Enchanted Rush
Remember when Hollywood first introduced 3-D to lure audiences away from the new invention that brought us Lucille Ball and cigarette commercials? Well it’s back. Again. But this time it seems to be working. 40 percent of the gross of number one movie Beowulf came from its 3-D screenings. And, yes, when I see it, I do plan on seeing it in 3-D.
11/23
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Animated princess is banished to the very real New York City.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz has this pulling off the Shrek satirical vibe well. Director of the underrated Tarzan and writer of the I’ve-heard-it’s-underrated Blast From the Past on board with Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon rounding out the cast.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Very crowded field, but this has the Disney label. $54mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but this could put former nominee Amy Adams on the mainstream map.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) and his birth parents (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) try to find each other with a little help from Robin Williams.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. This film has a very strange pedigree. It’s directed by Jim Sheridan’s daughter Kirsten, who co-wrote In America with him and her sister, and its writers include scribes behind Escape From New York and Coppola’s Dracula. If this somehow turns out to be a combination of those three films, I am so going.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A crowded time of year for this sort of fare. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I think Russell’s got a better shot with Waitress.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Group trapped in store vs. big-ass monsters shrouded in the title.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is the first time recidivist Stephen King adapter Frank Darabont has decided to envision one of the author’s horror stories - and he picked an especially creepy one at that. If he can make this half as good as Shawshank or The Green Mile it’ll be light years beyond most of this year’s horror crop. Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Relatively little competition, and a lot of King fans love this story. $30mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If anyone can get horror on the Academy radar, it’s three-time Oscar nominee Darabont. But it’s not gonna happen.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy kills people for money. What did you think it would be about?
WILL IT SUCK?
Interesting combination of talents here. You’ve got the director of the film-fest-fave horror flick Frontières and the writer of the shameless-yet-addictive Swordfish, so I’m thinking this will turn out to be a good 3 a.m. TNT watch. In addition to Timothy Olyphant in the lead, I’m liking the casting of Dougray Scott and Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond on Lost) as well.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Video game on which this is based has a decent following and there’s little or no action competition. $29mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No, but Olyphant’s turn in Die Hard IV puts me in mind of adding an Oscar for films that exceed expectations.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Why Did I Come Home for Christmas?
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good, which is better than you’d expect from Preston A. Whitmore II, writer/director of Crossover (Check the IMDB bottom 100. Lower. Lower. Lower.) I’m liking the casting of Delroy Lindo and Regina King, and the trailer actually looks decent.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
That Tyler Perry crack is for real (and I swear I thought of it before I saw IMDB do the same thing). Expect a similar marketing campaign with diluted results given the glut of holiday fare. $22mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If either ever do make it to the show, it’ll be Perry will before Whitmore.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Ben Whishaw ARE Bob Dylan.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Props to Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Velevet Goldmine) for pulling off an audacious project and getting his best IMDB love ever. Also, you gotta love that David Cross is Allen Ginsberg.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Savages will be kind of big deals next week, but none of them have six people playing Bob Dylan. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
This is the kind of quirky fare that could maybe get a screenplay nod. Poss. supporting actress nod for Blanchett since she’s been there before and is playing, you know, a dude.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Grad student (Lauren Ambrose) tries to rejuvenate old writer (Frank Langella).
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed with audiences not nearly as in love with it as critics.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Like, five people in New York are gonna watch this thing. $750,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Langella’s performance is getting mad buzz, but will anyone see it?
(Delayed from October)
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Indian woman returns to Scotland to save her deceased father’s failing restaurant.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed. From the screenwriter of Dear Frankie.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
They’ve moved this to a less crowded weekend, but it’s still in over it’s head. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Not enough eyeballs.
Next Week: The release date that most studios forgot.