Limited and VOD Releases: What Films to see on Our Holiday
July 10, 2015
Very few movies on this week's list have a real shot at box office success. Stations of the Cross and Tangerine are both earning amazing reviews, but both are niche market releases. Many movies are also earning good reviews, like What We Did on Our Holiday, but are playing on VOD, so they likely won't find audiences in theaters.
10,000 KM - Reviews
Boulevard - Reviews
Do I Sound Gay? - Reviews
Meet Me in Montenegro - Reviews
Stations of the Cross - Reviews
Strangerland - Reviews
The Suicide Theory - Reviews
Tangerine - Reviews
What We Did on Our Holiday - Reviews
Video on Demand
A drama about the relationship between Alexandra and Sergio. When he accepts a one-year photography internship in Los Angeles, the distance between them puts a strain on their relationship. The reviews are good, but not great, and it is playing on VOD, so its box office numbers won't be good. ... I should create a macro so I don't need to type that over and over again.
This is not technically a posthumous release for Robin Williams, as it had a film festival debut before his death. It is the last film to get a theatrical release, where he appears on screen. Unfortunately, its reviews are not good and it is unlikely to find an audience in theaters.
A documentary by and about David Thorpe. David Thorpe is gay and he sounds gay. In this movie, he goes to a speech therapists to try and get a less stereotypical gay voice, while at the same time exploring this particular gay stereotype. (I haven't seen the movie, but I read somewhere that the "gay voice" is actually based on Oscar Wilde. I don't know if that is true, but I want it to be true.) The reviews are nearly 90% positive, but it is playing on VOD (though not on Amazon.com). Do I Sound Gay? opens tonight at the IFC Center in New York City and expands to Los Angeles next week. Check out the official site for more details.
Video on Demand
A movie about an Indie filmmaker who goes to Berlin to try and land a lead for their new Sci-fi Hollywood film. The reviews are below the 60% level needed for an overall positive score, while it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are likely doomed.
Lea van Acken makes her film debut playing Maria, a 14-year old Catholic girl who takes her faith very seriously. She tries to undergo the same sacrifices Jesus went through in the hopes that it will cure her younger brother's autism. The reviews are nearly perfect with much of the praise going to Lea van Acken. On the other hand, it is a foreign-language film, so its chances of expanding beyond the art house circuit is limited. Stations of the Cross opens tonight at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City.
Video on Demand
Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes play parents of teenagers who get lost in a dust storm. Great cast, but the reviews are terrible. It won't go anywhere in limited release; it might even struggle on VOD.
Video on Demand
Percival is a suicidal man who believes the fates won't let him kill himself. His latest attempt to end his life results in him landing on the cab of Steven, a hitman who is planning his next kill. Percival hires Steven to end his life for him, but each attempt fails. The film's reviews are good, but not great, plus it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are negligible. On the other hand, it is becoming more and more clear that VOD is a lot more lucrative for smaller films than the theatrical box office ever would be.
Kitana Kiki Rodriguez stars as a transgendered prostitute who just got out of prison. She finds her friend, played by Mya Taylor, who is also a transgendered prostitute, who tells her her Pimp has been cheating on her with a cisgendered woman. This is a very interesting movie, as it focuses on transgendered people, which is a demographic that is mostly ignored, and the actresses are transgendered themselves, which is even rarer. The reviews are excellent, but it might be too much of a niche market. Tangerine opens tonight in five theaters, including one in Toronto, Canada, with expansions plans to expand over the coming weeks. Check out the official site for more details.
Video on Demand
A family goes on vacation to a family reunion in Scotland. When they get there, the kids reveal more than they are supposed to. This film has a good reviews, but not great reviews, and it is playing on VOD. Odds are it won't find an audience in theaters, but could do well on the home market.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Boulevard, 10,000 KM, Strangerland, Tangerine, What We Did on Our Holiday, Do I Sound Gay?, Kreuzweg, The Suicide Theory, Meet Me in Montenegro, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Joseph Fiennes, Steve Mouzakis, Natalia Tena, James Ransone, Oscar Wilde, Mya Taylor, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, David Thorpe, Mickey O'Hagan, David Verdaguer, Lea van Acken, Leon Cain