Given the crap that it was up against, it seems fitting that Tropic Thunder gets a third week at number one with only $14.3 million in its pocket.
9/5
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Nicolas Cage plays a hitman who loves his job and doesn’t do anything to jeopardize it. Nah, just kidding.
WILL IT SUCK?
On the one hand, IMDB has this as the highest-rated Pang Bros. (creators of the original The Eye) film yet (it’s an English-language remake, in fact, of their own eponymous film). On the other hand, it’s not being screened for critics. Take a look at this NSFW clip and tell me what you think. I’m personally hoping for gloriously bad.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s opening against nothing, which can only mean one thing. It’s the beginning of September and nobody goes to the movies. $18mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nic Cage: Worst Hair
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy pretends to be Italian to get with a girl.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Has the indie romcom audience all to itself, but not a lot of marketing. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Jamie Bell stars as the title character, a teen who falls for his stepmom, then accuses her of murder.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. From Young Adam writer/director David Mackenzie.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Young Adam couldn’t get any traction, and that had Ewan McGregor (and his hammer). $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If this had a higher profile, I’d say keep an eye on Jamie Bell.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Jive-talkin’ Asian guy learns to love his inner ping pong player when he’s forced to teach his parents’ class.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. From the writer/director of Henry Darger doc In the Realms of the Unreal.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No stars. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No stars.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy (Mathieu Almaric) reminisces about discovering a horrible family secret while growing up in France during the Nazi occupation.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is pretty good. From writer/director Claude Miller, a name you might recognize if you’re familiar with French cinema, which I am not. Based on the Phillipe Grimbert novel.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Don’t think just having Almaric in the trailer will cut it. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
With better reviews, might be on a French submission shortlist, but I doubt it.
Next Week: Pitt/Clooney vs. Pacino/De Niro.
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