I didn’t expect New Moon to tank, but third-highest opening weekend of all time?

11/25

Wide

OLD DOGS

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Robin Williams and John Travolta play daddy.

WILL IT SUCK?
Unless the phrase “From the director of Wild Hogs” does it for you, just keep on walking.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
That phrase does it for a lot of people.  $78mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Okay, not these people.

THE ROAD

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like a really slow, unfunny Zombieland.

WILL IT SUCK?
First off, if you haven’t seen director John Hilcoat’s previous film, The Proposition, get on that.  Good, right?  Anyway, this is getting equally good buzz.  Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce star.  Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy which, I’ll be honest, I never made it all the way through.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not sure why this is opening wide.  Should still do well (in indie terms).  $17mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Will probably benefit from being delayed a year to a less crowded season.

NINJA ASSASSIN

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
I wouldn’t exactly describe the title as ambiguous.

WILL IT SUCK?
Yes.  Review coming soon but, for now, think the end of Kill Bill: Vol 1, but gorier and dull.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Getting a bigger push than I expected.  Might surprise you.  $46mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No.

Limited

ME AND ORSON WELLES

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Zac Efron gets all serious actor on us as an, um, actor who gets a role in Welles’ stage production of Julius Caesar.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed with audiences a little more in love than critics.  Everyone agrees that relative newcomer Christian McKay blows the doors off the thing as Welles, though.  From director Richard Linklater.  Clare Danes and Ben Chaplin co-star.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Up in the Air is going to be a bit of a big deal the following week as Jason Reitman’s star is arguably brighter than Linkater’s at the moment.  Still, it’s a crowd-pleaser, which helps, even in the arthouse.  $10mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
I can see McKay getting a nod if the buzz holds up.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
In a huge leap forward for race relations, America finally, finally gets its first black…Disney heroine.

WILL IT SUCK?
The return to 2D animation might be the more notable feature of this film.  To that end, Disney’s brought in some heavy hitters to direct, the same team who brought us The Little Mermaid and, my personal favorite (non-Pixar) Disney flick, Aladdin.  They also co-wrote those films and this one, although this one has, like, 50 writers, one of whom used to write for A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Roc and even as an open-minded black man I can’t help but think the thought process there was, “Hmmm. Needs more black.”

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Don’t be fooled by the limited release.  It’s only a run-up to a wide release on December 11th.  That having been said, it will have to deal with Avatar and the Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel not long after.  Still, it’s Disney’s world.  $112mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Besides Best Animated Feature, look for a song or two to get nods.

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE

(11/27)

WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Seemingly perfect wife (Robin Wright Penn) has a shady past.

WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is great.  From acclaimed filmmaker Rebecca Miller (Personal Velocity, The Ballad of Jack and Rose).  Co-starring Alan Arkin, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Monica Bellucci, and Maria Bello.

HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Through no fault of their own, indie female ensembe dramas usually have it rough.  $2mil.

WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Penn is supposed to be fabulous.

Next Week: The return of Jim Sheridan.