Limited Release: Ready to Attack
June 21, 2013
There is a relatively short list of limited releases this week, but there are a few that are worth keeping an eye on. A Hijacking and The Attack. Both films are earning stunning reviews, but both are foreign language films, so that will hurt their chances to expand significantly, but maybe they will have strong starts in limited release.
The Attack - Reviews
Downloaded - Reviews
A Hijacking - Reviews
Maniac - Reviews
Unfinished Song - Reviews
A Palestinian man living in Israel and is a successful doctor. When his wife is killed in a suicide bombing attack, the police say his wife was responsible for the attack. He then travels into Palestine to learn the truth. The film is earning amazing reviews and this is a subject that could work with art house crowds. However, as a foreign language film, it has little hope of expanding significantly. The Attack opens tonight at the Angelika Film Center in New York City.
A documentary directed by Alex Winter. Yes, that Alex Winter. The film is about Napster, its beginnings, its effect on the music industry, and its legacy. The reviews are good, but there are not a lot of them on Rotten Tomatoes, so it is too early to tell. I really hope it does well. Downloaded opens tonight at the Village East Cinema in New York City and there's even a Q&A with Alex Winter tonight at the 7 p.m. showing.
A thriller about a cargo ship attacked by Somali pirates and how the pirates, the crew, and the corporate owners react to the situation. So far this film has perfect reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is not like it only has five or six reviews. There are 43 reviews currently up, so this is massive appeal with a large number of critics. On the downside, it is a foreign language film, so its potential to expand is limited. A Hijacking opens tonight in seven theaters, mostly in the Los Angeles area, but also in New York City.
Elijah Wood stars as a serial killer who thought he had his impulses under control, but that changes when he meets Nora Arnezeder, an artist. It is a remake of the 1980's original, which isn't a massively well-known installment in the genre. Additionally, it's reviews are only mixed while it is the wrong genre for limited release. Finally, it is also opening in Video on Demand. Perhaps it will find an audience on the home market, but it will likely really struggle in theaters. Maniac opens tonight in IFC Center in New York City.
Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave star as an elderly married couple. He's content to coast through his autumn years, but she wants him to do more. He gets the inspiration to do so when she introduces him to Gemma Arterton, the leader of a local singing group. This film has a strong cast, but the reviews are only good, but not great. As I've said countless times, limited releases need great reviews to thrive. Unfinished Song opens tonight at the The Paris Theatre in New York City and The Landmark in Los Angeles.
Filed under: Limited Releases, L’attentat, Kapringen, Unfinished Song, Maniac, Downloaded, Vanessa Redgrave, Gemma Arterton, Terence Stamp, Alex Winter, Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder