So I knew Karate Kid would beat The A-Team, but I didn’t realize by how much.
6/18
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Woody and the toys go to day care.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. I’ll try to act surprised. (Oh, and just because they could, they had Little Miss Sunshine‘s Michael Arndt co-write the screenplay.)
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Pixar is gonna show all these would-be blockbusters how this shit is done. $319mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Another comic you’ve never heard of takes a crack at the gold cup.
WILL IT SUCK?
From director Jimmy Hayward, who did a decent job with Horton Hears a Who, and from the screenwriters behind Gamer and the Crank movies, so, yeah, that happened. Decent cast, tho: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Will Arnett, Tom Wopat, Michael Shannon, and Wes Bentley.
Early buzz is not so good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even comic book fans are going to go see Toy Story 3. $48mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Tilda Swinton goes to Italy. Has affair. Speaks Italian.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is overwhelmingly good. Won a couple of international film fest awards. Writer/director’s last film (Melissa P.) supposed to be a bit of a sensation, too.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Cyrus is going to get more press. $1mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Man (John C. Reilly) dates woman (Marisa Tomei) with grown son (Jonah Hill). Awkward ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. The first established star effort from mumblecore founders Jay and Mark Duplass. Also stars Catherine Keener.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not going to be a huge hit, but will still easily be the brothers biggest hit yet. $2mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Doc on the controversy surround the Mormon Church’s involvement in Prop 8.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is mixed but getting better closer to launch.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Hot button topic will guarantee press. $2mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Casey Affleck goes all sociopath on your ass.
WILL IT SUCK?
Michael Winterbottom is one of the strongest, unheralded directors out there, and to my knowledge he’s never directed a noir before, so that’s exciting in and of itself. Plus, Casey Affleck proved himself a force to be reckoned with after the one-two punch of Gone Baby Gone and Assassination of Jesse James. Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Bill Pullman, and Elias Koteas are all up in here, too. Plus Kate Hudson in what looks to be her first interesting role since, well, Almost Famous.
All that having been said, early buzz is mixed. Apparently it’s a little too sociopathic.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Winterbottom, while awesome, never makes money unless Angelina Jolie is in his movie. $1mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Successful woman appears in documentary while visiting her family. French comedy ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Writer/director Agnes Jaoui is known for light, charming comedy.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
I haven’t heard of Jaoui, either. $500,000.
Next Week: Of whom do we have lower expectations, Tom Cruise or Adam Sandler?
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