I don’t know if it’s a sign of Tropic Thunder‘s resilience or Death Race‘s weakness that Thunder won the weekend. Probably more of the latter, seeing as House Bunny beat Death Race, too.
8/29
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
It’s just never going to end, is it?
WILL IT SUCK?
This is the reason Kim Kardashian was at Comic-Con.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Unfortunately, if it makes $2 they can afford to make another one. $26mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Children of Diesel
WILL IT SUCK?
Don’t get me wrong. I love Hate as much as the next guy. And that film’s director, Mathieu Kassovitz, was great in Munich. But his American directorial debut, Gothika, wasn’t Hate. This probably isn’t, either. Although it is cool to note that parkour champ David Belle choreographed some fights for stars Vin Diesel and Michelle Yeoh.
Early buzz is crappy.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Likely to suffer the same fate as dystopian debacles Ultraviolet and Doomsday. $24mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The Cheadle Identity
WILL IT SUCK?
I could watch Guy Pearce chase Don Cheadle all day (and with Neal McDonough and Jeff Daniels on board, another six hours, at least), but I wish this wasn’t from the co-writer of The Day After Tomorrow. I couldn’t watch that all day.
Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
One hopes Cheadle could win a weekend against Diesel, crappy comedy and more crappy comedy. $28mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Three pre-froshes have themselves a little R-rated adventure during a weekend college visit.
WILL IT SUCK?
Looks to be as generic as its title. Also looks like it desperately wants to Superbad. The only interesting thing about this movie is that it was directed by a woman, which is rare in the teen-boys-trying-to-get-laid genre.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
There’s no lack of stupid comedy around. $5mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Western/Samurai mash-up.
WILL IT SUCK?
Critics are split, but audiences seem to like it. From Audition maestro Takashi Miike, with a cameo by Miike fanboy Quentin Tarantino.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much competition, but not much draw, either. I doubt this is going to get the buzz of Audition. $500,000.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Rotoscope-y Cinderella tale set in NYC Chinatown.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Won the Audience Award at the Boston Film Fest.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Don’t think anyone will hear about this. $250,000.
Next Week: Nic Cage stars in Bangkok Dangerous, which is slightly more lethal than Kuala Lumpur Dangerous but much safer than Trenton Dangerous.
Comments