Because the Messengers Said So
Epic Movie exceeded even my generous expectations and should finish out its theatrical life with almost $60mil in the bank. Even further exceeding my modest expectations is Smokin’ Aces, which nabs Carnahan his best box office yet (it made more in a weekend than Narc in its entire run) and hopefully give him the opportunity to make something the critics like again (and with Killing Pablo and White Jazz in the pipeline, that seems likely).
2/2
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like The Grudge except, um…okay, it pretty much looks like The Grudge.
WILL IT SUCK?
Directed by the guys who did The Eye, but there’s no evidence that that’s going to help. But, hey, Cancer Man’s up in here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will be wiped out by Hannibal the following week. $16mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The synopsis says it’s about trying to set up Mandy Moore’s character with a beau, but the trailer makes it look like it’s all about setting up the mom (Diane Keaton) with that guy from 7th Heaven.
WILL IT SUCK?
It’s been 20 years since Heathers, and we’re still no closer to director Michael Lehman repeating that glory (in spite of best. film. ever. Hudson Hawk). I don’t think the writers of Stepmom are going to help much. But hey, anything that gives Tony Hale work.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Catch and Release’s underwhelming opening means it won’t be in Because’s way. $31mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The story of Andy Warhol’s muse, Edie Sedgwick (Sienna Miller).
WILL IT SUCK?
Guy Pearce plays Warhol and Hayden Christensen plays, um, some other guy. This is from documentarian George “Hearts of Darkness” Hickenlooper, so it’ll be interesting to see what he does with a bio-pic. One of the screenwriters is a bio-pic vet, having written Wonderland. Unfortunately, like Wonderland, early buzz is not good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A delayed release distancing it from the Awards-heavy December indie scene might help a little, but bad reviews might take all that advantage away. $2mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
An Inconvenient Nader
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is impressive, especially given the two-and-a-half-hour run time.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The film’s biggest hurdle is anti-Nader sentiment or, worse, disinterest. $500,000.
Next Week: Hannibal vs. Norbit. If only that were an actual movie.