Limited and VOD Releases: Only a Couple of This Week’s Films are Amazing

April 5, 2019

Amazing Grace

If I were to use just one phrase to describe this week’s list, it would be “Good, but not great.” More than half of the films on this week’s list have reviews that are exactly that, merely good, but not good enough for limited release. Of the exceptions, Amazing Grace is the one I want to see the most.

Amazing Grace - Reviews
 A documentary / concert film showing Aretha Franklin’s 1972 concert at the The New Bethel Baptist Church. This is a legendary film that’s finally coming to theaters after nearly 50 years. The original director, Sydney Pollack made the mistake of not using a clapboard to synchronize the sound, and it proved impossible to finish the film with 1970s technology. The reviews are just shy of 100% positive and it is a must-see for fans of the singer or of gospel music in general.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate - Reviews
 Video on Demand
This isn’t the worst film on this week’s list, but it is the worst film to also earn enough reviews to make it on the main list and not be relegated to the secondary VOD titles below.

High Life - Reviews
 This film was co-written and directed by Claire Denis and stars Robert Pattinson as practically the only survivor of an incident on a space ship traveling outside the solar system. The reviews are among the best on this week’s list, but its chances of escaping the art house circuit are limited.

Peterloo - Reviews
 A movie about the 1819 Peterloo Massacre in which British forces attacked a crowd of 80,000 pro-democracy protesters, leaving 18 dead and hundreds injured. It is a powerful story, one that has interesting ties to the political climate of today, but its reviews are merely good and likely not good enough for limited release.

The Public - Reviews
 A cold snap sends many homeless people to the public library who then turn it into a makeshift shelter for the night. However, what starts as mere civil disobedience turns into a police standoff and a media circus. The reviews are good, but likely not good enough for limited release.

Storm Boy - Reviews
 An Australian film about a young boy who raises an orphaned pelican. This isn’t the first time this story has been adapted into a movie and this film’s reviews are merely good and not great, so it likely won’t find an audience in theaters.

Unicorn Store - Reviews
 Video on Demand
An Indie comedy that has a high concentration of “Indie Quirk”, but its two leads, Brie Larson Samuel L. Jackson have serious star appeal. It is also Brie Larson’s directorial debut, which is another reason to check it out. On the other hand, the reviews are merely good, so watching it on Netflix is probably the better option.

The Wind - Reviews
 Video on Demand
This film has almost no shot at finding an audience in theaters. Firstly, horror movies almost never do well in limited release. Secondly, its reviews are merely good and not good enough for limited release. Finally, it is playing on VOD. That said, it could do well on VOD.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Berserk - Reviews - Video on Demand
Division 19 - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Head Hunter - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Head Hunter has only three reviews, but all of them are positive. On the other hand, the other two secondary VOD releases have no positive reviews between them.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Peterloo, Amazing Grace, Unicorn Store, The Public, The Wind, High Life, Storm Boy, The Haunting of Sharon Tate, Division 19, Berserk, The Head Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Brie Larson, Robert Pattinson, Sydney Pollack, Claire Denis