Overestimated the appeal of Jennifer’s Body – the movie, not Jennifer Aniston. Waaaay overestimated her appeal.
9/25
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
In a world (can you believe I’ve never started a synopsis with that before!? It’s so exciting!) where people live their lives through android avatars, one man (Bruce Willis, natch) must figure out how someone is killing real people by killing their robot counterparts.
WILL IT SUCK?
Director Jonathan Mostow has done some good thrillers (U571, Breakdown) and the writers have done a good thriller (The Game) and some not so much (The Net, Catwoman). They all worked on Terminator: Rise of the Machines which was okay, so…probably a good premise not exploited to its full potential is what we have in store.
Oh, and if I were Bruce Willis choosing my surrogate I would not choose that hair.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much in the way of action right now, so this could stand a chance. $50mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but how many Academy members do you think would send their 20-year-old surrogates in their place to the ceremony if they could?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Step Up 2 the Remake
WILL IT SUCK?
The original Fame was directed by Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning, Pink Floyd: The Wall, The Commitments). This one was directed by a guy who did some Pussycat Dolls eps. And with that, we know why this film is being remade.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People watch that Pussycat Dolls shit. $59mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
The original Fame was nominated for six Oscars and won two (Best Music & Song). Somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen here.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Two spaceship crewmembers wake up in deep space with no idea what’s going on. And that’s when the CHUDs come after them. (I don’t know if it’s CHUDs actually, but some bad shit goes down).
WILL IT SUCK?
The involvement of Paul W.S. Anderson at any level makes me suspicious (here he produces), but I love me some Ben Foster and the latest trailer actually looks pretty intriguing.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The horror contingent is pretty well covered this month, and Zombieland is just around the corner. $28mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but mark my words, Ben Foster will get a nod someday (he was rumored to be a contender for 3:10 to Yuma).
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Coco Begins
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Director Anne Fontaine (The Girl From Monaco) directs and co-writes with her sister. Audrey Tatou stars as Coco Chanel.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
About as good a shot as any foreign film could hope for, with a recognizable star and subject. $11mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Tatou could get the nod she already deserved for Amelie.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Recently widowed man (Clive Owen) copes with single fatherhood.
WILL IT SUCK?
From director Scott Hicks, who lost some credibility with No Reservations, but will never really lose credibility after Shine. From a guy who wrote Prime Suspect 2 for British TV, so he has to be good.
Early buzz is very good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With a feel-good trailer like this, I could actually see this being marketed wide. $7mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
People are talking about Clive, but I don’t know if they’re talking that much.
Next Week: The world’s funniest human directs a movie.
[...] on target with my Surrogates prediction, and it’s not too far a leap from that to guess that Cloudy would hold on to the top spot. [...]