2012 is gonna do even better than I predicted, and I predicted a lot. People love them some blow-up.
11/20
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
E.T. in reverse. A human tries to find his way home from an alien world, aided by an alien kid.
WILL IT SUCK?
From one of the 50 guys who wrote the first two Shreks. Funny cos’ the aliens in this movie kind of look like Shrek. Comforted by the fact that this is one animated film that’s not in 3D.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even little kids are gonna wanna go see Twilight. $30mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
There’s not going to be that much room in the animated category.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Edward and Bella are separated, and I think there’s something with werewolves.
WILL IT SUCK?
Let me put it this way: It probably won’t be any worse than Twilight. Same writer, and new director Chris Weitz did wonders with About a Boy, but turned Golden Compass into…well, I’m not confident in his ability to handle fantasy.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even with 2012, this will pwn November. $239mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Nope. But I’ll lay down cash money that R-Patz will present.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Diff’rent Strokes if Arnold made it to the NFL and Mr. Drummond were played by Sandra Bullock.
WILL IT SUCK?
The only reason I’m giving this flick the time of day is writer/director John Lee Hancock, who gives good true-life-sports-movie (The Rookie) and doesn’t exactly suck with a pen (A Perfect World).
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
So you’re going to open your movie which, at best, has a moderate female demo on the same weekend as the Twilight sequel? Let me know how that works out for you. $37mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
If the critical and financial reception is much better than I’m expecting, Bullock might be looking at a nod.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Hey, Almodovar is back! With Penelope Cruz! And they’re doing stuff!
WILL IT SUCK?
It’s Almodovar. It’s not going to suck. Early buzz lands this squarely in the middle of his oeuvre.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Some pretty serious directors opening arthouse flicks this weekend and next. But Almodovar is Almodovar. $6mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Don’t think this will achieve Talk to Me level buzz for Almodovar or Volver level buzz for Cruz.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
John Woo does the Wuxia epic thing.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. This is not so much a departure for Woo as a return. He cut his teeth doing historical epics. Starring Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro.
This, by the way, is the 2.5 hour version of what was two different films totaling 4 hours in China.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Broke two records in China. Most expensive film ever and highest-grossing film ever. Probably not going to do quite that here. $9mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
China did not submit it.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Gael Garcia Bernal goes on a business trip to the Phillipines while his wife (Michelle Williams), kid, and nanny (w/ relatives in the Phillipines) stay behind in New York. Drama ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed. Writer/director Lukas Moodysson is, apparently, the most important Swedish filmmaker you’ve never heard of (as opposed to those 15 or so Swedish filmmakers you never stop hearing about). Leads alone are enough to get my radar up. And is it just me, or is Williams turning into a total indie bad-ass?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The whole “you’ve never heard of” thing comes into play here. $500,000.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME
Here, too.
BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Although not a sequel to Bad Lieutenant, still pretty much the same deal. Rogue cop (Nicolas Cage) misbehaves, this time in The Big Easy.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is very, very good. From Werner Herzog, who has what one might call a strong resume. Supporting cast includes Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk, Jennifer Coolidge, Brad Dourif, Michael Shannon, Shawn Hatosy, Xzibit, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Plus, Cage appears to be in full-on nutjob mode here, and that’s always fun.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Anticipation is fairly high. $16mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Screenplay, Actor, even Director seem like possibilities.
Next Week: Hey, if it helps Seth Green fund another season of Robot Chicken, so be it.
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