Yet Another Documentary, ‘Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love,’ Tops Arthouse Openers

This weekend, “Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love” (Roadside Attractions), veteran documentarian Nick Bloomfield’s retelling of the intense relationship between an iconic folk artist and the woman who inspired him, was the only notable specialized opener.

It joined the list of recent documentaries that are saving the specialized box office.The challenges to core theaters continue, as films that once would have been their mainstay opt for wider, mainstream release, from “Booksmart” (United Artists) and “Late Night” (Amazon) to “Yesterday” (Working Title/Universal) and this weekend, smart horror title “Midsommar” (A24).

Apart from a rash of documentaries, only “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (A24) and the less spectacular “Wild Rose” (Neon) are gaining significant traction from arthouse audiences.OpeningMarianne & Leonard: Words of Love (Roadside Attractions) – Metacritic: 63; Festivals include: Sundance 2019$44,311 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $11,077Another documentary with boomer appeal looks back decades at a pop-culture

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