American beat Machete by a nose, but they both beat Going the Distance, and that’s all that matters.
Machete, by the way, lives up to the promise of its original trailer. And am I the only one crying out for a Machete/Mariachi crossover flick?
9/10
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Blah, blah, blah, zombies. Blah, blah, blah 3D.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is great, and it’s worth noting that Paul W.S. Anderson returns to writing/directing duty for the first time since the franchise launched.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Given that it has no competition and the franchise has scary consistent b.o., just fine. $51mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
There are actually plenty of critically acclaimed zombie flicks (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead [either version], 28 Days Later, Zombieland) but not that kind of critically acclaimed.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about Joaquin Phoenix’s sudden rap career.
WILL IT SUCK?
Better question: Is it real or some Andy Kaufman-esque hoax? Better question than that: Does it matter? Better question than that, is director Casey Affleck actually this much of a douchebag? Answers: I don’t know. Probably not. God, I hope not.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
In a way, has more star power than most of the competition, but I wonder if it’s already outlived its own hype. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Unless the reviews are way better than I expect them to be, not so much.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
American Pie done as a Jackass-ish faux doc.
WILL IT SUCK?
It is perhaps appropriate that the writer/directors behind this also wrote The Last Exorcism. Also that one of the directors was the co-director you never heard of on Frat House, which put Todd Philips (Old School, The Hangover) on the radar.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Surprisingly low profile for a flick produced by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER THIS AT OSCAR TIME?
The awkward, disturbing comedy category hasn’t been invented yet.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Professional break-up artist has one week to stop a wedding.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is great. Romain Duris (The Beat That My Heart Skipped) is supposed to be excellent in the lead.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
French romcoms do not generally do well in the States. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nor do romcoms usually make the cut of films countries submit for a Best Foreign Oscar.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The dark, mind-bending tale of the band who did “What I Like About You?” No, actually, friends gather for a wedding and some old shit comes up.
WILL IT SUCK?
Probably the most interesting thing about this film is the cast, which includes Katie Holmes, Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel (getting a chance to build some indie cred), Candice Bergen, Elijah Wood, and Adam Brody. That, and the fact that Galt Niederhoffer writes and directs her own novel. Early buzz is not so good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Decent star power, but Paramount Famous (really?) needs to get the word out. $2mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
With better reviews, it could at least step on the field.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Rabbit Proof Fence if it were a musical and not nearly as depressing.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Geoffrey Rush sure looks fun.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A very crowded weekend. But there is an odd history of breakout musical Aussie hits (Strictly Ballroom; The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). $3mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I don’t think this will quite hit Priscilla levels of adoration.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
John Cena teaches some nerdy kid to wrestle.
WILL IT SUCK?
The casting of Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover tells me this is going more for an indie vibe than your typical WWE-starring fare. That and the indie distributor and indie limited release. Director did a ton of TV, including a buttload of Psych‘s. Early buzz is mixed and seems to have more problems with the script than Cena’s performance.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
How much do Cena’s fans want to see him in a drama? How many Clarkson fans want to see her act with John Cena? $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Without better reviews this is not Clarkson’s return to the show.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn fall in love.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Co-starring Elizabeth Banks and Adam Scott.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
If marketed right, could draw in the considerably large elderly contingent that goes to the art house. At least in downtown Philly. Lot of retirees in the audience when I go. Just sayin’. $2mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Numero dos for Burstyn and Landau?
Next Week: Ben Affleck sets out to prove that Gone Baby Gone was no fluke.
Any one watch the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?I decided to read the book again just before going to the movie and I have to say, that they stayed really close to the story-line with the book, even so, I feel like they edited out a few key factors or elements and a few details had been altered for cinema settings that we would like they wouldn’t have. Mostly silly details, however ones that were really appropriate and made things fall together a little better.