Limited Releases, Barely
May 16, 2008
A tiny list for limited releases this week, in fact, there are barely enough films to justify using the plural form of the word. That said, all three films this week are earning overwhelmingly positive reviews and with almost no competition, they should do relatively well at the box office.
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer - Reviews
Padre Neustro - Buy from Amazon
Reprise - Reviews
Filmed in 2003 and only finally getting a theatrical release now. Why is it getting a release now? There are more than a few reasons, but one of the keys is America Ferrera, whose star is on the ascension. Normally this would be a really bad sign, however, so far the film has been earning perfect reviews and there is better buzz than most limited releases earn. That said, it still has a tough time ahead of it as it tries to expand for several reasons. Firstly, limited releases almost never have an easy time expanding wide. Secondly, it is opening in 84 theaters, which is very high for a limited release. Thirdly, it is being released by Maya Releasing, which is a relatively new and unproven distributor. How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer opens tonight in 84 theaters nationwide.
The debut of writer / director Christopher Zalla, this film tells the story of a Mexican boy who smuggles himself into the United States and travels to Brooklyn to meet his father, only to have his identity stolen by a man someone who is trying to steal his father's fortune. The film is earning excellent reviews at 76% positive, however, that is still the weakest of the three new releases this week, and perhaps a little too weak to thrive during its limited release. Padre Neustro opened on Wednesday at the IFC Center in New York City.
The film starts with the introduction of two friends who are just starting their careers as authors. One will have their first novel rejected, while the other will become an instant celebrity in the literary field. But which one was really the lucky one is not as easy to answer. The feature-length debut for Joachim Trier, this film is earning overwhelmingly positive reviews and has won a number of awards, including the Discovery Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. That said, it is still a foreign language film, and that will limit its chances to expand wide. Reprise opens tonight in three theaters, two in New York City and the other in Los Angeles
Filed under: Limited Releases, Reprise, Padre Nuestro, How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer