Limited Releases: Limited Releases are Barely Here
May 29, 2015
There are not a lot of films on this week's list; however, there are several that are earning overwhelmingly positive reviews. Heaven Knows What and I Believe in Unicorns are both coming of age films. Tu dors Nicole and Wet Bum are both Canadian films, the latter of which is only playing in Canada at the moment. Finally, there's Results. Its reviews are not as good as the other four, but its chances of earning some measure of mainstream success is likely greater.
Barely Lethal - Reviews
Gemma Bovery - Reviews
Heaven Knows What - Reviews
I Believe in Unicorns - Reviews
Results - Reviews
Sunset Edge - Reviews
Survivor - Reviews
Tu dors Nicole - Reviews
Wet Bum - Reviews
Hailee Steinfeld stars as Megan Walsh, a Special Ops agent trained from childhood. However, she grows disillusioned with her life, so she fakes her death and enrolls in high school. It's a goofy premise and when I first heard about it, I thought it would do fine in wide release. It wouldn't be a major hit, but it could pull in DUFF-like numbers. Then I started to see the reviews trickle in. The reviews are only 15% positive, although I have seen some critics say the film is aimed more at young teenagers, which explains the poor reviews. It feels like a Nickelodeon or Disney Channel original movie rather than a theatrical release aimed at adults. Barely Lethal opens tonight in select theaters, as well as on Video on Demand. It will perform better on the latter than in the former.
Gemma Arterton plays the titular Gemma Bovery. It is based on a 1999 novel of the same name, while the novel was inspired by the 19th century French novel Madame Bovary. The reviews are good, but not great, but the cast has better star power than most films on this week's list. It might find an audience in limited release, but it will likely perform better on Video on Demand. Gemma Bovery opens tonight in five theaters, two in New York City and the rest in the Los Angeles area. It is also playing on Video on Demand, but not on Amazon. Check out the official site for more details.
Arielle Holmes stars as Haley, a young heroin addict living in New York City. It is a semi-autobiographical work based on Arielle Holmes' life and the reviews are amazing. Heaven Knows What opens tonight in New York City and Los Angeles.
Natalia Dyer stars as a teenager who practically lives in her fantasy world, as an escape from her real life. However, that changes when she meets a boy, Sterling. The reviews are nearly perfect so hopefully it will find an audience in theaters. I Believe in Unicorns opens tonight at the IFC Center in New York City, but there are almost no future showings planned. Again, hopefully a strong opening will change that fact. In the meantime, check out the official site for more details.
Kevin Corrigan stars as a recently divorced man, who joins a health club run by Guy Pearce and becomes infatuated with his new trainer, Cobie Smulders. This film is earning some of the best buzz on this week's list, plus its reviews are overwhelmingly positive. It is never easy to thrive in limited release, but this film at least has a chance at earning some measure of mainstream success. Results opens tonight in four theaters, including one in Toronto, Canada, with a planned expansion next week. Check out the official site for more details.
A film set in an abandoned trailer park and focused on a group of teenagers exploring the place. However, they are not the only people there. The reviews are weak with a lot of critics complaining that the film suffers from style over substance and a lack of a pay-off. Sunset Edge opens tonight in three theaters, one in New York City and two in the Los Angeles area. Check out the official site for more details.
Good cast, but this film has 0% positive reviews and it is playing on Video on Demand. ... moving on.
A Canadian film about two recent college graduates. The friendship is put to the test when the older brother of one of them returns to town. So far the film's reviews are perfect, but it doesn't have the star power as some other limited releases on this week's list have. Tu dors Nicole opens tonight Lincoln Plaza Cinema in New York City.
Julia Sarah Stone stars as Sam, a 14-year girl who has trouble fitting in at school. When she has to work at her mother's retirement home, she becomes friends with a couple of residents. This is a Canadian film opening in Canada this weekend. It only has three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but that's better than average for a Canadian film. Even better, all three reviews are positive. Wet Bum is now playing at the Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas in Vancouver, Canada.
Filed under: Limited Releases, Survivor, Gemma Bovery, Results, Barely Lethal, Heaven Knows What, Tu dors Nicole, I Believe in Unicorns, Sunset Edge, Wet Bum, Gemma Arterton, Kevin Corrigan, Guy Pearce, Hailee Steinfeld, Cobie Smulders, Arielle Holmes, Natalia Dyer, Peter Vack, Julia Sarah Stone