Overestimated Bolt. Underestimated Twilight. Big time. I think I was fooled by the not-so-jaw-dropping performance of High School Musical 3 and assumed that Twilight‘s demo would be similarly tween-limited. Not so much.
I’ve heard meh things about the flick itself, but if a likely $200+ million final take means that female directors get taken more seriously in Hollywood, awesome. (Whether or not that will actually happen is another kettle of myopia. Look at the huge explosion of female directors after Mimi Leder’s Deep Impact. Oh, right.)
11/26
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
T-Bag hires Transporter to do some shit.
WILL IT SUCK?
Luc Besson reteams with his frequent writing partner (including the previous two Transporters) Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid) on this installment. Seems they’ve added an element (if Transporter leaves a 75 foot radius of his car, he gets blowed up) that will ensure the action stays around the car, which is probably a good idea.
I’m one of the few folks who actually liked Transporter 2 better, so I don’t really know what to expect. Although the trailer pretty much tells you the whole movie from beginning to end. What I’m actually psyched for, though, is the addition of Robert Knepper (the aforementioned T-Bag from Prison Break) to the cast. He’s how villainy is done.
Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I think it’s actually a very smart move to open a mid-level action franchise installment over a major holiday weekend. It’s counterprogramming to all the romcom/family-friendly/dramatic shit that’s around. Although I feel this was as much a strategy to keep this film as far away as possible from Quantum of Solace. Nothing really to fear from the Punisher reboot the following week. $59mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No. But who else wants to see a Driving Miss Daisy remake with Statham at the wheel?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Meet the Parents Individually
WILL IT SUCK?
I would have never guessed in a million years that this would be the follow-up project for King of Kong director Seth Gordon, but now that I know, I’m a little more interested. Of the four writers, little is known except that two wrote Rebound. That cancels out Kong, I think.
Early buzz is crap.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Australia causes a bit of friction but I think this has the bigger stars and the better genre. Between Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughan you’ll pack ‘em in. $72mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No. But who else wants Vince to host the Oscars drunk?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sprawling romantic epic set in the title with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
WILL IT SUCK?
I’ve been pretty happy with writer/director Baz Luhrman’s work so far (Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom), and his co-writers have done stuff like The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Pirates of the Caribbean. That having been said, the only thing I like about the trailer is the old school Casablanca font on the titles.
Early buzz is of the beautiful-but-empty variety.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Bloom is off the rose for Kidman and Four Christmases will get the vote of more of the guys in couples looking to see something romantic. $44mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nobody thought Moulin Rouge had a shot when it burst on the scene, and that garnered eight nods and two wins, and this flick is even more in the Academy’s wheelhouse. But the buzz better improve.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bio-pic about the legendary gay activist and politician Harvey Milk.
WILL IT SUCK?
Sean Penn plays Milk, and the rest of the cast ain’t too shabby either, with Diego Luna, Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Josh Brolin as Milk’s assassin, Dan White. Writer did a bunch of Big Love‘s and the director is noneother than Gus Van Sant.
Early buzz is solid.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Frost/Nixon is a pretty serious contender the following week, but it’s got this week all to itself. Also, it’s unfortunately more relevant after Election Day. $12mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
With the quickly thinning field, chances are even better for this to be up for most awards, including Picture, Director, Screenplay, Penn for Actor and any of a host of actors for Supporting, including Brolin, who could see himself up for Supporting and Lead in the same year (depending upon W.‘s fortunes, but I wouldn’t hold my breath).
Next Week: Spoiler Alert! Nixon lied.
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