‘Detachment’ Hits On March 16th; ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ Pushed To May 4th

A couple of release date adjustments to mark your fresh 2012 calendar with, as you plot out your moviegoing for the year.

First up, Tribeca Films has finally dated Tony Kaye's "Detachment" with a March 16th release. The talked about classroom drama stars Adrien Brody as Henry Barthe, a substitute teacher whose relationships with three women change his cynical outlook on his profession. While the reviews out of the Tribeca Film Festival last spring were mixed (to say the least), the trailers and clips from the movie that have popped up have been tantalizing, promising a far more stylish movie that this material suggests. Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, James Caan, Marcia Gay Harden, Blythe Danner, Tim Blake Nelson, William Petersen and Bryan Cranston round out the supporting cast, but the movie will face some stiff competition. At the multiplex, audiences will be lured by "Mirror Mirror" and "21 Jump Street," while the direct competition for "Detchament" will come in the form of "Butter," which is also getting a limited release that weekend. But you might be able to avoid leaving the house altogether, as Tribeca generally do a day-and-date VOD release as well.

Meanwhile, Fox Searchlight has moved John Madden's "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" from its previously slated March 9th date to May 4th. Based on a British best-seller from “Tulip Fever” author and “Pride & Prejudice” screenwriter Deborah Moggach, the culture clash dramedy boasts a lineup of veteran actors including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson and Dev Patel, with a story centering around an entrepreneurial Indian executive who decides to start up a first-rate home for elderly British retirees. The date change was likely made to give the movie some breathing room. On its previous release date, it faced a gaggle of arthouse competition including "Salmon Fishing In Yemen," "The Bully Project" and "Jiro Dreams Of Sushi." On May 4th? The arthouse (for now) is open, while the multiplexes will be bombarded by "The Avengers." [BoxOfficeMojo/Thompson On Hollywood]