Grossly overestimated the Bullock/Cooper appeal. Final Destination gets another week on top.
9/11
Wide
9 (9/9)
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The last remaining form of life on Earth teams up with eight others like himself to battle our new robot masters.
WILL IT SUCK?
If it’s at all like the Academy Award-nominated short on which it’s based, it should be pretty cool. Same writer/director, with an assist from a Corpse Bride and Monster House co-writer.
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Good on ‘em for scoring the 9-9-09 release date ahead of Rob Marshall’s adaptation of the musical Nine, but Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballls the following week will suck up that oxygen right quick. $20mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
An easy sell for Best Animated.
TYLER PERRY’S I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Taraji P. Henson gets stuck mentoring some kids who tried to break into Madea’s house. Oh, and she meets some hot latin boarder.
WILL IT SUCK?
Overlooking for a moment that the url for the film’s Web site spells out ICANDOBADMOVIE.COM, I’m sure Henson will be magnificent.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a little bit of an issue the following week but, let’s face it, Perry’s only getting stronger. Throw in Mary J. Blige singing the title track and this could be Perry’s first title to break $100 mil. $101mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Currently, Perry’s highest-rated work on IMDb is an episode of House of Payne.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
I Know What You Did Last Semester
WILL IT SUCK?
The only point of interest in this remake of The House on Sorority Row is that Rumer Willis is now old enough to star in a remake of The House on Sorority Row. For what it’s worth, first review out of the gate is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Whiteout provides a little bit of competition this week, but far more comes from Jennifer’s Body the next. $19mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
There are probably enough films released each year to have a Best Horrror Remake category, but why would you?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kate Beckinsale investigates strange goings-on at a scientific research base in Antarctica.
WILL IT SUCK?
Apparently this Dark Castle production’s been around for a while (it was promoted at Comic Con 2007), which is not a great sign. A worse sign is that half the writers did House of Wax and The Reaping, two other Dark Castle titles. And Dark Castle titles tend to suck. That’s the other bad sign.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Pretty much in the same pickle as Sorority Row, but with a name actress. $25mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Reporter gets himself put on trial to expose a corrupt D.A. (Michael Douglas). Guess how well that goes.
WILL IT SUCK?
I’ve always had a soft spot for director Peter Hyams, even though he hasn’t done anything special since Running Scared. Here he reteams with Douglas for the first time since The Star Chamber. Early buzz is relatively good. Getting the same rating on IMDb as the 1956 film upon which it’s based. With Amber Tamblyn and Orlando Jones.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably the biggest cast of any limited release around. $3mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
That’s okay. They didn’t like the original, either.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Middle-aged man competes with younger co-worker for the affections of a younger woman.
WILL IT SICK?
Early buzz is off the heezy. No synopsis is really gonna do this justice, so you should just check out the trailer. You’ll recognize James Kyson Lee as Ando from Heroes.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Distributor Variance has really got its work cut out for it without any major studio or festival support, it may just come down to word of mouth, which should be solid. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
The same way they remember other quirky comedies like Napoleon Dynamite.
Next Week: Diablo Cody writes a horror film.
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