limited Releases
August 10, 2012
It is a pretty busy week for limited releases, but not a good week. There are several films earning good reviews, but only one of them is earning great reviews. That film is The Green Wave, but its box office chances are limited, because political documentaries rarely find large audiences, especially when the subject matter isn't connected to most audiences here. I'm most interested in Cosmopolis, but while it debuts in Vancouver tonight, Americans will have to wait a week to see it. On the other end of the scale, there are not as many films earning 80% positive films as there are films earning less than 20% positive reviews. On a side note, one of the best-reviewed release this week is Total Recall, which is coming out at the Film Forum tonight.
2 Days in New York - Reviews
Cosmopolis - Reviews
Drought - Reviews
Freelancers - Reviews
Goats - Reviews
The Green Wave - Reviews
It is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl - Reviews
Red Hook Summer - Reviews
$upercapitalist - Reviews
This Time - Reviews
Julie Delpy wrote, directed, and starred in this film. In it, her crazy family visits her for two days, which throws her relationship with Chris Rock into chaos. It is a sequel to 2 Days in Paris, which did very well at the box office; however, it is unlikely this film will do the same for a couple reasons. Firstly, its reviews are good, but not great, and limited releases generally need great reviews to thrive. Secondly, it already came out on Video on Demand. 2 Days in New York opens tonight at the Angelika Film Center and the Lincoln Plaza Cinema, both in New York City.
Just a quick note on this film. The latest from David Cronenberg stars, among others, Robert Pattinson. It opens in the United States next weekend, but debuts tonight at the Denman Cinemas in Vancouver, Canada.
A documentary about a drought in northern Mexico, specifically a small town called Cuates de Australia. There are very few reviews online, which suggests a lack of buzz. However, the topical environmental message could find a small audience during its theatrical run. Drought opens tonight at the IFC Center in New York City.
50 Cent keeps trying to become a movie star. It hasn't worked so far. There are almost no reviews online for this film, which is surprising given its cast. (Robert De Niro, Forest Whitaker, Dana Delany, and others co-star.) The few reviews online are not just negative, but aggressively negative. There's little hope this film will thrive. Freelancers opens tonight in a few theaters before coming out on DVD and Blu-ray on the 21st.
An ensemble comedy focusing on Ellis and his highly dysfunctional family and being torn between the New Age lifestyle of his mother and the more conventional lifestyle of his father. It has a great cast, but wow, those reviews are terrible. It is in danger of slipping into single-digit territory on Rotten Tomatoes. Goats opens tonight in five theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area, but also in New York City and Dallas, Texas.
A political documentary about the 2009 elections in Iran, which were controversial, to say the least. The film looks at the resulting protests, which were aided by social media tools, and crushed by the military. It is the best-reviewed film coming out this week and worth checking out. The Green Wave opens tonight at the Laemmle Music Hall in Los Angeles.
A documentary about Theodor Herzl, who, as a result of growing anti-Semitism, worked to establish a homeland for Jews. It is one of the better films on this week's list, but as a documentary, its chances of expanding significantly are slim. It is No Dream opens tonight at the Quad Cinema in New York City before expanding to Los Angeles next weekend.
This is one of the few films on this week's list earning a lot of buzz. Spike Lee has enough box office clout to create buzz, but unfortunately, its reviews are merely good and not great. The buzz might help it thrive during its opening weekend, but high expectations might kill its legs. Red Hook Summer opens tonight in four theaters, all in New York City. Next week it expands further in New York and expands into New Jersey, before expanding nationwide the weekend after that.
A New York hedge fund trader in Hong Kong creates a massive deal that spirals out of control. The reviews are terrible with more critics saying it is an amateur attempt at remaking Wall Street. $upercapitalist opens tonight at the Village East in New York City.
A documentary about the music industry looking at six artists who struggled to reach their goals. The film was made in 2008 but isn't coming out till today, which is a bad sign. Also, it is earning zero positive reviews, which is an even worse sign. This Time opens tonight at the Quad Cinema in New York City.
Filed under: Limited Releases, 2 Days in New York, Cosmopolis, The Green Wave, Freelancers, Red Hook Summer, Goats, $upercapitalist, Cuates de Australia, It is No Dream: The Life of Theodor Herzl, This Time