VOD Overdose is Movie Buzzers’ coverage of video-on-demand developments and upcoming films premiering on video-on-demand. With an increasing number of studios embracing VOD as a way to premiere and distribute films, this column covers movies that might be worth a look even though they aren’t playing at your local multiplex.
Latest VOD News
First, coming out of the Toronto International Film Festival Deadline has a great article on the VOD success Bachelorette and how successful a multi-platform approach to releasing a film can be. It also touches on The Weinstein Company’s success with its VOD distributor Radius, including with VOD films Margin Call and Solomon Kane.
With all of the different ways to watch a movie on VOD, sometimes shopping around for the best possible VOD price takes too much time. Well, a new tool is making that easier: filmgopher.com. You can search movies by series or director, and the results give you the exact price of each option to help you narrow down your purchasing decision. This should definitely help you save a few bucks!
Variety reports that Drafthouse Films has picked up distribution rights to Graceland, which Alex saw at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and called “a Filipino gem” (see his review here!) Drafthouse is planning a VOD and limited theatrical release of the kidnapping thriller in 2013.
Speaking of Tribeca, Tribeca Films has acquired Edward Burns‘ next film, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, and will release the film in limited theatrical markets and on VOD in time for the holidays. It’s a natural pairing, since Tribeca released Burns’ last film, Newlyweds, to big success on VOD last year. The film got a great response at the Toronto International Film Festival, and as a huge fan of everything Edward Burns (I already wrote about the film here) I can’t wait to see it.
According to IndieWire, there’s a new VOD company to keep an eye on: Exclusive Releasing, which will handle acquisitions for Exclusive Media. Though the distributor isn’t strictly focusing on the VOD market, it plans on “experimenting” with it and there’s no doubt we’ll see some releases from them on that platform.
And as for future VOD releases, FilmWorks has announced that it will be releasing Three Blind Saints on VOD and DVD on November 20. It a comedy about three men who are assigned community service at a church in lieu of a jail sentence, but as they goof off in what seems like an easy gig they discover a plot to rob the church.
Now on VOD… And We Reviewed It!
Here’s a sampling of recent VOD movies that Movie Buzzers has viewed and reviewed. Check your cable provider or the below online retailers:
The Eye of the Storm (Review 6/10), available at Amazon and Blockbuster.
Solomon Kane (Review 5/10), available on Amazon and YouTube.
The Ambassador (Review 6.7/10), available on Amazon and iTunes.
Juan of the Dead (Review 6/10), available on Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, and Blockbuster.
Upcoming VOD Releases
(For films premiering on VOD platforms, or hitting VOD after limited theatrical runs. Check out trailers for these and other VOD titles at the Independent Movie on Demand YouTube channel here!)
September 14
Arbitrage
There’s some huge names in this financial drama: Richard Gere, Tim Roth, and Susan Sarandon, and it’s gotten some very positive early reviews. It also gets a rather big, but still limited theatrical release on the same day (over 125 screens), so you can always VOD it if it’s not in your area (or if you prefer your couch). I imagine the distributors are trying to position the film like the very successful VOD/theatrical release Margin Call, which also had to do with Wall Street shenanigans.
September 18
Knuckleball!
By far one of the best sports documentaries I’ve seen: the filmmakers take a look at the most confounding pitch in baseball, starring Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and current New York Mets sensation R.A. Dickey. Check out my review from the Tribeca Film Festival here, along with my coverage of the premiere here! It’s also getting a limited theatrical release on the same day.
September 21
Head Games
One of the biggest hot-button issues in sports these days — particularly football — is how concussions affect the brain. With more younger children competing more intensely for athletic success than ever before, this documentary looks at the concussion controversy in sports and the brain damage that results.
September 25
She Wants Me
Starring the Book of Mormon‘s Josh Gad and a slew of familiar faces (Charlie Sheen, Hilary Duff, and Wayne Knight), this comedy features Gad as screenwriter who is writing a role for his girlfriend only to discover that a big star wants the role instead. It’s also getting a November 1 theatrical release.
September 28
Jack and Diane
After appearing at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, this drama about teenage girls in love starring Juno Temple and Riley Keough somehow also involves a werewolf. I really can’t explain it. But don’t think of it as a lesbian Twilight: there’s a lot more too it!
How to Survive a Plague
Though it sounds like a science fiction movie, this documentary is actually about the battle against AIDS and how HIV went from a death sentence to a condition that someone can live a healthy life with for decades. There are several screenings across the U.S. before it debuts on VOD, so if you’re interested check the website.
Have news about an upcoming VOD movie? Want to have Movie Buzzers check out your upcoming VOD release? Contact me here!
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