Glad to be wrong about District 9.  Neil Blomkamp’s little-alien-social-commentary-that-could looking to break $100 million theatrical.  Now if I could only get around to seeing it.

8/21

Wide

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Tarantino does WWII.

WILL IT SUCK?
Mixed early buzz seems to say that if you like Tarantino dialogue, you’re in luck.  Plot, not so much.

Oh, and Christoph Waltz won for Best Actor for this film at Cannes.  And, no, I have no idea who that is.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The one clear signal through all the noise this month.  $71mil.

POST GRAD

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Reality Still Bites

WILL IT SUCK?
From director Vicky Jenson (the other Shrek director) and starring Alexis Bledel and, more to my tastes as a Friday Night Lights fan, Zach Gilford who, once again, looks like he’ll be playing the nice-guy-who-gets-screwed.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
At least it’s not opening against fifty other films.  $35mil.

SHORTS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Magic wish-granting rock lands in small community.  Kid-friendly, CG-driven hilarity ensues.

WILL IT SUCK?
From writer/director Robert Rodriguez, whose kids fare has produced diminishing returns since Spy Kids.  Still, I’d trust him with a story more than the folks behind G-Force or Aliens in the Attic.  Good cast: William H. Macy, Jon Cryer, Kat Dennings, Leslie Mann and James Spader.

Early buzz is not so good.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Does anyone else think it’s funny that Rodriguez is opening against Tarantino?  $40mil.

Limited

MY ONE AND ONLY

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The true story of George Hamilton’s mother (Renee Zellwegger) who left her husband (Kevin Bacon) and took young George on a road trip to find a new beau.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  Which is nice considering that the writer has given us such fare as Hot to Trot and 3 Men and a Little Lady and director Richard Loncraine’s best-known work in the States is, sadly, the awful, awful Firewall.  (He also directed the masterful HBO movie The Gathering Storm as well as the Third Reich, Ian McKellan-starring take on Richard III.)

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Going into wider release later in search of Oscar gold.  $2mil.

WORLD’S GREATEST DAD

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Trials and tribulations of a middle-aged teacher (Robin Williams) with a hard-to-handle son and no game.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good.  From writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait, whose Stay caused a stir (but not much plaudits) a couple years back.  Apparently he’s honed his craft for dark comedy.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably won’t do as well as Williams’ other, big-budget take on fatherhood, but still.  $5mil.

Next Week: If Michael Myers doesn’t get you, Death as incarnated by a series of freak accidents will.

Did you know? You can get this preview e-mailed to you: