So, basically, a Saw movie every Halloween is going to be the new tradition. $34.3 million for Saw III this weekend means Saw IV, October 2007.
11/3
Wide
THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Tim Allen vs. Martin Short — whom will you find more annoying?
WILL IT SUCK?
Well, only as much as The Santa Clause 2 or The Wild. Same writers. The director is a holdover from Clause 2 as well. Normally, I’d be pretty psyched for a film that starred Kevin Pollack as Cupid, but somehow that isn’t happening here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Flushed Away will be an issue, but there’s a lot of Tim Allen love out there, in spite of Zoom. $72mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
No. But if this movie were coming out in March for some reason, you can bet Allen and Short would present.
BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Sacha Baron Cohen pisses off an entire country.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is that this may be the best (and most offensive) comedy of the year. Larry Charles directs, which is a master stroke given the vein of comedy being mined here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Picked probably the most family-friendly weekend of the season to release, thus guaranteeing no competition. And the government of Kazakhstan is providing the best marketing a $7,800 per capita income can buy. I think the “tiered release,” however, is a mistake. $67mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Cohen is on the short list for Best Actor. I shit you not.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
A posh rat gets flushed down the toilet by an uncouth rat. Moist culture clash ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is from Aardman studios, who have gone from making claymation to making computer generated animation that looks like claymation. Hugh Jackman, in line to win this year’s Jude Law Ubiquity Award, voices the lead. Early buzz, what little of it there is, is good, in spite of a very mixed bag of writers, only one of whom had anything to do with a previous Aardman film – Chicken Run.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I think more people know about The Santa Clause 3 at this point. $57mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Good for an animated nod, though probably not a win like last year’s Aardman entry.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz reunite.
WILL IT SUCK?
Though American critics fawn over Almodovar, he is often a prophet without honor in his own country — except this time. So when Spanish critics, American critics and Cannes (who bestowed three major awards on the film) all agree, something must be up. Never mind the fact that Almodovar almost never sucks.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Almodovar can do decent box office, and the Almodovar WOW! tour currently going on won’t hurt. $6mil.
WILL ANYBODY REMEMBER IT AT OSCAR TIME?
Spain certainly hopes so. It’s their submission for a Foreign Film Oscar. I’d say keep an eye on Cruz as well for Best Actress. Her performance is getting mad buzz.
Next Week: Christian Bale goes nuts. Again.
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