So, I kind of lowballed Beverly Hills, Chihuahua, which made more in it’s opening weekend than I predicted it would in its entire run. Never, ever underestimate the power of talking animals.
10/10
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Cloverfield-style chiller about an outbreak in an apartment complex.
WILL IT SUCK?
As with most horror films nowadays, this is a remake. It’s a remake of a Spanish film, though, instead of a Japanese or Korean or 70′s/80′s American one, so it’s got that going for it. Still, the cameraperson-as-character bit might seem more original were it not for Cloverfield. Or Diary of the Dead. Or The Blair Witch Project.
Early buzz is not great.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Smart enough to stay away from Saw but not smart enough to stay away from similarly quarantine-themed Blindness. Doubt it will make much difference either way. $20mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If they won’t remember Cloverfield, they won’t remember this.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Leo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe try to take down Al Qaeda.
WILL IT SUCK?
From director Ridley Scott, who more often than not brings teh awesome. Adapted from the David Ignatius novel by William Monahan (The Departed) who’s been tapped to write Jurassic Park IV (!?!).
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nothing else this month has this kind of star power, but the Middle East is toxin at the box office. $48mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
You’d think Scott’s American Gangster would have made more waves. In light of that, I’m thinking not so much.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Two kids try to save their city, which happens to be the light source for the world.
WILL IT SUCK?
From Monster House director Gil Kenan and Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands and Nightmare Before Christmas scribe Caroline Thompson, who adapts the first in Jeanne Duprau’s celebrated Ember series. Decent cast, too: Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan and Martin Landau.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Most attempts at starting a fantasy franchise that’s not as iconic as Narnia, Potter or Rings have seen middling returns. $72mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
See previous answer.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
True story of Ernie Davis, the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy.
WILL IT SUCK?
Kind of an uninspiring pedigree. The director did Runaway Jury but hasn’t done anything really interesting since that subway episode of Homicide. The writer did a great job with Blood Diamond but not so much with K-Pax. Dennis Quaid plays a coach again which is smart but uninteresting casting.
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The recent history of football films does not bode well. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
They didn’t Remember the Titans, and that had Denzel.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy Ritchie returns to what he does best. We hope.
WILL IT SUCK?
Guy Ritchie’s last movie was so bad that (a) it’s hard to trust him with a script again and (b) it’s hard for him to do a lot worse. So I try to be a little psyched. I like the casting of Tom Wilkinson and Jeremy Piven in supporting roles. Early buzz says it’s better, at least, than Revolver, but not quite back to the level of Lock, Stock or Snatch.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Ritchie will see financial success once his next movie hits theaters. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
In Mike Leigh’s latest, Sally Hawkins plays a woman who is the title.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is great. Hawkins took the Golden Bear at Berlin and the film won the wonderfully-named “Most Enjoyable Film” award at the Norwegian International Film Festival. Seriously, we should have an award like that here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will probably hit around the Mike Leigh average. $4mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If Miramax can afford the Oscar push, Hawkins might stand a chance at a nod.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Couple tries to survive a long distance relationship.
WILL IT SUCK?
Mumblecore progenitors Greta Gerwig and Joe Swanberg’s (who co-write, co-direct and co-star) best to date, according to early buzz. Of course, you have to like mumblecore.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I don’t think this will be the breakthrough mumblecore hit, but I think it will score on the higher end of the genre. $250,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
It took about ten years for mumblecore forerunner Cassavetes to show up on the Academy’s radar.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
If it hasn’t been released in North America, it’s new to you.
WILL IT SUCK?
Apparently, there are only a few differences between Wong Kar Wai’s original 1994 Ashes and this reworking. Still, the old one is slightly more highly regarded (though both are considered the shiznit). In a way, though, it doesn’t matter because the original was never released in the states, so if you wanna see this film in a theater, this is your only shot.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Wong Kar Wai does not usually bring in the big bucks. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Is it even eligible?
Next Week: And starring Rob Corddry as Ari Fleischer…
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