Limited Releases: Dear Limited Releases
November 15, 2013
There are not a lot of limited releases on this week's list, but there are a few that are intriguing. Nebraska has the best reviews and an excellent pedigree. Dear Mr. Watterson is a good choice for fans of Calvin and Hobbes. While Faust is earning good enough reviews to be worth checking out, even if it will be overshadowed by some of the Oscar contenders out there.
12-12-12 - Reviews
Charlie Countryman - Reviews
The Christmas Candle - Reviews
Dear Mr. Watterson - Reviews
Faust - Reviews
Nebraska - Reviews
The Starving Games - Reviews
A behind-the-scenes documentary / concert film about the Hurricane Sandy relief concert. 12-12-12 opens tonight in two theaters, one in New York City and the other in Los Angeles. I don't know which specific theaters, because the Weinstein Co. official site wasn't safe. I doubt they are spreading viruses, but it could have a Malware infect ad somewhere. I'm not taking any chances.
There's apparently a big sex scene in this movie that is creating a lot of buzz. However, the reviews are terrible, so there's very little reason to see this movie. Charlie Countryman opens tonight in 15 theaters nationwide.
There are some sources that say this movie opens tonight, but the official site says it opens next week. I'm including it now, just in case.
A biography about the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip. The Mr. Watterson in question doesn't participate in this documentary, but it has many, many other comics and artists who were inspired by his work. The reviews are good, but not great, with more than a few critics complaining it is a Hagiography rather than a critical look at his work. That said, what were the filmmakers supposed to do? Dig up dirt on the artist to balance out his influence? Dear Mr. Watterson opens tonight in theaters and on Video on Demand, so it likely won't do well at the box office.
A sort of different take on the novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, mixed with Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann. In it, Johannes Zeiler plays Faust, but instead of becoming obsessed with knowledge, but with a woman, Isolda Dychauk. The reviews are good, but not great, and great reviews are even more important when there are so many films vying for Awards Season glory out at the moment. Faust opens tonight in two theaters, the The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and the Film Forum, both in New York City.
Directed by Alexander Payne. This instantly has my attention. It also stars Bruce Dern and I can't remember the last time I've seen a movie with Bruce Dern where he didn't give a great performance. So far the reviews are just under 90% positive, which would normally be outstanding for a limited release, but there are a lot of Oscar contenders out there, so it might not be high enough to stand out. Then again, Alexander Payne has a ton of Oscar cred. Nebraska opens tonight in four theaters, I assume in New York City and Los Angeles. I can't confirm, because the Official Site redirects me to the U.K. version. I don't know why.
I thought this came out last week, but sources say it is coming out this week. There are still no positive reviews, which is not a surprise. If The Starving Games does open in theaters tonight, it will have little hope of making an impact.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Charlie Countryman, The Starving Games, Nebraska, Dear Mr. Watterson, 12-12-12, The Christmas Candle, Faust, Bruce Dern, Alexander Payne, Johannes Zeiler, Isolda Dychauk