I underestimated the appeal of things going horribly wrong in 3-D, but was more or less on target for how badly people wanted to see one of those guys what chop up folk chop up folk.
9/4
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Gamers control real-life death row inmates as if they were characters in an first-person shooter.
WILL IT SUCK?
From the guys who gave you Crank
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably about as well as any late summer/early fall action flick (like, say, Crank). $28mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I’m not sure the Academy knows what a gamer is.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Factory Space
WILL IT SUCK?
Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) has a proven track record. Cast is hot: Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck, Kristin Wiig, J.K. Simmons, and David Koechner. That having been said, early buzz is mixed, and not nearly as good as for his previous work.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will probably do well for a Mike Judge film, which isn’t very good. $20mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If they didn’t recognize Office Space…
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
You know those tough who lives/who dies decisions you have to make during a zombie attack? Same ones generally come up during a global viral outbreak.
WILL IT SUCK?
Impossible to tell. It didn’t get a release date until star Chris Pine made it big in some Star Trek movie. Writing/directing team fairly fresh on the scene. Trailer looks scary as hell (although, as usual, they ruin it with that stupid post-credit “scare” shot).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I don’t know that Chris Pine fans (is that a thing yet?) are going to necessarily be psyched about a horror film. $15mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Not unless Meryl Streep is playing the virus.
(Delayed from March)
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sandra Bullock stalks Bradley Cooper. But, you know, in a cute way.
WILL IT SUCK?
You lost me at “from the writer of License to Wed.” And the supporting cast looks much more interesting than the leads: Thomas Haden Church, Ken Jeong, DJ Qualls, Keith David, M.C. Gainey and Jason Jones. Can they make the movie with just them?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not sure why this was delayed, but now that Bradley Cooper has arrived (thank you Hangover) and Sandra Bullock has returned (thank you Proposal) this seems a more likely slam dunk. $54mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Bullock might go for it in The Blind Side in November, but not here.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy tries to live without a carbon footprint for a year. Drives his family crazy.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. By the way, this used to only be a blog.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It won’t quite be An Inconvenient Truth. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
It won’t quite be An Inconvenient Truth.
Next Week: Guess which movie comes out on 9/9/09. I’ll give you a hint. It’s not Ten.
Did you know? You can get this preview e-mailed to you:
Comments