Really?
(Btw, love the fact that The Guardian UK just comes right out and calls it “an insipid weekend at U.S. cinemas.”)
9/26
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Spike Lee gets his WWII on.
WILL IT SUCK?
Suspiciously-timed criticisms of Clint Eastwood aside, Spike Lee is still one of the strongest filmmakers out there, and I’m curious to see what he does with the war genre. James McBride adapts his own novel. And Derek Luke, John Leguizamo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt should make for a powerful cast.
Early buzz, however, is not good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Audiences will have to shine to it way more than critics. $24mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Not with this buzz.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
B-List Enemies of the State
WILL IT SUCK?
You know what? D.J. Caruso did a good job with Disturbia and a heckuva job with Salton Sea (and, yes, I’m totally ignoring Taking Lives and Two for the Money). I actually like Shia LaBouef and am continually impressed with Michelle Monaghan so I’m happy with the casting. Writers are basically unkown, though two of them are working on the Warriors remake. I don’t know if that makes me happy or sad. Probably sad.
Early buzz is not great.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The closest thing you’ll get to an event movie in September. $69mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No. But can we get Monaghan some retroactive love for Gone Baby Gone?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Richard Gere and Diane Lane are swallowed by a prehistoric bird. No. Wait. I’m being told that’s incorrect. Actually, they fall in love at a beach house. (You can pretty much see the entire movie in trailer form here.)
WILL IT SUCK?
The director did Lackawanna Blues, which is supposed to be pretty damn good. Narnia scribe Anne Peacock is on board with Intolerable Cruelty writer John Romano. Based on a novel by Notebook author Nicholas Sparks. And that’s where I tune out.
Early buzz is meh.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The field is not exactly void of romantic films right now, but if they keep playing that Notebook card it might help. $44mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
There’s probably another Unfaithful in Diane Lane’s future, but this ain’t it.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel, so expect some maleness.
WILL IT SUCK?
The writing/directing debut of “Hey! It’s That Guy!” stalwart Clark Gregg (the S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiter in Iron Man). Although combining Sam Rockwell and Palahniuk was all I needed to hear. Early buzz is good, including a Special Jury Prize at Sundance.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Fight Club didn’t do all that well, and that had Brad Pitt. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Maybe Sam Rockwell (it would be about damn time). Maybe Adapted Screenplay?
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
“Faith-based” story about a firefighter (Kirk Cameron) with a failing marriage.
WILL IT SUCK?
In case you were wondering, “faith based” is code for “We think you should accept Jesus, okay?” From the makers of surprise we-think-you-should-accept-Jesus hit Facing the Giants.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
No reason for it not to do as well as Giants. It just won’t be a surprise this time. $14mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Now that would be a surprise.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Three Iraq War vets (Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams, Michael Pena) who’ve just met go on a road trip.
WILL IT SUCK?
From the writer/director of The Illusionist, which didn’t suck (he also directed Interview With the Assassin, which you should check out). Early buzz is good. Psyched about the cast. Trailer makes it look pretty cheesy, but for the aforementioned reasons I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Iraq War films are a perennial tough sell. $6mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If I thought the Academy was comfortable with Iraq as a topic (outside of docs) and the trailer looked less cheesy, I’d say maybe.
Next Week: Conservatives can be funny, too. Right?
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