The Hancockness
This is how you do counterprogramming. Wall-E pulls in $62.5 million and Wanted pulls in $51.1 million. “G” and “R” co-exist in perfect harmony.
Wanted, by the way, is better than you think.
7/4
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Alcoholic superhero gets PR makeover.
WILL IT SUCK?
Dude, how awesome would it be if this turned out to be a Herbie Hancock bio-pic with Will Smith in the lead, and all this superhero stuff was just a scam?
I think the mock-superhero genre is played out (the death knell was My Super Ex-Girlfriend). The only thing that gives me hope here is the combo of underrated helmer Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom) and X-Files vet writer Vince Gilligan and Vincent Ngo, who wrote a couple of those kick-ass BMW shorts back in the day.
Early buzz is mixed with audiences taking a shine while critics bring up the specter of Last Action Hero.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will Smith with July 4th weekend all to himself? I don’t care if the marketing campaign can’t make up it’s mind as to what kind of movie this is, he’ll pwn that shit. $192mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kid grows up in New York dealing dope to his therapist while dating the therapist’s daughter.
WILL IT SUCK?
It’s not the second coming of Rushmore or anything, but it’s a good, hip, indie coming-of-age flick. More here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Been building good buzz since Sundance. $10mil.
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc about the life and work of that weird-looking muppet. No, wait.
WILL IT SUCK?
Writer/director Alex Gibney is one busy motherfucker. Fresh off a Best Doc Oscar for Taxi to the Dark Side, he’s back with this Sundance pleaser. Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Always nice to have name recognition for your doc. $3mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy dresses up as big, blue corporate mascot. There’s more to it than that, but that’s the most interesting part.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is very strong. Honestly, just watching that guy run around in that blue suit has gotta be good for at least a half an hour.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Do not, do not, do not open your indie comedy against the one high profile indie comedy of the summer. $2mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The good news is Cooper’s (Matthew Broderick) uncle Rollie (Alan Alda) has a baseball card worth a fortune. The bad news is Rollie’s Alzheimer’s-impaired, and Cooper’s not doing too well remembering things either. Sweet family comedy ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is fairly good, with Cubs fans singled out as particular beneficiaries of its appeal. Has a great supporting cast, with Virginia Madsen, Bobby Canavale, Dylan Baker and Louis C.K.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
What I said before about indie comedies taking on The Wackness still applies, though this at least has name actors. $3mil.
Next Week: In a post-Pan’s Labyrinth world, Hellboy II suddenly gets much more interesting.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Sure, counterprogramming and all that, but all the counterprogramming in the world doesn’t change the fact that “Wanted” was a horrible, horrible movie and will probably struggle to break $100M domestically.