Pretty 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. Way off on Fame, though, which makes me happy because maybe this will make Hollywood think twice about unnecessary rema-…I’m sorry, I almost got through that with a straight face.
10/2
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Michael Moore takes on the financial meltdown.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is par for the course for Moore, although on IMDb this is one of his lowest-rated films.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Coming out on a crowded weekend, although I have a feeling that Invention of Lying will actually be this film’s biggest competition. By the way, turns out this came out in limited release last week and did the best per screen of any film this year, so, sky’s the limit. $40mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
An easy bid for a Best Doc nod.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Jesse Eisenberg of the Dead
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Also starring Woody Harrelson, Mila Kunis and Abigail Breslin. Don’t know much about the creators, but the trailer’s a hoot.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
More Shaun of the Dead than Scream. $18mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Best Zombie Kill. Give it time. The Academy will get there.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Ellen Page gets into roller derby.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore. With Alia Shawkat, Kristen Wiig, Zoe Bell, Marcia Gay Harden, and Daniel Stern. And roller derby handles like Malice in Wonderland and Eva Destruction.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Similarly demo’d Fame crashed and burned, but this has more names. $44mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Even movies about mainstream sports rarely get a nod.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
In an alternate universe, everyone tells the truth, until one guy (Ricky Gervais) invents the lie.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is sick. Gervais co-writes and co-directs, and look at his co-stars: Jason Bateman, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Christopher Guest, Jeffrey Tambor, Louis C.K., John Hodgman, and Stephen Merchant.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s a ridonculously crowded weekend. And next week the more box-office-friendly Vince Vaughan gives audiences a more well-known option. $26mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If there were ten screenplay nominees, maybe.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The trials and tribulations of a put-upon man in 1967 Minnesota.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz has this as the Coen Bros’. finest since No Country.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This doesn’t have the cast of No Country. This doesn’t have the cast of Blood Simple. You might recognize Richard Kind. Still, the Coen Bros. name alone should put butts in seats. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
A screenplay nod is not out of the question.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
LeBron Begins
WILL IT SUCK?
Credit director Kristopher Belman with wicked sharp foresight. He started filming LeBron James and friends when they were in high school. Now all of that footage pays off in what’s being hailed as one of the better sports docs in recent memory.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Sports docs rarely make money. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Ditto above for Oscar nods.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Some disturbing shit revolving around the violent, drug-related death of two girls at a preppy high school.
WILL IT SUCK?
Been wowing the crowds at several fests since Cannes ’08. Early buzz is good, though it is supposed to be a difficult slog.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Hard to build up momentum for something like this. $1mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Will probably fly under the radar.
Next Week – Chris Rock: Documentarian.
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“Zombieland”: are your sure about Mila Kunis? IMDB has Emma Stone in the female lead.
“Invention of Lying”: yes please. I just hope American audiences can look past “Ghost Town”.